The main function of a freezing facility is to store food items at optimal temperatures, which ensures that the product remains fresh in the long run. It may also help to reduce spoilage in the short term.
The main challenge in cold storage facilities is balancing energy costs and temperature stability. This constant battle forces operators to look for new technologies and strategies that will protect their products from damage while keeping operating costs low.
Energy efficiency
Energy efficiency is a key component to minimizing energy usage in your freezing facility. This is a good way to save money on your energy bills and also protect the environment by cutting carbon emissions.
In a cold storage facility, a large percentage of the electricity consumption is used to run pumps, motors, fans and conveyors. These systems are all designed to keep the refrigerated space at low temperatures so that commodities can be thi cong kho lanh and securely.
New generation compressors use less energy to supply a given pressure, which improves operational efficiency. These compressors also run cooler and last longer than conventional ones.
As a result, upgrading to energy efficient models can save a significant amount of money over time. For example, FEMP calculates that an ENERGY STAR-certified laboratory-grade ultralow-temperature freezer can save more than $1,674 over its lifetime, compared to a model that is not as efficient.
Thermal energy storage (TES) is a great way to reduce the 24/7 energy use of refrigeration systems. TES uses phase change material (PCM) to store thermal energy during off-peak periods, and can help facilities avoid up to 90% of peak period power usage.
With energy costs becoming increasingly volatile, the cold storage industry is looking for better technologies that help them reduce their energy consumption. TES can contribute to corporate sustainability and renewable energy goals by dramatically reducing grid-based energy consumption, while also helping facilities meet food quality and safety standards.
Inventory management
Inventory management is a vital part of managing your business’s supply chain. It helps ensure that there’s always the right amount of stock on hand to satisfy demand, and it also alerts you to any shortages so you can quickly reorder them.
Whether you’re a retailer, a shipper or a manufacturer, ensuring that your inventory levels are accurate is essential to successful business operations. This can be difficult to accomplish with spreadsheets, but a dedicated solution will help you maintain a complete picture of your inventory and provide real-time updates on its movements.
Accuracy is an important aspect of inventory management because it allows you to track and manage your goods effectively from order placement to the final sale. This can be done through a combination of automated methods, such as barcoding and radio frequency identification (RFID), or manual methods, such as periodic inventory counts.
A good inventory management system enables you to set minimum order quantities and reorder points for individual products. This allows you to reorder when you reach those targets, which saves you money in the long run and helps you keep customers happy.
Once you’ve established a process for managing your inventory, it’s time to schedule an inventory count. It’s a great opportunity to get your team together and review the storage spaces in your freezer facility. This can help you prepare the area for the count, and it will make the operation a little less stressful for the staff.
Walk in cooler
A walk in cooler is an insulated box with a refrigeration system that maintains cold temperatures. It is a great way to store food in a safe manner. They are popular in restaurants and fast food chains.
The key to a well-working walk in cooler is to keep it clean. It is important to unplug the unit when not in use and to wash it with lukewarm water and soap. It is also important to sanitize the evaporator and condenser coils to avoid build up of dust that can shorten the lifespan of the unit.
Commercial walk in coolers come in a wide range of sizes to meet your needs. These sizes vary by manufacturer, but most offer nominal sizing, which means the height and width of the unit are fixed at a specific size.
Some walk in coolers also feature a self-contained refrigeration system, which includes the evaporator coil and compressor on a single frame. This type of system can help keep the air inside a unit more consistent, according to Martinez.
A commercial walk in cooler can be used to store a variety of different types of food, including fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products. It can also be used to prep ingredients, such as sauces and chopped veggies.