Cold storage construction comprises various kinds of facilities that sustain specific temperature conditions for perishable goods. These facilities are essential to preserve perishable goods, drugs, and other products that are temperature sensitive. Increasing consumption of world foods, modified eating habits of consumers, along with a tremendous need for comfort food, further enhance the increase in demand to establish cold storage.
Cold Storage Construction Industry Overview
Cold storage facilities are designed to store perishables such as fresh fruits, vegetables, curd, cream, and various types of meat. They help keep products fresh and extend their shelf life. A report published by Allied Market Research indicates that the cold storage construction market is predicted to register impressive growth throughout the forecast timeframe.
Why is cold storage construction gaining popularity?
The pharmaceutical and healthcare industries rely on controlled, temperature-sensitive facilities to store vaccines, drugs, and biological specimens. As these industries advance their medical research, biotechnology, and health services, the cold storage facilities that they need have been increasing day by day. Cold storage construction offers structures that meet pharmaceutical and healthcare storage requirements.
Growth in e-commerce and retail logistics increases the demand for cold storage facilities used for the storage and distribution of temperature-sensitive goods such as groceries, frozen food, and specialty products. The construction of cold storage facilities plays an important role in the logistics supply chain, providing a timely delivery of products with integrity and quality maintained.
Storage and handling of perishable goods and pharmaceutical products follow strict regulatory requirements and quality standards. The construction of cold storage facilities complies with industry regulations and standards that support facilities compliant with temperature and humidity control requirements, food safety regulations, and Good Distribution Practices (GDP) in the pharmaceutical sector.
The demand for cold storage facilities is highly influenced by urbanization and population growth, which occurs in urban areas where space is limited, and the cost of land is high. Cold storage construction is innovative and maximizes storage capacity and efficiency through vertical storage facilities and multi-temperature zones in urban environments.
Role of material science in cold storage construction
The materials selected for a cold room must ensure proper temperature regulation, insulation, durability, and hygiene. Insulated panels are widely preferred in the construction of cold rooms for excellent thermal performance. The main materials typically used are either polyurethane foam or polystyrene. These sandwich materials are layered on both sides between two outer layers of metals or other strong materials. The panels allow the insulated elements to have minimal temperature swings while maintaining control and consistency throughout the cold room.
Antimicrobial treatments on the interior surfaces of the cold room will help prevent bacterial growth and uphold a clean environment. These coatings suppress the development of microorganisms, thus lowering the risk of contamination and ensuring the safety of the stored items. LED lights are also ideal for cold room lighting. They produce less heat and consume less energy, making them energy-efficient and less likely to raise the temperature in a cold room. In addition, LED lights offer consistent bright illumination, ensuring that all areas are visible, and operations can proceed smoothly in the cold storage environment.
The doors of the cold room are essential in maintaining temperature stability and preventing heat entry. Thermal doors with sufficient insulation should be chosen to minimize temperature fluctuations and energy loss. The doors should have a robust sealing system to guarantee an airtight closure, preventing warm air from entering and keeping the cold air inside.
The vapor barrier film used on cold room walls and ceilings prevents moisture infiltration and condensation. By utilizing protective films, mold growth is minimized, thus preserving the structural integrity of the insulation. With application together with an insulated panel in the construction of cold rooms, better thermal efficiency and good performance of such cold rooms arise. HDPE is a strong and moisture-resistant plastic material widely used in building cold room floors and ceilings. It offers a smooth, impermeable surface that is resistant to both water and chemical damage, helping to prevent moisture from infiltrating the cold room and affecting the stored products.
The shift to regionally located cold storage facilities
Online shopping has allowed smaller brands to reach wider markets, which in turn has fueled the growth of redistribution services that repalletize and redirect products for faster delivery to diverse geographic locations.
At the same time, customers still want fresh products, even if they are shipped from distant manufacturers. Therefore, cold storage warehouses have to be more efficient than ever, moving perishable goods quickly while meeting the growing expectations for fast delivery.
This trend, however, calls for the implementation of smaller and regionally placed distribution centers for quicker delivery as well as greater shelf life. This is brought about by many organizations renting space from suitable existing premises to convert them to cold storage centers.
Modular cold storage construction
The advanced insulation materials and airtight construction of modular cold storage units minimize energy leakage. This ensures that the inside temperature is kept low with minimum energy consumption, which reduces utility costs. In some cases, the system may reduce energy consumption compared to the traditional methods.
The prefabricated nature of modular cold storage allows for speedy assembly on site, thus reducing the construction time of a facility. This speeds up the installation process, minimizes operational interruptions, and means businesses can operate in their new facilities. This kind of quick deployment means that firms can respond swiftly to changing needs for storage space without lengthy shutdowns.
Modularity provides the ultimate flexibility in a system, with the ability of businesses to quickly expand or change their storage capacities as demand arises. This reduces overinvestment in unused space and allows for customized solutions that specifically meet operational needs. This is very handy for growing companies, as it allows them to start small and scale up their units as required.
Modular cold storage construction costs are usually lower than traditional construction methods because of reduced labor and materials. Prefabrication significantly reduces on-site labor and construction time. In addition, it provides the option to expand or relocate units with minimal cost increases, thereby enhancing financial feasibility.
Krusinski Construction Company completed cold storage spaces in November 2024
Krusinski Construction Company, located in Oak Brook, Illinois, completed two major cold storage facilities for Mid-Atlantic and Santa Monica Seafood’s Mountain West expansion initiatives. These new facilities are part of the wholesaler's strategy to extend its reach beyond the U.S. Southwest, enabling it to deliver to 40 states within 48 hours of packaging.
Krusinski's work involves overhauling the building's infrastructure, including the installation of electrical services, new plumbing, sanitary lines, and floor drainage, all critical to supporting the sophisticated cooling and freezer spaces, packaging lines, ambient rooms, and refrigerated areas that operate in temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The Krusinski Construction team collaborated with the Citadel National Construction Group, a network of seven regional construction firms serving 17 cities.
Wafrah completed the construction of a cold-storage vegetable factory
In July 2024, Wafrah for Industry and Development Co. finished building cold storage warehouses with a capacity of 5,000 tons to store the raw potatoes required for the operation of the frozen potato lines at the Vegetable Factory. The company stated that the warehouses were funded using its resources, ensuring the continued operation of the Vegetable Factory during the off-season for potato cultivation.
AP govt planned to construct cold storage in all villages
In a move aimed at supporting farmers, the state government decided to build cold storage facilities in nearly all villages. In the first phase, at least one cold storage was constructed for every four Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs). Considering the difficulties farmers faced in marketing their produce, the government aimed to establish a cold chain network throughout all the villages. The horticulture department prepared a blueprint for the establishment of cold storage facilities in districts where horticultural crops were being grown.
The Centre extended financial support to build the required infrastructure under the agri-infra fund. Interestingly, the state government also decided to encourage individual farmers to construct cold storage by granting them a 40% subsidy.
To conclude, cold storage construction is becoming increasingly essential across various industries due to the growing demand for temperature-sensitive goods. With advancements in materials, modular construction, and regionally placed facilities, this sector continues to evolve, offering efficient, cost-effective solutions that ensure the freshness and quality of products while meeting industry regulations.