What is a Cold Storage Warehouse?
In today's world, where temperatures have risen, dairy, food, medicines, and other perishable products have become even more important to store in an environment that extends their shelf life. The demand for perishable commodities has increased due to the growing population every year. This has led to cold chain warehouses being strengthened by incorporating edge technologies and solutions.
In today's blog, we will find out what cold storage warehouses are and how they benefit the frozen food and pharmaceutical industries in the world.
We are all aware of the fact that in many places, climate change is evident, and exposure to extreme temperatures can damage the integrity, quality, and safety of products.
Before we begin, let's explore what the Cold Chain Industry is.
A Closer Look at the Cold Chain: From Storage to Delivery
It is an innovative industry that refers to a temperature-controlled supply chain that is solely responsible to manage, protect and maintain the quality of the perishable (temperature-sensitive) goods so that they are transported from the manufacturer to the end user - in a state at which they are supposed to be consumed or preserved for future.
The entire cold chain industry ensures that during the transportation, the quality and efficiency of the product is maintained and not even for a percent compromised.
The cold chain industry's prominence is seen under the three most profitable sectors and which are the food sector, the pharmaceutical industry, and the chemical industry.
Cold Storage Warehouse is one of the Cold Chain Infrastructure Components (the equipment and processes that go with this), along with Transportation, Monitoring and Control Systems, Packaging, and Distribution.
Cold Storage Warehousing
Cold Storage Warehouse, as the name suggests, is a warehouse or a storage facility (unit) that acts like a bigger fridge in a person's house, kept to store, maintain, and preserve perishable items in the long run.
Cold storage warehouse has refrigeration systems, temperature monitoring devices, and insulation that help them maintain optimal conditions for different products, whether frozen, chilled, or at a controlled room temperature.
Cold Storage Warehouse falls into two categories, each one catering to different needs and wants.
1. Refrigeration - These warehouses are used to preserve perishable commodities ideal temperature, but not freezing it, instead, keeping it cool. The temperature it uses is 2 to 8 degrees. Ideal for dairy, vegetable, and pharmaceutical industries where cooling does the work.
2. Frozen - Temperature that sits between -18 to -25 degrees Celsius, ideal for storing food items such as meat, seafood, frozen food, etc. These things easily attract bacteria and deteriorate the products, so freezing is required.
Importance of Cold Storage Warehouse
Apart from keeping temperature-sensitive products fresh for long periods, cold storage warehouses have several important roles in the cold chain and logistics industry, and they are as follows,
1) Increases the Shelf Life - Cold Storage Warehouse increases the shelf life of the products by keeping the optimum temperature intact. Heat and humidity levels are kept in check continuously it is ensuring that throughout the cold chain and logistics process, product wastage and spoilage are bare minimum.
2) Product Quality Improvement - Industries such as food, pharma, healthcare, skin care, chemical, etc., after a certain period, react with the air and contaminants, or reduce the quality. Cold Storage Warehouses lower the temperature of the product and make sure that no chemical reaction occurs.
3) Inventory Management & Traceability - Nowadays, cold storage warehouse technologies are becoming popular.
Top technologies include:
● Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS)
An Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS) is a smart way of doing work in a cold storage warehouse, where robot-powered systems are used in warehouses to automatically store and retrieve goods without much human help.
● (Radio Frequency Identification) (RFID) Tags and Barcode Scanners
The inventory managers use RFID to track the stock through radio frequency when stocks go out to avoid a crisis.
● Warehouse Management Software (WMS)
This software tracks order processing, the number of available stocks in the warehouse, and many more.
● Robotic Picking Systems
These systems automate the picking and packing of orders, improving efficiency and reducing labour costs.
4) Supports Sustainability -
Cold Storage Warehouses supports sustainability by reducing energy consumption, reducing food wastage, and improving shelf life of perishable products - reducing wastage.
5) Reduces Supply Chain Losses -
The FAO estimates that between harvest and retail, food produce is lost or damaged. An efficient and proper cold storage warehouse prevents most of the losses and protects profit margins by minimising the spoilage of high-value perishable inventory.
The 2nd World Cold Chain Expo 2025 in Dubai will feature leading cold storage and logistics companies like Global Shipping & Logistics LLC (GSL), SIAM Group, Arimpoor Enterprises, PLUSS Advanced Technologies, and FlexiTog, along with other top industry players showcasing cutting-edge cold chain solutions and warehouse technologies.
CLICK HERE to register today & meet global cold chain and logistics experts.