The Satellite Review Magazine 2017 Satellite Review Magazine_pages hi res | Page 34

COLD SUPPLY CHAIN
HOW THE
Cold Supply Chain
can benefit from automation
By Gary Frank
VP of Automated Systems, Westfalia Technologies, Inc.
I
n recent years, the cold supply chain has grown to
include not only food and beverage companies, but also
biopharmaceuticals. In fact, Pharmaceutical Commerce
projects that by 2020 the global biopharma industry will
produce $360 billion worth of products that require refrig-
erated storage and transport. Combine this with the food
and beverage industry and the cold chain is a big business.
But with sub-freezing environments and the need to
maintain safe product temperatures, the cold supply chain
also presents unique challenges for companies. Fortunately,
technology exists that can help companies overcome these
challenges, and better yet, thrive – automation.
Here are four ways organizations and the cold supply chain
can benefit from automation:
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Safer Working Environments
With temperatures sometimes reaching -38 degrees Fahr-
enheit, the cold chain can be a grueling work environment.
Currently, the majority of refrigerated and frozen food
warehouses employ manual operations, requiring staff to
pick and palletize orders in these frigid conditions. But
by installing high-quality and cold-engineered automated
order picking systems, or systems that bring cold product
out of the freeze to be picked, businesses that mostly ship
full pallets can let technology do more of the work. Thus,
staff can take on safer, higher-level responsibilities in the
management and maintenance of these automated systems.
However, if a business still requires fork-trucks operate in
freezer environments, these fork-trucks can be fitted with
heated cabs so the operators are protected from the frigid
environment.

www. WestfaliaUSA.com