What is Cold Storage Warehousing?

Temperature-sensitive products, from frozen food to pharmaceuticals and vaccines, must be kept cool in storage. High-tech cold storage warehousing makes this possible. By maintaining ideal environmental conditions, the products inside a cold storage warehouse are kept safe and of premium quality.

What is cold storage warehousing?

On the outside, a cold storage warehouse looks no different than a typical warehouse. However, the difference between a cold storage facility and a typical warehouse is how it is maintained inside. Cold storage warehouses are designed to stay cool to extend the shelf life of temperature-sensitive goods.

Cold storage warehouses come in all sizes and are located across the nation. The meticulously constructed buildings are heavily insulated to prevent the intrusion of warm, outside air and keep the cold air circulating inside. Heavy-duty HVAC systems ensure the products stay cool or frozen.

The complex refrigeration system inside a cold storage warehouse relies on several components. A coolant, found in cooling equipment, absorbs heat from products. A compressor, condenser, and receiver are additional components that work in conjunction to maintain a specific temperature.

What are the two types of cold storage warehousing?

Cold storage warehousing falls into one of two categories: refrigerated or frozen. What sets apart a refrigerated facility from a frozen one is the temperature maintained internally. The former keeps food chilled but not frozen. The latter ensures products in storage remain frozen.

Refrigerated warehouses sustain internal temperatures between 35 degrees Fahrenheit and 46 degrees Fahrenheit—enough to keep products cool but not frozen. Frozen warehouses, on the other hand, maintain a temperature range of -4 to -13 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure stored goods remain frozen.

What products are stored in cold storage warehouses?

The cool environment of refrigerated warehouses is ideal for storing certain products. Fresh produce, like apples and lettuce, as well as dairy products are best suited for refrigerated warehousing to prevent spoilage. Other perishable goods that require a chilled but not frozen environment are also stored here.

The subzero temperatures of frozen warehouses are ideal for products that must be stored at low temperatures. Frozen foods, like meat, seafood, and ice cream, are typical products. The low internal warehouse temperatures prevent bacterial growth and maintain the products’ safety and integrity.

Pharmaceuticals are also stored in cold storage warehouses. Certain drugs and vaccines remain effective only when stored at certain temperatures. Vaccines for measles and mumps must be frozen before use. Some insulins, antibiotics, eye drops, nasal sprays, and injections require refrigeration.

Temperature-controlled warehousing is necessary for a range of unexpected goods, too. These products, like botanicals (seeds, flowers and plants), film, disinfectants, and cosmetics (lipsticks and colognes), degrade from temperature fluctuations, making cold storage warehousing essential. Organic textiles, like furs, must also be kept in cold storage.

What industries rely on cold storage warehousing?

A wide range of industries rely on cold storage warehousing to preserve the integrity of their products. Restaurants, supermarkets, and frozen food producers use cold storage warehousing heavily. Pharmaceutical manufacturers and health care facilities also turn to trusted cold storage warehouses.

What are the benefits of cold storage?

Storing food at cold temperatures has been an ongoing need. As a result, cold storage has been utilized for ages, since Victorian times when ice houses were common until now. Today’s cold storage facilities are high-tech, operating on sophisticated processes and high levels of automation.

1. Extends Shelf Life

The clearest benefit of cold storage warehousing is keeping food at low temperatures to prevent spoilage or bacterial growth. Food items kept at desirable temperatures retain their texture, quality, and taste. Plus, the shelf life of many food products is extended when they are stored at cool temperatures.

Fruits, for example, are available year-round in many grocery stores because the produce is kept cool inside cold storage warehouses. Humidity plays a major role in extending their shelf life, and these facilities are capable of maintaining the right conditions to preserve fruits.

2. Remains Cost-effective

Cold storage warehousing is a cost-effective measure. Businesses and organizations that rely on cold storage facilities prevent food waste and thereby save a large amount of money. When food spoilage is reduced with cold storage, producers are not compelled to raise food prices.

3. Offers Extra Space

Space is at a premium inside grocery stores and adding extra refrigeration is expensive. But cold storage warehouses free up this valuable space by keeping perishable goods onsite. Using cold storage facilities allows retailers to consolidate their inventory and keep track of sales and purchases easily.

What should companies look for in a cold storage warehouse?

The best cold storage warehouse is easy for trucks, trailers, and other transport vehicles to access. The warehouse location is another key aspect of accessibility. Cold storage warehouses situated near major highways, seaports, or airports facilitate smooth and cost-effective logistics and distribution operations.

The availability of sufficient storage space is also crucial to accommodate different quantities of products. The ability for the warehouse to scale up significantly impacts a retailer’s ability to meet seasonal demands. A robust inventory management system is also key to account for all products.

When your company seeks high-quality cold storage warehousing, look no further than OLIMP. With a vast network of warehouses across the US, Canada and Mexico, we’ll help you find the right cold storage warehouse. Our services are ideal for shippers and brokers requiring efficient cold storage options.

We help shippers with reefer trucks find cold storage options, including cross docking and pallet reworks. Our services are tailored to meet your business’s unique needs. At OLIMP, we optimize your storage requirements and connect you with the right warehousing solutions for your business.

OLIMP is the preferred choice for companies requiring convenient access to efficient cold storage warehousing. Whether you need frozen warehousing or refrigerated warehousing, we’ll match you quickly and with ease. Request a quote with our simple-to-use online form. Visit our website to connect