Are you in the market for a new cold storage facility? If so, there are a few things you’ll want to take into account before starting construction. This blog post will outline three things to think about when building a new warehouse freezer storage. Read on to learn more!
Whether you are a processor, importer, or distributor of perishable goods, you’ll need to build a cold storage facility at some point. Cold storage facilities are essential for storing and distributing sensitive goods like meat, cheese, vegetable produce, and more.
The challenge is the wide selection of cold storage facilities on the market, making it difficult for you to choose the best cold storage facility. That’s why you need to have information on the cold storage facility you require and how it should be designed.
Research
Research is a core part of developing an effective cold storage facility. You’ll need to research your options thoroughly to know what you want from your cold storage facility.
It is also important to research the market. This will help you narrow your search to reputable companies and approach them with a defined plan. You can start by seeking other players in your industry who can advise you on design features that have worked for them.
You should also consult trade organizations. They have up-to-date and expert knowledge of companies involved in cold storage construction.
Do not forget to conduct online research. This can include checking out companies that have implemented cold storage facilities similar to what you are after. Find out the bottlenecks they experienced when sourcing for a cold storage company and how they overcame them.
Having reached this far, you can now narrow down your research further by cross-checking the history of cold storage construction companies. Find out their experience in building cold storage facilities for companies in your industry. For instance, you can ask about the number of projects a company has completed in the last five years. This will weed out the general contractors who may not have the expertise and experience to provide unique workmanship for your project.
At this point, if your research was thorough, you will be left with the top-tier cold storage construction companies. You can now zero in on the ideal company for your project by considering these three important factors when making your selection. Without further ado, let’s delve in.
Build A Cold Storage Facility Space That Is Ideal For Today’s And Tomorrow’s Business
When planning for the construction of your cold storage facility, you’ll need to factor in your company’s future expansion needs. Cheers! If your present cold storage needs are due to unanticipated growth in your business, you need additional space.
However, you’ll need a long-term plan for your cold facility to sustain your current business and its future growth needs. This means having a forecast of your business’s future growth and its expansion needs. Do you have a road map of where your business will be five or ten years from now? If so, then construct your cold storage facility accordingly.
A big factor in planning your cold storage needs is figuring out how much space you need. While it is an important aspect to think about as you are designing your new facility, that is only part of the picture. Other questions you need to ask yourself are if your products will need to be stored on pallets requiring large overhead clearance for forklifts.
Or will it be in bins requiring lower overhead? How will you access the product from the case packer? Answering these questions will help you in figuring out the overall space requirements for your cold storage facility. Generally, it’s prudent to determine your space requirements first, before installing the freezer.
One of the most important factors when constructing a cold storage facility is its utility flow. It’s the series of people and processes that move materials into and out of the facility–and it’s important because it is ultimately what makes a cold storage facility function. The flow of people and processes occurring in the facility will determine what rooms and departments you need.
For example, if you need to do regular maintenance on your storage rooms, then you’ll need to have a maintenance room onsite. Other rooms that can be included in the facility include a packaging area and raw storage rooms.
Other factors to consider when constructing the cold storage facility include:
- The refrigeration system you want to install
- The number of personnel you have
- The proximity of the cold storage to transport lines
- How the products will be processed
Create A Budget And Stay Within It
When starting the design/build process for your cold storage facility, it is important to have all of your ducks in a row. This means having an established budget outline to adhere to with no surprises along the way. Once you have determined the cost and have signed off on it, you must convey this plan to all parties involved. Their participation will ensure that everyone’s needs are met once the project is completed.
When getting started with your cold storage project, it’s important to think about the budget and manage costs. Many people think about going for the low bids as being financial prudence. However, this might not always be the best choice. Low bids sometimes come with a compromise on quality. You wouldn’t want that for your business, would you? Therefore ensure you go for quality first before looking at the price tag of the bid.
Also, when negotiating room finishes, be specific. Don’t just ask for vinyl floors; specify the pattern, color, and finish. The same should apply to the temperature you want to maintain in your cold storage facility.
Ultimately, the longer you stay on the project the more likely you are to overshoot your budget.
Improving the Facility’s Energy Efficiency
Including energy-efficient options when constructing your cold storage facility will offer your business correlating savings in energy consumption. So, ensure that your construction design includes energy cost-cutting measures such as:
- Having more roof and thicker wall insulation
- Installing rapid closing doors in the refrigerated rooms
- Installing automated light sensors
While it may seem that the cost of building a new cold storage facility is rather straightforward, there are a few variables that you should take into consideration, and these factors can vary greatly depending on where you purchase your supplies/materials. To make sure that your business can hit the ground running with a state-of-the-art facility, make sure to consider everything with regards to cost. This will ensure that your company’s expansion worries are alleviated with a facility that is ideal for today’s and tomorrow’s business needs. To learn more about the construction of cold stores visit https://www.frippwarehousing.com/.
Fripp Warehousing,
1005 Ethel St. Kelowna British Columbia V1Y 2W3,
250-860-2511
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