FEATURE |
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN |
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Image by © Cold Link Africa
Staycold ’ s TGC
during blackouts with some piloting of this technology with a cold storage company to quantify potential savings .” Cunningham then shifted focus to innovations in case picking within mobile racking systems . Contrary to the belief that mobile racking is unsuitable for case picking , he demonstrated a successful implementation in a Cape Town cold store . By designing a cantilever at the back of the mobile racks , workers can navigate around the back with pallet jacks , allowing
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Image by © Cold Link Africa
The Barpro team .
for efficient case picking . The store initially had a single picking aisle but found success by doubling the number of picking aisles , further optimising the system .
“ A cold store manager once told me that ‘ full pallet storage covered his costs , but case picking generates his profit ’. This insight emphasises the importance of integrating efficient case picking systems into cold storage operations . Historically in South Africa , case picking and full pallet storage have been carried out in separate
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stores , but combining them can maximise efficiency and profitability . Properly executed case picking within mobile racking systems allows cold stores to retain the benefits of vertical storage while maintaining easy access to individual cases .”
For high-volume , fast-moving products , Cunningham suggests a multitier mezzanine picking system ( the example he used was similar to the system employed at Eskort , featured in CLA July issue ). “ This system places slow-moving items on the upper levels
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and fast movers on the bottom . Workers can pick items from pallets on the mezzanine , using warehouse management systems to track inventory locations . Once picked , pallets are moved to the floor level to assemble loads , ensuring the cold chain remains intact until the products are loaded onto trucks . This method offers significant advantages over traditional systems where picking occurs in ambient temperatures on loading docks , risking temperature breaches .”
He notes that although an early attempt in Durban 28 years ago didn ' t succeed due to its heavy-duty concrete construction and high costs , modern designs are more efficient and cost-effective , making mezzanine picking systems a viable option for today ' s cold storage facilities .
“ In the UK , mezzanine floors are almost a standard feature in mobile racked cold storage . The ability to maximise storage while maintaining accessibility is crucial . One reason why companies are reluctant to adopt mezzanine case picking inside freezer stores is the challenge of ensuring that workers can operate comfortably in freezer conditions . Traditional methods , such as rotating staff between warm and cold areas , have proven inadequate . Prolonged exposure to extreme cold , even with breaks in warmer environments , is detrimental to health and productivity .
“ To address this , Barpro is collaborating with Delf freezer wear , a company specialising in protective clothing . This innovative design enables workers to
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