Cold Storage Evolution: Advancements in Freezing Facility Technology

A freezing facility is a place where food and pharmaceutical products are stored at a temperature below 32 degrees. This helps maintain the quality, texture, and flavor of these items.

Freezing facilities come in four main types: cooler storage, freezer storage, quick-freezing, and food processing. Each type of facility provides a specific service.

Distribution Center

The distribution center at a freezing facility stores products that are produced. Often, the distribution center is part of a manufacturing plant and shares staff, space, equipment and inventory. It can also be a separate building.

Frozen storage is a process that allows products to be stored at temperatures below 32 degF and in which various processes aimed at maintaining the quality of the food, pharmaceutical or other products are carried out. In addition to the freezer warehouse, bao gia kho lanh these facilities may include an area where goods receipts and dispatch can be carried out, as well as a room for product quality control.

Among the solutions that can be installed within a freezing facility, automated systems are effective in leveraging the available space and ensuring safe and controlled product movements. These AS/RS (automated storage and retrieval systems) can consist of single or double deep pallet racking in the aisles, which are equipped with a stacker crane for depositing or extracting goods automatically.

Operator throughput is notably hampered when working at freezing temperatures, which can be avoided by using an automated facility. Alternatively, a non-automated system involves operators being aided by forklifts to manually deposit and shift goods to and from the warehouse. This can be especially difficult for workers wearing heavy jackets and PPE kits.

Cold Storage Safety

Cold storage warehousing is a vital element in the operations of businesses that process and distribute goods that are sensitive to temperature change. Specifically, businesses in the food and pharmaceutical industries need to make sure their product handling, preservation, and storage processes are conducted at precisely the right temperature to prevent spoilage and ensure cold chain integrity.

Maintaining the correct temperature in a freezing facility is critical for its efficiency, as well as to protect people and equipment. This means ensuring that the warehouse has adequate insulation, and that equipment like pallet racks are built to function in low temperatures.

Automation tools are a big help for this because they reduce human labor and enable operators to work without prolonged exposure to low temperatures. However, it’s important to check that these tools are safe for use in these environments, since they could malfunction or become damaged if exposed to low temperatures for extended periods of time.

Workers need to be fully protected against low-temperature hazards, such as ammonia-based refrigeration systems that are dangerous for the lungs and skin and can also become flammable. This is why companies with cold storage facilities must provide employees with proper personal protective equipment (PPE) such as insulated coats and pants, gloves, and other safety gear.

Blast Freezer

The blast freezer is an excellent option for preserving temperature-sensitive food items. This technology is used to preserve ice cream, meats, seafood and vegetables for longer periods of time than other types of storage equipment.

Blast freezing is a unique method of freezing that prevents water molecules from causing damage to the food. It also minimizes bacteria growth, ensuring that the product stays fresh and safe for consumption.

A normal freezer takes a long time to freeze foods because the air circulating inside gets stagnated. In a blast freezer, there is always a large space between each tray, making it easier to cool the food quickly.

Another feature of a blast freezer is fluidization, which is a method of conveying products with the help of a conveyor system. This system helps the frozen food move from one tray to another in a smooth laminar manner.

These systems are a great choice for any business that deals with delicate and temperature-sensitive foods, such as fruit, meats or vegetables. This type of freezer can also reduce thawing time, allowing for a longer shelf life. It can also help businesses keep their supply of frozen foods at a premium, increasing revenue by selling more goods to consumers. These freezers are also up to 30% more energy efficient than their commercial counterparts, giving businesses the power to cut costs in the long run and boost profits.

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