Automated loading and unloading

In 2017, NewCold Advanced Cold Logistics designed a bespoke pallet handling pod to operate at its Wakefield deepfreeze storage facility and the same technology will be put to work at its new site in Corby, due to open in the Autumn of this year.

The pod effectively bridges the gap between the deep-frozen production or storage environment and NewCold’s auto-loading 44-pallet double-deck trailers. 

As soon as the product leaves the production line at minus 22 degrees, it is automatically loaded through a sliding door at the back of the 60-pallet-capacity pod, which itself is pre-cooled to the same temperature. From here the pallets are automatically transferred into the double-deck trailer, docked to the front of the pod.

Meanwhile, 3 refrigeration systems hold the temperature at a constant minus 25 degrees and being electric, keep harmful emissions to a minimum.

With loading into the pod completed in 5 minutes, every deep-frozen package or pallet remains at a constant set temperature of minus 22 to minus 25 degrees, and at no time during its journey from the production line to completed loading in the trailer does any pallet need to be exposed to an ambient environment or touched by an operative. This not only ensures absolute temperature integrity but virtually eliminates product damage.

The same process is reversed when the load reaches the NewCold warehouse where automatic unloading capability unloads the trailer, again in approximately 5 minutes, directly into a frozen storage facility.

Furthermore, faster turnaround times reduce supply chain cost and by linking directly to production loading, efficiencies are achieved at production sites. Also, points out NewCold, the company’s innovative double-deck trailers make a positive impact on the environment by significantly reducing road miles.

For more information, visit www.newcold.com