In the world of cold chain storage — where temperature-sensitive products are stored and transported under precise conditions — having efficient and reliable storage systems is paramount. Whether you are storing pharmaceuticals, fresh produce, or perishable food items, the integrity of the cold chain must be maintained to ensure product quality and safety. In this article, we will explore how SpanTrack carton flow solutions like SpanTrack Lane and SpanTrack Wheel Bed offer exceptional advantages that enhance cold chain storage and improve overall operational efficiency.
The Role of Cold Chain Storage
Cold chain storage is a critical element in industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. For businesses in these sectors, maintaining the right temperature throughout their supply chains is essential for preventing spoilage, ensuring product efficacy, and meeting regulatory standards. To achieve this, temperature-controlled warehouses, refrigeration units, and specialized storage systems are used to preserve the integrity of the products.
However, it’s not just about temperature control. Optimizing the flow of goods and ensuring ease of access to stored products are crucial factors that can impact operational efficiency. This is where SpanTrack carton flow solutions can make a huge impact.
SpanTrack Carton Flow: Designed for Efficiency in Cold Chain Storage
SpanTrack carton flow systems are engineered to provide dynamic and efficient storage solutions that ensure FIFO (First In, First Out) stock rotation, which is especially important for perishable products. SpanTrack carton flow is one of the most effective FIFO storage systems on the market. What’s more, SpanTrack can withstand cold temperatures, making it a supreme choice for operations requiring cold storage.
SpanTrack Lane: Streamlined Flow for Temperature-Sensitive Goods
SpanTrack Lane is a gravity-driven carton flow solution that utilizes angled roller tracks to allow products to flow seamlessly from the back to the front of the system. This system is particularly advantageous for cold chain storage in the following ways:
- FIFO Inventory Management: As we mentioned before, FIFO stock rotation is crucial for managing perishable goods like those in cold chain storage. SpanTrack Lane ensures that older items are picked first, reducing the risk of spoilage and ensuring that products stay within their shelf life.
- Easy Accessibility: SpanTrack Lane provides easy access to products by eliminating dead zones in areas of shelving that are typically unreachable. In cold environments, where time spent opening and closing cold storage areas should be minimized, the streamlined flow of goods is essential for maintaining efficiency and reducing energy consumption.
- Maximized Space Efficiency: Cold storage environments often have limited space, so optimizing your storage layout is vital. SpanTrack Lane helps maximize vertical space by utilizing every square inch of space within racks, enabling warehouses to store more products in a smaller footprint while still providing easy access.
SpanTrack Wheel Bed: Durability and Reliability for Cold Storage, Plus Increased Flexibility for Left-to-Right Slotting
SpanTrack wheel beds are flexible carton flow beds that drop into existing structures to create the ultimate flow rack system for order picking operations requiring a high level of flexibility in slotting SKUs. Universal wheel beds are particularly useful in environments storing products of varying shapes and sizes. Here’s why SpanTrack Wheel Bed is an excellent choice for cold chain storage:
- Temperature-Resilient: SpanTrack Wheel Bed components are designed to withstand the harsh conditions found in cold storage environments. SpanTrack Wheel Bed is freezer/cooler rated below zero! These systems are engineered to perform reliably without deteriorating, ensuring the longevity and efficiency of the entire storage system.
- High Load Capacity: The durable construction of SpanTrack Wheel Bed allows it to handle heavy loads, which is often a requirement in cold chain storage where large or bulk items need to be stored. It helps reduce wear and tear over time, improving the lifespan of the system and ensuring consistent performance.
- Reduced Restocking and Picking Time: With SpanTrack Wheel Bed, workers can replenish stock from the back while order pickers access items in the front, a critical factor in maintaining efficiency in cold storage. By reducing the amount of time workers spend inside the cold storage area, energy consumption is minimized, and the integrity of the cold chain is better maintained.
Top Reasons Why SpanTrack Carton Flow Excels in Cold Chain Storage
There’s no denying cold storage environments are challenging. They require systems that not only perform well in low temperatures but also offer operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use. SpanTrack Lane and SpanTrack Wheel Bed meet these needs with the following benefits:
1. Enhanced Operational Efficiency
Both SpanTrack Lane and Wheel Bed reduce time spent retrieving and organizing inventory. Since cold storage products often have limited shelf lives, every minute counts when it comes to accessing stock. These freezer-rated carton flow solutions help to streamline workflows, ensuring that workers can quickly access products, reduce labor costs, and speed up order fulfillment, all while maintaining product integrity.
2. Minimized Risk of Product Spoilage
Again, by ensuring FIFO stock rotation, SpanTrack reduces the chances of older products being left behind and eventually spoiled. This is especially important in cold chain storage where product turnover is a critical factor in maintaining quality.
3. Energy Savings
Cold storage facilities are energy-intensive, and the longer doors to refrigerated or frozen areas are open, the more energy is consumed. SpanTrack Lane and SpanTrack Wheel Bed help minimize the time workers spend inside the storage area by allowing quicker access to products. This helps reduce energy costs and supports sustainability initiatives.
4. Adaptable for Multiple Product Types
SpanTrack solutions are flexible, making them suitable for different types of products. Whether it's frozen goods, refrigerated pharmaceuticals, or fresh produce, SpanTrack can efficiently and effectively store a range of product types, sizes, and quantities.
Learn how ThermoFisher used SpanTrack to improve picking efficiency and accuracy. Download the Case Study.
SpanTrack’s Freezer Rating
The most critical part of what makes SpanTrack great for cold chain storage is its freezer/cooler rating of course! SpanTrack is designed to perform in extremely low temperatures, from refrigerated environments to deep-freeze storage areas below 0°F. These systems are rigorously tested to ensure that the components, such as the wheels, rollers, and channels, will not warp, crack, or lose functionality in cold environments.
UNEX has specifically engineered SpanTrack products to be freezer-rated, meaning they are constructed with materials that can handle the thermal stresses of extreme cold without compromising performance. The durable construction ensures the system will continue to function smoothly even when exposed to the subzero temperatures often found in cold chain environments, such as freezer storage for food or pharmaceuticals.
Additionally, SpanTrack systems maintain their load-bearing capacity and smooth movement of cartons even in these freezing conditions. The materials used to make SpanTrack are designed to prevent freezing and ensure the tracks continue to operate smoothly, even at low temperatures. This reliability in extreme conditions is essential for cold storage facilities large and small.
Revolutionizing Cold Chain Storage with SpanTrack Carton Flow
As businesses with cold storage needs seek more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective solutions, SpanTrack carton flow systems like SpanTrack Lane and SpanTrack Wheel Bed offer exactly what facilities need to maintain operational efficiency. And not just in their cold storage areas! SpanTrack carton flow is widely used throughout many different storage settings and environments with a range of temperatures. These systems provide dense storage, streamline order picking, and ensure that FIFO stock rotation is followed to prevent product spoilage.
By reducing handling time, improving space utilization, and minimizing energy costs, SpanTrack carton flow enables cold chain operators to optimize their storage processes while maintaining the highest product quality and safety standards. Whether you’re looking to improve inventory management, reduce operational costs, or enhance product flow in a cold storage environment, SpanTrack carton flow offers the ideal solution to meet modern cold chain storage needs.
With its freezer-rated design, SpanTrack ensures long-term reliability and performance in even the most challenging environments, making it the ultimate choice for businesses seeking to improve efficiency in cold chain storage and storage in general. Contact UNEX today to learn more about how SpanTrack can revolutionize storage in your facility!
