Cold Chain Warehousing

From the name itself, we can understand that a cold chain deals with a temperature controlled
supply chain and is different from a normal supply chain. Cold chain warehousing consists of
storage facilities that are maintained at very low temperatures. The facilities are equipped with
necessary tools and technologies and can handle products of different temperature ranges. The
cold chain warehousing ensures that the products remain fresh and are delivered safely. All the
facilities are well suited for large scale storage and shipment. This article will reveal more on the
applications and types of cold chain storage.

Industries Of Cold Storage

Cold storage industry offers refrigeration solutions across various domains and spanning several
sectors. Cold chain warehousing has applications in many different industries. Let us look at a
few of them.

1. Retail Food Industry

Cold storage increases the shelf-life of different kinds of food. Frozen foods retain
flavours and taste without compromising on the nutrients and health benefits.

2. Healthcare And Pharmaceuticals Industry

Cold storage plays a very important role in the medical industry. Different medicines
need different storage temperatures. Cold storages are also used to store organs and blood
along with vaccines and other medicinal drugs.

3. Wine Industry
When kept at a consistent temperature, the taste of wine and beer is enhanced. They need
to be stored away from direct sunlight. The production of wine also requires refrigeration
and cold storage.

4. Chemical Industries
Chemical industries require large cold storage units. This industry uses customized
refrigeration systems according to the different requirements.

5. Hospitality Industries
Restaurants and hotels need cold storage facilities to safely store different ingredients at
low temperatures. Refrigeration keeps these ingredients fresh and ready to use. Hotels
and restaurants have their own storage unit to maintain the sanitary standards.
Cold Storage: An Exercise In Precision

Cold storage management and logistics is considerably much more complex than a normal
supply chain because of the regulations around refrigerated freight. Along with other
complexities, cold chain or refrigerated warehousing also tends to be more costly. Because of
this reason, some manufacturers opt to outsource their cold storage management to third party
logistics providers like AWL India. These providers help companies by providing dedicated
solutions for the best quality products. These days, the demand for transportation of refrigerated
goods is increasing because of their qualities like longer shelf life and health benefits. As this
demand increases, the demand for value-added services. These services include consolidation
and repack operations. Because of the increasing demands and expectations from customers, the
providers have a lower return on investment. This reason drives the providers to do everything in
their capacity so as to optimize their cold chain processes and cold chain storage facilities in
order to remain profitable.

Cold Storage Facility Customization

Different types of customers have different requirements and demands from cold chain logistics
providers. There is no one solution to all the demands raised. The solution needs to be tailor-
made so that it meets all the requirements. This is where customization plays its role.
Customization, by definition, means modifying something such that it suits a particular task,
requirement or individual. In essence, it means to build as per given specifications. With
different needs and requirements from different customers, it has become common for logistics
providers to build customized cold storage facilities and warehouses for their customers. The
projects are addressed individually and solutions are adapted to help customers meet the
challenges faced by their company. The variations that can be implemented in storage facilities
are additional doors, insulated flooring, lighting, multiple chambers, bespoke sizing, etc. It is
taken care that the adaptations are made considering all the safety standards so that there are no
losses. This allows all the customers to operate more efficiently as all their specific requirements
are fulfilled. This can also be a little risky for companies that provide these services as it is not
easy to meet all the specific needs and demands of their customers. It is also hard to get price
sensitive customers to agree to long term contracts.

Types Of Cold Storage Systems

There is a wide range of cold chain storage facilities and systems. Some of them are -

Pharmaceutical Grade Cold Storage

A cold chain is important to maintain the quality of pharmaceutical products. Pharmaceutical

products require constant maintenance below room temperature from the instance of its
production, through the complete transportation process and right upto the delivery to customers.
A small negligence can lead to huge losses and a negative impact on the health industry. To
preserve the quality of pharmaceutical products like medicinal drugs and vaccines, a
pharmaceutical grade cold storage unit has all the required tools and technologies inbuilt within
them. These types of warehouses are used in hospitals and other medical facilities to store
necessities like blood, medicinal drugs, biopharmaceuticals and vaccines. Pharmaceutical cold
chain management is a crucial aspect of supply chain management in the healthcare industry.
Cold chain logistics services like AWL India assist in maintenance of temperature controlled
storage facilities that help in continual supply of medicinal drugs across the globe.

