Characteristics of Cold Storage Warehouses

Cold storage warehousing is a trend many retailerscompromised. Loss from the inside has always been
and manufacturers are seeking out because theyan issue, but warehouse operators now sense that
offer full supply chain management. They enablethey need to go even further, protecting the
better return on investments in a cost consciousperimeter of their facilities. In addition to security
manner. Most present an exceptional realm oftechnology, warehouse management systems are
services, utilize state-of-the-art equipment and areintroducing equipment to enable the warehouse to
run by automated systems designed to increaseoperate under a more automated system, needing
accuracy. These single source providers offer coldless labor and employees managing the operations.
storage warehousing, transportation services,Bar-coding, scanning and voice picking systems
cross-docking, unloading and loading services, freightprovide savings on freight costs for the cold storage
handling and management, and inventory auditing.business. These are just several of the cost
Since such warehouses deal with a vast range ofeffective technologies being implemented by
operations, it is essential that the construction andwarehouse owners.
functionality of the facility are impeccable.Energy and labor efficiency are key concerns for
Selecting a site and configuring building placement arewarehouse operators, and they remain at the
more important than ever when building a coldforefront of their costs. Many are saving by turning
storage warehouse. This choice is typically based onto more cross-dock functionality. Larger refrigerated
wind and water. A warehouse should have access todocks and facilities are designed for cross docking,
water for docking purposes; however, dock doorscomplete with reverse pick location zones and
should not be in the same direction of prevailingsystems. Energy, labor and transportation demands
winds, as they infiltrate into the warehouseaffect the design of the warehouse, which are
threatening the preservation of products. Thereflected in non-traditional structures. Warehouses are
amount of dock space needed is also a determiningincreasing in height since material-handling equipment
factor in warehouse design. About ten years ago, acan handle products at higher levels.
dock, on average, was about 20-feet long. Today,While many cold storage warehouses are designed
they are expanding up to 60-feet and more.differently, they all have the same key function and
New technologies in the areas of security andpurpose-to provide cold supply chain management for
management are being utilized at cold storagetheir clients from start to finish. Newer design
warehouses. Operators are implementing strictertechniques and equipment are being quickly
security measures, inside, and around the facility.introduced into the industry to keep up with the high
Some clients are requesting these systems in orderdemands a cold chain requires.
to guarantee that storage and freight is not