Custom-built warehousing caters for every variety of cooling need

INSTALATION OF cold storage operations is literally becoming big business in SA, with new-style “building-less” warehouses rising over 22 metres, or nine storeys. These are the largest self-supporting warehousing units in the world. “The sheeting is placed directly over the racking. There’s no building. On the outside, and on the inside too, it looks like a warehouse,” said Fred Albrecht, managing director of APC Storage Solutions. “Considering the relatively limited market in South Africa, we were surprised but pleased that the highest structure of this kind in the world is here,” said Albrecht. Every company dealing with perishables has its own needs, which require custom solutions. A company’s current operations are assessed first by an APC team. “We ask what does a company seek to achieve? They may want an automatic or manual system. We look at the land, the space, and come up with the most affordable optimal solution system for the customer,” Albrecht said. The results of the assessment are given to the design department, and then the engineers determine the cooling hardware required. The customer is offered the plan, and then machinery is imported and installed. APC Storage Solutions maintains manufacturing factories in Spain, Mexico and the US. The company has installed over 500 facilities running, “everything from chickens to major cold storage facilities,” Albrecht said.