Cold Rooms

A cold room, or a refrigerating chamber, is a storage facility where a certain temperature is

artificially generated and maintained. They are also called as walk-ins and are required by
restaurants, supermarkets, etc to store fresh and frozen goods. The walls of cold rooms are
constructed with insulated floors, walls, and ceilings. For insulation, some type of foam is placed
between thin walls that are made with aluminum or steel. Because of insulation, the temperature
inside and outside of cold rooms stays separated. This also requires less work from evaporators
and condensers, which has a direct effect on energy conservation. These rooms are also equipped
with curtains which help in reducing temperature fluctuations inside the room. High quality
materials are used while building a cold room for optimum moisture absorption and good
insulation. AWL India provides state of the art temperature controlled cold rooms to keep the
freshness of products intact.

Plant-Attached Cold Storage

Plant attached cold storage is when a certain intermediary good or finished product can be
transported to a dedicated cold storage facility via conveyors. This transport takes place directly
from the manufacturing unit. This cold storage facility is for manufacturers who want to have
their own warehouses. This is an alternative for manufacturers who need to retain their raw
materials or storage in house. These plants are gaining popularity in the industry among medium
scale and large scale food producers. These producers move their product in and out of the cold
storage unit on demand. The cold storage plant acts as an extension to the warehouses and acts as
a part of the complete supply chain process. Plant attached cold storage is helpful in preserving
products that are chemically reactive at room temperature or can rapidly decline in quality when
kept out of the cold storage unit. This type of storage makes it an on-site service.

Dedicated Custom Cold Storage Facilities

Cold storage requirements vary from customer to customer. Many companies have complex
requirements for cold storage of their products depending on the type of their product and their
customer’s preferences. This is where a third-party logistics provider like AWL India comes in.
It is important to choose the right and reliable provider when it comes to maintaining the
integrity of the products. AWL India offers cold storage services based on the needs of the
companies. Bringing in a third-party provider reduces costs and safely delivers the products.
Dedicated custom cold storage facilities are used for expensive cold storage needs. These
dedicated cold storage warehouses used by providers have the capacity for storing perishable
products in bulk and also at a range of different temperatures. AWL India’s dedicated custom
cold storage facilities provide a best in class experience to their customers. The warehouses are
highly spacious and equipped with all the necessary tools and facilities. AWL makes use of the
latest technology and provides a conducive storage facility that helps stabilize market prices and
evenly distribute goods, meeting both the time and demand requirements.

Refrigerated Containers

A refrigerated container, or better known as reefers, is an enclosed container which is used for
transporting cargo that has to be maintained at a constant temperature. It can be thought of as a
refrigerator that can be transported over long distances without spoiling the contents. The
container uses an external power supply for operation. This power is generated from D.G sets of
the vessel. The front wall of the refrigerated container is fitted with the refrigeration unit. There
are different types of refrigerated containers available in the market. A container is selected
based on the requirements and the amount and type of cargo.

Blast Freezers And Chillers

Blast freezers, also referred to as shock freezers, are very cold freezers that are used to rapidly
reduce the temperature of products, making them freeze quickly. They are widely used in the ice
cream and frozen food industry. While freezing food products, you are actually freezing the
water inside them which then crystallizes. Because of rapid freezing, the crystals formed are
small, which causes less damage and prevents phenomena like cell bursting. Blast freezing offers
high-quality food along with health and safety benefits.

Chillers are a machine or refrigeration system that transfers heat away from a space by providing
a continuous flow of a coolant and transfers it somewhere else. It cools internal machine
components and processes. Industrial chillers work on the principles of phase change, heat flow,
and boiling point. Today, three main types of chillers are used in the industry which are - air-
cooled chillers, water-cooled chillers, and absorption chillers.