Air curtain cold storage distribution centre: AFIM IGLO® Technology
Description of the air curtain cold storage distribution centre
In order to reduce the energy cost of transport to and from its freezer room, supermarket chain Spar opted to install an AFIM IGLO® air curtain in its distribution centre in 2011. This high-pressure air curtain cold storage was delivered and installed by the company Air In Motion. The combination of the unique function of this high-pressure freezer room air curtain (AFIM® Air Doors) with active air drying not only prevents condensation and ice formation, but also considerably reduces energy consumption.
Benefits air curtain cold storage distribution centre Spar
The advantage of a high-pressure air curtain cold storage is that it opens up the field of view and thus creates free passage for transport. Due to the high volume of transport going through this entryway, a strip curtain or high-speed door is not a viable solution. Furthermore, the AFIM IGLO® allows for the freezer room temperature to be maintained despite the fact that the door remains open for transport. This strongly reduces the frequency at which the evaporators have to defrost, which not only brings practical benefits but also considerably reduces energy consumption.
About Spar distribution centre
In 2011, Spar Holding built a new centre of distributions in the Harbour industrial zone, on land next to Harbour Seven that used to belong to the Swanenberg Iron Group. Apart from building the 23,000 m2 distributions complex with cold storage, Spar also moved its headquarters to Waalwijk. The entire complex was built by the construction company Aan de Stegge from Twello. All in all, the project came at a price of around 25 million euros. The previous distributions centre in the Moerdijk municipality (Zevenbergen) was too small, leading to operational inefficiencies.
The backbone of the Dutch Spar branch is formed by autonomous Spar and Attent retailers. All of the approximately 600 stores are supplied from two centres of distribution, namely the Northern centre in Alkmaar and the Southern centre in Waalwijk. Spar Holding is a perfect fit for Harbour Seven, which is increasingly shifting its focus to the logistics sector.
Together, the Spar Holding headquarters and cold storage complex employ around 300 people. Spar Holding moved into the new buildings in June 2011.
Source: https://www.sparholding.nl
Sector
Food, distribution centre
Location
Waalwijk (The Netherlands)
Benefits
– Free passage for transport
– Freezer room temperature maintained
– Evaporators need to defrost less
– Saves energy
Temperatures
– Adjacent room: +2°C
– Freezer room: -22°C
Solution provided by
AFIM IGLO® (air curtain cold storage distribution centre)
