INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
PROJECT
© Cold Link Africa condition . Babylonstoren remains a wine farm and produces ( including from neighbouring farms ) red wine , white wine , and MCC ( Méthode Cap Classique ).
Babylonstoren is developing a fleet capable of delivering products at three different temperatures . " We are working on a project to deliver fresh ambient products between 2 ° C and 5 ° C , frozen products under -25 ° C - and warm bread ," Redelinghuys explains .
One of the innovative ideas Babylonstoren is pursuing is delivering warm bread to its customers . This involves a logistical challenge : " We have a supplier who makes the bread overnight and delivers it fresh in the mornings . We want to deliver warm bread , so that ' s the next challenge ."
Babylonstoren ' s success in Johannesburg builds on their previous experience . " In Cape Town , they started the project with a new cold room and a massive warehouse . Our setup here is based on that , but on a smaller scale ." This prior experience has been invaluable in replicating and scaling the operations efficiently in Johannesburg . Currently , Babylonstoren offers next-day delivery , with a focus on quality and exceptional service .
UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF THE PROJECT
Bloom sheds light on some challenges faced during the cold storage project ' s design and installation . Initially , the team had to decommission existing cold rooms and repurpose the equipment . " We had to re-use refrigeration equipment and panels , which was a challenge due to the differing volumes and requirements ."
Another significant challenge involved the air curtains used for loading vehicles . " The air curtains were not initially made for the specific vehicles we use , so we had to make adjustments ," Redelinghuys notes . This included modifying the air curtain height and fitting Velcro curtains to accommodate smaller delivery trucks .
The project places a strong emphasis on energy efficiency . " We ' ve used Daikin condensers because they are efficient on electrical energy , using inverter technology ," says Bloom . This focus on sustainability is crucial for maintaining the cold chain while minimising energy consumption .
Product shelves are protected by glass doors .
© Cold Link Africa
The office in Midrand .
Babylonstoren ' s cold storage facility is designed with future growth in mind . " Our capacity has more than doubled , and we have room to install additional cold storage if needed ," says Redelinghuys . The facility is expected to support growth for the next three years , during which the company aims to continue expanding organically without compromising quality and service . CLA
LIST OF PROFESSIONALS :
Owner Developer Architect / Designer
Consulting engineer
Contractors
Product suppliers
Electrical Mechanical Wet services Civil Main building HVAC & Refrigeration Wet services Electrical Product Cold Room Panels / doors Dehumidifiers Steel Concrete Backfill Compressors Coils Cabinets Freezers Controls
© Cold Link Africa
Early work on the foundations .
Name of company Babylonstoren Babylonstoren Neill Powell Neill Architects Advance Electrical WFW Engineering BG Consultants CST Structural Engineering Services WFW Engineering Cool Reaction WFW Engineering Advance Electrical Supplier Dalucon Munters / SMAC Enterprises WFW Engineering Metier Raumix Daikin Colcoil Colcab Defy
Initially an online venture launched during the Covid-19 pandemic , and the business quickly saw success motivating us to offer the same fresh produce in Johannesburg starting three years ago .
Automotech
COLD LINK AFRICA • September 2024 www . coldlinkafrica . co . za 23