In a world where online shopping is king, it’s more important than ever to have a reliable way to store your products. That’s where cold storage warehouses come in. These warehouses use refrigeration units and insulation to keep the temperature low, making them the perfect place to store food, drinks, medicine, and other products that need to be kept cool. But how do they work? And what makes them different from regular warehouses? This post will take a closer look at cold storage warehouses and explore how they operate. So before you contract a warehouse freezer storage rental company, be sure to read on and learn more about how these storage units work.
It is important to understand what cold storage warehouses are and how they differ from regular warehouses before diving in.
What Is A Cold Storage Warehouse?
Cold storage warehouses are facilities that use refrigeration units to keep the temperature low and maintain a consistent cool environment. These warehouses are typically used to store food, drink, medicine, and other biodegradable products that need an environment with a consistently low temperature to stay viable.
How Do Cold Storage Warehouses Work?
Cold storage warehouses work by using refrigeration units and insulation to keep the temperature low. The refrigeration units cool the air inside the warehouse, and the insulation helps to keep the cool air in and the warm air out.
Since cold storage is a broad term that can encompass anything from a walk-in freezer to a warehouse with industrial refrigeration units, the way these warehouses work can vary depending on the size and scope of the operation.
That said, let’s look at the different types of cold storage warehouse facilities and how they work.
Refrigerated Containers
Refrigerated containers are a type of cold storage warehouse that uses shipping containers that have been outfitted with refrigeration units. You can use these containers to store small quantities of products that are temperature sensitive.
This type of cold storage is relatively cost-effective, and they also offer the benefit of being portable. Thus, they can be used for short-term storage or shipped to another location as needed.
The insulated walls and doors of the shipping container, combined with the refrigeration unit, work together to maintain a consistent temperature.
Since they are also equipped with an external or clip-on unit, the refrigerated containers can be plugged into a diesel generator when there is no access to an electrical outlet.
Cold Rooms
Cold rooms are rooms typically used for storing large quantities of products, such as food, that need to be kept at a consistently low temperature. From hotels and restaurants to grocery stores and food distribution centers, cold rooms are a vital part of the food industry.
Chillers and Blast Freezers
When quick cooling is required, blast freezers and chillers are typically used. These units are designed to cool products rapidly and are ideal for short-term storage. For instance, large catering companies often use blast freezers to store food before delivery.
A blast chiller is designed to cool food from 160° F to 41° F in less than 90 minutes, whereas a standard kitchen refrigerator can take several hours to accomplish the same task. So for foods that need to be prepped later or stored for the making of ice creams and sorbets, a blast chiller is the way to go.
Pharmaceutical Grade Cold Storage
Biopharmaceuticals and other temperature-sensitive products require specialized storage conditions. As such, many pharmaceutical companies opt for Pharmaceutical Grade Cold Storage units that meet their specific needs. These units usually have features like light & humidity control and security systems to protect the products stored inside.
The ideal cold storage temperature for most biopharmaceuticals is between 8 to 15 degrees Celsius, and the storage units are designed to maintain this temperature range.
Management Of Cold Storage Warehouses: Best Practices
To ensure that products stored in a cold storage warehouse are kept at the correct temperature, it is crucial to have a management system in place. Cold storage warehouse management best practices are listed here.
Doors that open rapidly – To prevent warm air from entering the warehouse, it is important to have doors that open quickly.
Temperature Records – Temperature-sensitive products should have a record of the storage temperature to ensure that they were stored correctly. This can be done using data loggers or other similar devices. Temperature sensors can also be used to monitor the temperature inside the warehouse in real-time.
Cold storage warehouses are specialized storage facilities that are used to store temperature-sensitive products. These products can range from food to pharmaceuticals. There are various types of cold storage warehouses, and the type that is used depends on the specific needs of the products being stored. To ensure that products are stored correctly, it is important to have a management system in place. Some of the best practices for managing a cold storage warehouse include having doors that open quickly and maintaining records of the storage temperature.
