NewCold invests $160 million in Australian cold storage expansion
Netherlands-based cold chain company NewCold recently added Simplot Australia as a customer and shared its plan to invest another $160 million in its facility in Victoria, bringing its total investment there to $460 million.
NewCold says it will more than double the size of its Melbourne 2 facility, providing customers “advanced features and a seamless experience.” At 43 meters high, the site will expand from 115,000 pallet positions to 225,000. The extension will include 30,000 pallet positions for ambient/chilled and 85,000 for frozen goods.
“Simplot is excited to be partnering with NewCold on our future Victorian frozen warehouse solution,” said Graham Dugdale, Simplot Australia’s managing director. “We were attracted to NewCold’s fully automated AS/RS high-bay solution, world-class systems, energy efficiency, and productivity, which stand above conventional cold storage solutions.
“The new facility will ensure Simplot can continue to efficiently deliver the products that Australia’s leading retail and foodservice customers depend on and ultimately provide an improved customer experience.”
The facility will serve as a “one-stop shop” with ambient, chilled and frozen capabilities, setting new service standards. The site boasts ene of the largest automated high bays in the world and a container park, the company said.
The expanded facility is scheduled to be operational in 2022. Simplot is expected to transition all of its frozen products there in 2023.
“This is a great day for NewCold and the cold storage industry in Australia,” said Bram Hage, founder and CEO of NewCold. “It is very pleasing to see our continued investment and growth in Australia as we seek to build a long-term strategic relationship with Simplot. Our robust global pipeline includes the delivery of at least six new capital projects, as we continue to develop multiple large-scale automated facilities across Europe, Australia and North America.
“This momentum confirms a very positive future for customers and an innovation boost for the industry. As we continue to expand our global presence, we support local communities in efforts to foster economic growth and create high-quality employment opportunities.”
The Melbourne cold storage facility will use state-of-the-art technology, including automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), to automatically move and store products in the high-bay warehouse, NewCold said. The equipment and operators will be directed by NewCold’s advanced software systems, while products are kept in optimal conditions. This solution ensures that processes are sustainable, traceable, fully integrated with the processes of NewCold’s customers, and at the very forefront of technological developments.
Mobilization and construction activities started at the end of May.
“Collaborating with respected partners like Simplot drives our success, as we share an ambition to transform the industry and reimagine the global food supply chain,” said Abhy Maharaj, NewCold’s executive vice president for business and growth. “We have invested and grown our regional head-office in Melbourne who will be leading the expansion development in close cooperation with our partners and stakeholders in Australia and Europe.
“We are confident that Oceania will continue to be an opportunity-rich region with at least another three new large-scale sites planned for development in the near future.”
