WELCOME TO THE “COLD RUSH” by Conrad Winter

REFRIGERATED STORAGE PROVIDERS RUSH TO FILL DEMAND THROUGH NEW BUILDS AND BIG INNOVATIONS

By Conrad Winter | Jaxport Magazine, pages 34-36.

In a recent publication of Jaxport Magazine, author Conrad Winter compares the current landscape for refrigerated space to that of gold rush in San Francisco, nearly two centuries ago.

“173 years after San Francisco witnessed the rush that brought speculators and entrepreneurs by the thousands to the area for cold, hard gold, logistics hubs across the country like Jacksonville are experiencing a rush for refrigerated space like nothing before.

Opportunity caused the gold rush of 1848, but investment, innovation and infrastructure fueled its growth. The same is true with the cold rush of today. The need for cold storage appears insatiable, and the current infusion of funds, expansion and space-saving innovations is fueling progress at an astounding rate.” (Winter, 2022)

Conrad’s article highlights JAXPORT’s strategy for handling this “rush”, including the arrival of FlexCold this summer, located just three miles from the port.

Conrad writes:

“Companies aren’t just expanding laterally across the country. Given the high costs of construction, new facilities are being designed and built with higher clearance heights with a strong focus on maximizing space utilization. The key to productivity and energy efficiency in these facilities is in making the most of vertical space. Older buildings tend to have lower ceilings, hence today’s demand for new builds.

In addition to high ceilings, FlexCold will use mobile racking to maximize the number of pallet positions in their new temperature-controlled warehouse three miles from JAXPORT. Mobile racks allow for greater density, increased product accessibility and storage, and can move around to make room for other cargo.

Jeff Manno, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of FlexCold, said mobile racking created by affiliate company FLEXSPACE will enable their JAXPORT facility to accommodate 25,000 pallet positions in a 150,000 square foot facility. He added that to achieve the same number of pallet positions with a static racking system, it would typically require 70,000 to 100,000 additional square feet.

Technology represents the next frontier for cold storage providers in maximizing cube utilization through improved flow and speedy turnover of pallet positions.”

Read the full article>

Winter, C. (2022). WELCOME TO THE “COLD RUSH”. Jaxport Magazine, 34-36.