GERMANY’S first advanced automated cold store was built by KLM Logistic in the city of Rheine. Munters provided the dehumidification systems required to secure optimal distribution performance by eliminating ice, mist and condensation.
Globally recognised as a refrigerated logistics leader due to their advanced automated case picking solution, the site holds a total of 68 000 pallets in the warehouse which contains frozen products such as ready-made-meals, ice cream, cakes and fish products.
KLM distributes the products to distribution centres in Germany, Benelux, Southern Europe, the UK and Poland with more facilities planned.
Every day about 200 trucks leave KLM’s facilities in Rheine. In the summer season no fewer than 60 trucks are loaded daily with ice cream that KLM repacks into assorted boxes before redistributing.
The large number of loadings every day means the doors to the cold stores are frequently opening. This allows moist and warm air to enter the loading dock and further into the cold store where it will cause snow, frost and ice formations. Ice can then build up on the packed goods, disturb reading of barcodes, soften and damage the packing materials.
Traditional problems in cold stores
Ice and frost on the walls, ceilings and floors is a well-known problem that leads to costly man hours spent on manual removal of ice and frost, and it also causes dangerous conditions for forklift drivers. The efficiency of freezing equipment including evaporators will be reduced due to ice build-ups, and lengthy defrosting cycles are needed to remove the ice.
The solution at KLM
When KLM opened the facility, they contacted Munters after receiving a recommendation from another logistics centre. KLM was aware that the fully automated picking and loading system in the huge cold store that operates at a temperature of -24°C, could not function without a solution that would effectively control the humidity. In the air locks at all loading docks, KLM decided to install Munters desiccant dehumidifiers run continuously.
Dehumidification tackles the root of the many cold store problems by removing moisture from the warmer, humid outside air that enters the loading dock. By reducing the humidity in the air in the loading docks, the water content in the air that penetrates further into the cold store is so dry that condensation of the air is prevented. Thereby the formation of snow, ice and frost is no longer a risk.
KLM’s automated cold store would not be able to operate without using dehumidification. The many sensors and conveyor bands for the automatic picking and loading of goods would be problematic due to ice build-ups, so the humidity must be kept low and constant throughout the year.
With Munters dehumidification, the automated picking and loading system runs continuously without unplanned stops.
The Munters dehumidification division is represented within the Southern Africa region by SMAC Enterprises, their sole distributor and business partner.
Go to www.airtreatment.co.za for more info.
