How innovative refrigeration logistics solutions from Daifuku address warehouse and labor challenges in the frozen food industry

👷‍♂️❄️ Refrigeration logistics faces major challenges, especially in a rapidly growing market like the frozen food industry. While the cold storage market in North America reached an impressive $38.70 billion in 2020 and continues to grow rapidly at a CAGR of 10.7% through 2028, businesses face complex challenges. The logistical needs resulting from the increasing demand for refrigerated storage and transport of frozen goods require innovative and efficient solutions.

In this context, Daifuku, a leading provider of automated warehouse solutions, plays a key role. Since its founding, Daifuku has continuously worked to optimize warehousing and logistics processes, helping companies like Kraft Heinz increase their efficiency and meet the challenges of modern cold chain logistics.

❄️ The challenges of cold logistics

Cold logistics is a complex field that encompasses much more than just the transport and storage of goods at low temperatures. It requires a deep understanding of the physical and biological processes that occur at extreme temperatures and the ability to precisely control these conditions. A main problem is the need to maintain a constant temperature to ensure the quality of the products. Even small deviations can lead to the formation of condensation, which in turn promotes microbial growth and affects the quality of the goods.

Another important aspect is the increasing number of Stock Keeping Units (SKUs), which requires storing and managing an ever-increasing variety of products. At the same time, companies have to deal with ever smaller order quantities, which significantly increases the logistical effort. The lack of qualified workers further exacerbates the situation. Especially in refrigerated environments, it is difficult to find employees willing to work in these extreme conditions.

🤖 Automated solutions in response to modern challenges

Daifuku offers a range of state-of-the-art automated solutions specifically tailored to the needs of refrigeration logistics. These technologies allow companies to make the most of their warehouse capacity, automate their processes and reduce the need for manual labor, thereby increasing efficiency while improving working conditions.

📦 Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS)

A prime example of Daifuku's innovative strength is the automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). These systems are capable of storing and retrieving goods in environments with temperatures as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit, making them ideal for use in cold storage. The flexibility and scalability of these systems allow companies to efficiently manage their warehouse capacity, regardless of the number of SKUs to be stored or the size of orders.

Daifuku's AS/RS solutions include both single and double depth systems, allowing it to handle a variety of SKU profiles. These systems are particularly useful for the storage and transport of chilled and frozen pallets, which can be picked either as a whole or mixed. By being able to pick outside the freezer zone, companies can reduce the burden on their employees while increasing efficiency.

Another notable system is the D3 pallet shuttle system, which is particularly suitable for use in refrigerated environments. With an operating range of 0 to 40 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 10-90%, the D3 system offers a fast and reliable solution for storing and transporting pallets in high-bay warehouses. The system can be built up to 27 meters high, allowing maximum use of the available storage space.

Suitable for:

• Warehouse automation for operation in cold storage environments: AS/RS – maximizing efficiency and space utilization

🚜 Rail-guided vehicles (STV) for improved logistics

In addition to the AS/RS systems, Daifuku also offers rail-guided vehicles (sortation transport vehicles, STV) that are specifically designed for use in refrigerated environments. These vehicles are an ideal complement to the AS/RS systems and enable high-precision sorting and transport of pallets within the warehouse. By using STVs, companies can further automate and optimize their logistics processes, resulting in a significant reduction in labor requirements.

The STV systems are extremely flexible and can be used in a variety of layout configurations including single and double shuttle systems as well as multi-vehicle systems. This versatility allows companies to tailor their logistics processes to their specific requirements, maximizing efficiency.

Suitable for:

• The advanced professionalization (Hyper Logistics) of storage in the cold chain industry - storage solutions with AS/RS and STV

📈 Mobile shelves: Maximize storage capacity

Another innovative product from Daifuku are the mobile shelves, which were specially developed for use in high-density warehouses. These shelving systems offer an excellent solution for businesses that want to maximize their storage capacity without requiring additional storage space. By using mobile shelving, companies can reduce their warehouse footprint by up to 50%, which is especially crucial in cold storage facilities where every square meter is expensive.

