Operating at temperatures as low as -28°C provides a number of challenges. Similar to Chill Distribution one of the key requirements in cold stores is to reduce energy costs associated with keeping the environment at such low temperatures. Drive-in Racking and Mobile Racking are common features to maximise storage capacity within chambers however they can present operational issues. In-DEX Warehouse Management Software (In-DEX WMS) has significant racking management logic to minimise the impact of such constraints.
Our dual cycling functionality allows for minimal opening of mobile racks, maximises forklift journeys, while also minimising the number of times the doors are opened into chambers which also reduces energy loss.
In-DEX WMS manages ancillary activities such as Blast Freezing & Tempering. Temperature probes inserted into the stock within the blast freezer, or tempering room, can minimise the time product stays in these locations by automatically generating an In-DEX WMS extraction command by taking an electronic feed from the probe when the product reaches the required temperature, instead of a fixed period. This saves energy while increasing capacity.
Principal Logistics Technologies have some of the largest cold stores using its technology with some sites having over 160,000 pallet spaces moving 4,000 pallets daily.
 Grocontinental is one of the UK’s leading international storage and distribution companies. The company operates 24/7 from its purpose built 30 acre site in Whitchurch, Shropshire. The company oversees 143,000 pallet spaces of multi-temperature storage and 5,000 daily pallet movements.
Rick Bestwick is a leading provider of 3PL cold storage services based in Chesterfield Derbyshire. The company manages 117,000 pallet spaces and provide a range of services such as Blast freezing, tempering, pallet building of serial tracked variable weight items all managed and controlled by In-DEX WMS.
Castlecool (a member of the Agro Merchants Group) is Ireland’s largest 3PL Cold Store & operates from 3 sites: Lough Egish, Castleblaney and Dundalk. All sites use In-DEX Warehouse Management Software, from a centrally hosted server, to manage and control a range of complex services to large blue-chip food operators.