cold chain logistics solutions

Cold chain environments introduce some unique operational challenges that directly impact performance, cost, and compliance.

Temperature Exposure During Loading

Every minute a trailer door remains open increases the risk of temperature deviation.

In cold chain logistics, as little as a 1°C deviation can significantly reduce a product's expected shelf life, making even short exposure periods a serious risk to product quality.

In pharmaceutical supply chains, the consequences are even more severe. Under USP <1079> and World Health Organisation (WHO) GDP guidelines, uncontrolled temperature excursions can compromise product compliance and quality, requiring it to be quarantined and investigated for safety.

Improving the performance of cold chain operations means addressing how goods move, not just how they are stored.

Speed Protects Temperature Integrity

In cold chain logistics, speed is a critical factor in maintaining product integrity.

Faster loading operations significantly reduce the amount of time trailer doors remain open, limiting exposure to ambient air and helping to maintain stable internal temperatures. This directly reduces the risk of temperature deviation and subsequent product spoilage, particularly for sensitive goods with narrow tolerance ranges.

Multiple industry studies highlight that the loading process is one of the highest exposure points in the entire cold chain. For example, temperature abuse occurs most often during the loading and unloading process, making it one of the highest exposure points in the entire process.

In pharmaceutical logistics, the WHO's Model guidance for the storage and transport of time- and temperature–sensitive pharmaceutical products (TTSPPs) have guidelines in place to ensure the protection of TTSPPs when going through the loading and unloading process, due to the exposure and potential damage that can occur at this stage.

In food logistics, the loading process is considered a critical control point (CCP), meaning failure to assess this stage correctly will likely lead to damaged, compromised or unsafe goods.

Key Benefits:

• Loading times reduced by up to 90% (load a full trailer in just 2 minutes)
• Reduced temperature exposure and fluctuations during loading
• No forklifts required
• Consistent, repeatable operations

Operational Impact:

• Increased throughput capacity
• Lower labour dependency
• Improved safety and compliance 

Manual Loading Systems

For operations with lower throughput requirements, manual loading systems provide a flexible and cost-effective way to improve cold chain performance without full automation.

Solutions such as Rollerbed Systems reduce the need for intensive manual handling by enabling smoother, more controlled movement of goods within trailers. This helps to speed up loading processes while maintaining better control over product positioning and airflow.

By reducing reliance on forklifts and minimising unnecessary handling, these systems help protect both product quality and trailer condition, while still delivering measurable efficiency gains.

If you don't require an Automated Loading System due to less throughput, our Rollerbed systems (compatible with reefer trailers as cold as -30° celcius) offer:

• Faster loading vs forklifts
• Reduced manual handling
• Better control in cold environments
• Lower product and trailer damage, as forklifts don't enter the trailer

Cold Chain Food Logistics

In food logistics, speed and accuracy are essential to maintaining freshness and preventing waste. Products often have short shelf lives, high throughput requirements, and strict delivery windows.

Speed and accuracy is essential to keep food fresh and damage free.

Operations must balance:

• High throughput
• Short shelf life
• Tight delivery windows

With optimised loading processes, food logistics operations benefit from:

• Faster dispatch times & quicker loading times
• Improved product quality & shelf life
• Reduced waste & better sustainability practices

Inefficiencies in cold chain handling don’t just impact your operations, they directly contribute to waste, with transportation-related issues responsible for a significant share of global food loss.

Temperature-sensitive Goods Loading Case Study

A leading perishable logistics provider operating in the air cargo sector implemented a Powered Cargo Rollers system to improve the handling of temperature-sensitive goods.

Previously reliant on forklift loading, the operation required personnel to enter trailers and manually position Unit Load Devices (ULDs), creating safety risks and increasing the potential for product damage and delays.

By installing our Powered Cargo Rollers system, the business was able to introduce a controlled, single-operator loading process, eliminating the need for personnel inside the trailer and enabling consistent, precise movement of cargo.

This resulted in safer operations, reduced handling risk, and improved turnaround time predictability, critical factors in maintaining the integrity of temperature-controlled supply chains.

Around the world, we’re known as the number one; the global leader in loading and unloading solutions. This is not only because we are the largest but also the first too; we've been pioneering loading solutions since 1962.