Mobile shelving offers a number of advantages, including high flexibility and ease of use. They can be used in various operating modes including full width pass, half width pass and equal pitch mode. These modes enable companies to tailor their warehouse processes precisely to their needs and thus further increase efficiency.

🔧 Improving working conditions and efficiency

A key advantage of automation in refrigeration logistics is the improvement of working conditions for employees. By using AS/RS systems and mobile racking, the need for manual labor in extremely cold environments is significantly reduced. This not only leads to an increase in productivity, but also an increase in employee satisfaction as the stress of working in cold environments is reduced.

Automation also helps alleviate the labor shortage problem that is currently weighing heavily on the warehouse industry. It is estimated that around 2.1 million jobs in the warehousing and logistics sector could remain unfilled by 2030. By using automated solutions, companies can partially close this gap while increasing their efficiency.

🔮 Future prospects: The role of Daifuku in the further development of refrigeration logistics

Daifuku remains a pioneer in the development and implementation of automated solutions for refrigeration logistics. With a clear focus on innovation and efficiency, the company has demonstrated its ability to meet the changing needs of the industry. As the demand for frozen products continues to grow and the challenges of cold logistics increase, the importance of advanced technologies like Daifuku's will continue to increase.

The future of refrigeration logistics lies in automation and the intelligent use of resources. Companies that are able to successfully implement these technologies will have a clear competitive advantage. Daifuku is helping to shape this future, providing companies with the tools they need to succeed in a demanding and rapidly changing market.

🌟 Innovative solutions

Refrigeration logistics is an industry that faces major challenges, but also offers enormous opportunities. With innovative solutions such as Daifuku's automated storage and retrieval systems, rail-guided vehicles and mobile racking, companies can increase their efficiency and improve working conditions while ensuring their competitiveness. Daifuku shows that technological innovation is the key to meeting the increasing demands of refrigeration logistics and being successful in a growing market.

📣 Similar topics

• ❄️ Daifuku's innovative cold logistics solutions: efficiency in the frozen food industry
• 🤖 Automation in refrigeration logistics: Daifuku's revolution
• 📦 Storage and transport in cold logistics: Daifuku's new approaches
• 📈 Effective storage capacity: Mobile shelves from Daifuku
• 🚜 Rail-guided vehicles (STV): Daifuku optimizes cold logistics
• 🏗️ Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS): Daifuku's contribution to refrigeration logistics
• 👷‍♂️ Improved working conditions through Daifuku's automation
• 🔮 The future of refrigeration logistics with Daifuku
• 🌟 Innovative solutions for cold storage facilities: Daifuku in focus
• 🤝 Daifuku: Your partner for efficient refrigeration logistics

#️⃣ Hashtags: #refrigerated logistics #daifuku #efficiency #automation #frozen food industry

👷‍♂️ Cold logistics, also known as cold chain, plays a crucial role in today's global economy. It ensures that temperature-sensitive products such as food, pharmaceuticals and chemicals remain in an optimal temperature range throughout transport and storage. This is essential to ensure product quality and safety while minimizing losses and spoilage. In recent years, refrigeration logistics has developed significantly due to technological innovations and changing market requirements. New approaches to storage and transportation offer improvements not only in efficiency, but also in sustainability and traceability.

🍽️💊 The importance of cold logistics

Refrigeration logistics is a crucial part of the supply chain for many industries. It is particularly indispensable in the food industry to ensure the freshness and shelf life of products such as fruit, vegetables, meat and fish. The cold chain is also of great importance in the pharmaceutical industry, as many drugs and vaccines only remain effective within a narrow temperature range. An example of this is the COVID-19 vaccines, which must be transported and stored at extremely low temperatures.

Without functioning refrigeration logistics, the losses along the supply chain would be significant. Studies show that around 20% of the food produced worldwide is lost due to inadequate storage and transport conditions. This not only represents an economic problem, but also has serious environmental and ethical implications. Ensuring a complete cold chain is therefore not only a question of product quality, but also of resource conservation and sustainability.

