NewCold on track as UK’s biggest deepfreeze nears completion

NewCold has nearly completed the second phase of construction at its Wakefield deep frozen storage and distribution centre which, says the company, is set to become the largest of its kind in the UK.

Due for full operation by June 2018, the facility will handle 3,000,000 pallets annually and with a total volume of over 1 million cubic metres and pallet storage capacity of 143,000, at minus 23 degrees, it boasts some of the most advanced automated technology anywhere in the world.

The storage plant is fully automated to ensure cold chain integrity, and minimal handling helps to eliminate temperature fluctuations. For example, when the doors of a trailer open they do so into the frozen environment which eliminates risk of exposure to ambient air.

Pallets are off-loaded from NewCold’s bespoke-designed double deck trailers using moving floors which connect to a conveyer system. From there, shuttle cars and buffer lanes handle 175 pallets in and out every hour and just five minutes is required to unload a trailer. The automation used maximises product integrity and eliminates human error on picking orders.

“Automation is all about investment” says NewCold’s Country Director Jon Miles, “and Wakefield is consistent with our business model in all the countries we operate throughout the world. We have a number of major contracts on the horizon and already we are projecting to be over 70% full by June 2018. Our logistics operation is also expanding in line with the core operation and we now operate 50 tractor units and 75 temperature-controlled trailers – many of which are high-volume double-deckers with auto-loading.”

Although rapidly expanding, NewCold’s growth plan for the UK is far from complete. Demand is at its highest ever in the UK deep-frozen storage sector and this, coupled with the probability of additional business stemming from Brexit, has led to the company seeking additional UK facilities.

Jon Miles concludes. “The establishment of a new UK hub will further strengthen our leading position as a ‘one-touch’ provider of end-to-end frozen logistics and supply chain solutions.”

Tel: 01924 601071

www.newcold.com