🧊 Inventory Intelligence for cold storage

Welcome back to CubeCold News where we cover the latest developments in the cold chain industry and temperature-controlled logistics.

In today’s edition:

• Lineage explores connection between food infrastructure and economic development

• Ti Cold and Agile Cold Storage are building a new facility near US-Canada border

• Gather AI expands into freezer & cold storage Inventory Intelligence

• Fusion builds standard cold chain solution on SAP BTP

• 2024 World Cold Chain Symposium replay now available online

News

Lineage explores connection between food infrastructure and economic development Findings from research firm Economist Impact underscore the cold chain’s critical role in generating positive economic, social, and environmental outcomes. The report examines four key pathways:

1. Economic: Improved infrastructure boosts farmer productivity and income by enabling access to markets and resources.

2. Nutritional: Better storage and transport networks increase access to diverse, nutritious foods and reduce spoilage.

3. Social: Enhanced food systems create opportunities for people and support education through improved nutrition and time savings.

4. Environmental: Climate-resilient infrastructure helps farmers adapt to changing conditions and reduces food system emissions.

The report emphasizes that infrastructure alone is insufficient; complementary policies and collaborations between governments, NGOs, and businesses are crucial. (read the full report here)

Ti Cold and Agile Cold Storage are building a new facility near US-Canada border Ti Cold and Agile Cold Storage are collaborating to open a new cold storage facility in West Seneca, New York, near Buffalo and the Canadian border.

• This is their third joint project, following facilities in Macon, Georgia, and Pearl River, Louisiana.

• The advanced 132,865 sq. ft. facility will feature a 65' clear height, single very narrow aisle (VNA) design, and maintain temperatures from 4°C to -23°C.

• It incorporates an eco-friendly, low-charge ammonia refrigeration system using natural refrigerants.

• Construction begins this month, with the facility scheduled to be operational in 2025. (link)

Gather AI expands into freezer & cold storage Inventory Intelligence Gather AI has expanded its inventory intelligence solution to include freezer and cold storage environments, marking an industry first.

• This innovative system uses drones to perform automated inventory counts in harsh cold conditions, allowing employees to view results from a comfortable dashboard.

• The solution scans up to 900 pallets per hour, 10 times faster than traditional methods, and improves inventory accuracy by up to 70%.

• Key benefits include reducing staff exposure to challenging conditions, ensuring FIFO compliance, monitoring inventory age and expiration dates, preventing shrink, and reducing mispicks and fulfillment delays.

• Gather AI's technology utilizes computer vision and machine learning for autonomous drone navigation and inventory analysis. (link)

Fusion builds standard cold chain solution on SAP BTP The biopharma industry faces significant challenges in managing cold chains, with an estimated $35 billion in annual losses due to temperature control failures.

• 50% of vaccines are rendered ineffective upon arrival, posing health risks and wasting resources. Strict regulations mandate temperature monitoring to ensure drug stability and quality.

• Fusion Consulting developed a Cold Chain Management Solution (CCMS) on SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) to digitalize tracking of time products spend in different temperature zones.

• CCMS provides visibility, automates workflows, and integrates with SAP systems to enhance efficiency and safety.

• Integration with SAP Batch Release Hub enables seamless data sharing for quality checks and batch decisions. (link)

2024 World Cold Chain Symposium, focused on building a sustainable cold chain, replay now available online Symposium replay is available online, featuring expert discussions on sustainable cold chain development, including technology, financing, and capacity building. Access the replay here.

Other headlines

Tower Cold Chain introduces Carbon Calculator to help customers assess and reduce the environmental impact of their logistics operations.

Mullen Automotive partners with Emerald Transportation Solutions to develop a refrigerated upfit for its Class 3 all-electric truck.

Kimberly-Clark Australia and Woolworths partner to reduce plastic waste in supply chain by removing secondary packaging, saving 15 tonnes of plastic annually.

OnAsset Intelligence and ClimateSecure collaborate to integrate IoT solutions into temperature-controlled air cargo ground handling carts.

Considerations for building and buying cold storage facilities.

That’s it for today!

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