🌡️📦 Technological innovations in refrigeration logistics

In recent years, technological advances have revolutionized refrigeration logistics. New cooling technologies and innovative packaging solutions help ensure temperature stability over longer periods. An example of this is the development of thermal packaging based on phase change materials (PCM). These materials can absorb or release large amounts of heat, allowing them to keep the temperature of stored products stable over a longer period of time without the need for additional refrigerants.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is also playing an increasingly important role in refrigeration logistics. Sensors that collect real-time temperature, humidity and other relevant data enable continuous monitoring of products during transport. This data can be stored in the cloud and analyzed to immediately detect possible temperature deviations and take appropriate action. This not only increases the safety of the products, but also improves transparency along the entire supply chain.

Another important technological advance is the development of energy-efficient cooling systems. Since refrigeration logistics traditionally has a large CO₂ footprint due to the high energy requirements, environmentally friendly cooling systems are of central importance. Modern cooling systems use natural refrigerants such as CO₂ or ammonia, which are less harmful to the environment than conventional synthetic refrigerants. In addition, new approaches such as the use of waste heat from industrial processes to generate energy in the cooling process are being used more and more frequently.

🌍♻️ Sustainability in refrigeration logistics

With the increasing focus on sustainability, environmentally friendly approaches in refrigeration logistics are becoming more and more important. Companies increasingly see themselves as having a responsibility to reduce their CO₂ emissions and use resources more efficiently. One aspect here is the optimization of transport routes. By using route planning tools based on artificial intelligence (AI), transport routes can be planned to minimize fuel consumption while maintaining the cold chain.

Another approach to increasing sustainability is the use of reusable packaging. These packages are robust and insulating, allowing them to be reused over many transport cycles. This not only avoids waste, but also reduces the cost of single-use packaging. In addition, some companies are relying on electromobility in transport to further reduce CO₂ emissions.

🚚🌏 Challenges and future prospects

Despite the many advances, companies in refrigeration logistics still face significant challenges. Global supply chains are becoming increasingly complex and temperature control requirements are increasing. The cross-border transport of temperature-sensitive goods in particular poses major challenges, as different countries have different standards and regulations. In addition, climate change is causing temperatures to rise in many regions, making it even more difficult to maintain the cold chain.

To address these challenges, greater collaboration across the entire supply chain is required. Manufacturers, logistics service providers and retailers must work more closely together to ensure that products are transported and stored in optimal conditions. New business models such as the sharing of cooling capacities and the integration of third-party providers are also playing an increasingly important role.

The future of refrigeration logistics will be significantly shaped by further digitalization and automation. Smart cold storage facilities equipped with AI-based systems could work autonomously and optimize energy consumption in the future. The use of drones to deliver temperature-sensitive goods to remote areas is also a promising approach that is already being tested in some regions.

📈⚙️ Increasing demands on refrigeration logistics

Refrigeration logistics is an industry that is constantly changing. Technological innovations, the growing focus on sustainability and the increasing complexity of global supply chains present companies with new challenges, but also offer numerous opportunities. To be successful in this dynamic environment, companies must be prepared to invest in new technologies and continually optimize their processes. This is the only way they can ensure that they meet the increasing demands on refrigeration logistics and at the same time make a contribution to protecting the environment.

📣 Similar topics

• 🧊 More efficient use of cooling capacities in refrigeration logistics
• 🌍 Sustainability and environmental friendliness in refrigeration logistics
• 📦 Innovative packaging solutions for the cold chain
• 🔍 Real-time monitoring through the Internet of Things (IoT) in refrigeration logistics
• 🚛 Optimization of transport routes for CO₂ reduction
• 📉 Minimize losses in the cold chain: technological approaches
• 🌡️ Temperature control in global supply chains
• 🛡️ Safety in refrigeration logistics through automatic systems
• ♻️ Use of reusable packaging in refrigerated transport
• 🌐 Digitalization and automation in modern refrigeration logistics

#️⃣ Hashtags: #cold logistics #sustainability #technological innovation #packaging solutions #temperature control

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