Warehouses with cold storage. Highest quality for demanding customers

"The design, construction and subsequent maintenance of cold storage warehouses requires a high level of technical knowledge," says Ludwika Korzeniowska, Business Development Director at JLL. According to Korzeniowska, cold storage warehouses must be equipped with devices and IT systems that allow storing goods requiring controlled temperature and measuring the level of humidity. "Customers looking for such facilities currently have a choice of very modern solutions," adds the JLL expert.

Key coolant

On 1 June a new distribution centre was opened for Lindt&Sprüngli (Poland), the world leader in premium chocolate sector. The new distribution centre in Grodzisk Mazowiecki supplies all shops, retail chains, wholesalers and other outlets throughout the country. ID Logistics team is responsible for the management of warehouse processes (storage, stock management, order picking and co-packing) and distribution of chocolate products.

“The new Lindt&Sprüngli distribution centre was opened 10 years after we signed the agreement between our companies. Thanks to our long-term cooperation, we have gained experience and know-how, which today allows us to provide the highest quality of warehouse service for sensitive products, chocolate and chocolate products,” says Marcin Papuga, Warehouse Director, ID Logistics Polska.

The warehouse area is nearly 7,600 sq m, of which 7,000 sq m is the warehouse part. The net height of the hall is 12 m. It has 13,000 pallet holding positions prepared for storing chocolate products.

"Chocolate stored there requires that the temperature regime is strictly applied. In this case, it is between 12 and 16 degrees Celsius while keeping the humidity at 65 percent,” explains Sylwia Dunn, Business Development Director, ID Logistics.

“In the case of such a warehouse, the choice of the coolant seems crucial. - To achieve this, all the necessary parameters had to be determined and agreed upon in order to ensure optimal storage conditions for this type of product,” adds Sylwia Dunn from ID Logistics.

“In case of the warehouse in Grodzisk Mazowiecki it is an ammonia-glycol intermediate system. Polypropylene glycol was used there because it has hygienic certificates, which are not required because it does not come into contact with food, but in agreement with the client, we decided that it would be an additional protection,” admits Daniel Gawryś, Cost Manager from Panattoni, the developer who built a refrigerated warehouse for ID Logistics.

Eco-friendly warehouse

In the Grodzisk centre, modern solutions have been applied to increase the effectiveness of warehouse service, ensuring safety and environmental sustainability. The warehouse uses forklifts powered by lithium-ion batteries. For warehouse employees, touch barcode terminals have been provided, which increases work comfort and at the same time shortens the duration of picking processes.

“The warehouse is a facility with a higher fire resistance class, and there are also solutions to prevent the effects of unexpected power outages. A power generator was installed for this purpose,” says Marcin Papuga, Warehouse Director, ID Logistics Polska.

Time and cost savings

The construction of such a warehouse is, of course, more expensive than standard facilities due to the investment in this additional installation. However, developers building such facilities nowadays use technologies and systems which aim to generate savings while using the space.

“In a temperature-controlled warehouse, a coolant based on freon (the one that is still approved for use) can of course be used, but the ammonia-glycol system is the most optimal solution. In the long run, thanks to such a system, we can save up to 30% of electricity consumption compared to a freon installation,” says Sławomir Rodak, R&D Director, ID Logistics.

“Safety is extremely important for us and our customers, therefore the warehouses designed for storing products requiring controlled temperature - as in the facility near Grodzisk - are equipped with exceptionally modern IT systems, as well as control and measurement devices, which monitor temperature and humidity 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” admits Sławomir Rodak from ID Logistics.

The alarm system, which sends an SMS message to those responsible for maintaining conditions when any irregularities are detected, is also an extremely important element in this type of facility - as all experts point out.

Food market with continuous growth

At present, market data show a growing share of the food industry in comparison with the whole market, which, combined with a very intensively growing e-commerce market, significantly impacts the increased demand for temperature-controlled warehouses.

“The food market is particularly sensitive due to the specific nature of products which have a short shelf life, so they require a very restrictive approach to their storage,” says Ludwika Korzeniowska, Business Development Director at JLL.

Therefore, customers from the food industry will have increasingly higher demands on the quality of logistics services. They will also expect cost optimization, high quality of service and flexibility in adapting to ever changing needs.