Danfoss, Sabharwal Food open green cold storage facility at Sonipat

Danfoss India, a leading provider of climate and energy solutions, and Sabharwal Food Industries Pvt Ltd have set up the first green cold storage model at Roshan Frozen and Cold Storage, at Sonipat, Haryana. This multi-commodity cold storage, facilitating high-quality food safety and minimal food loss from farm to consumer, aims to bridge the demand supply gap in the cold chain industry that has led to major food loss over the last decade abetting food inflation.
 
The model cold storage facility, designed to European standards, has palletised storing capability and is equipped with material handling keeping in mind the hygiene norms to minimise human intervention. In addition to ensuring high food quality, this model cold chain facility is also the most cost effective and energy efficient solution in the market catering to some of India’s renowned and established companies in the food retail, processed food and frozen food market like HUL, Nestle, Mother Dairy etc.
 
Growth in the organised retail and food service industry coupled with rising export demand for processed and frozen food have contributed towards the interest in reviving this sector. Increasing demand for improved food quality, freshness, better hygiene standards, temperature controlled delivery, and year-round availability is crucial for the food industry.
 
India’s cold chain industry is still evolving, scattered and operating below capacity. As per Assocham reports, the Indian cold chain market is highly fragmented with more than 5000 cold storages in the whole value system. The report also indicates that temperature controlled warehouse cold chain market is expected to reach Rs 624 billion by 2017 with an approximate capacity of 46.6 million tonnes. However, most equipment in use is out dated and single commodity based contributing to the below capacity utilisation of the stores.
 
Multi commodity cold stores especially in areas closer to consumption centres will be able to cater to different fruits & vegetables depending on the supply and demand and reduce food loss. These losses cost India both in terms of food inflation and lower export volumes. For example, while 11 percent of world’s total vegetables production is accounted by India, the country’s share in global vegetable trade is only 1.7 percent.
 
However, this scenario stands to improve with government’s efforts in reviving this sector by encouraging increased investments by providing the sector with infrastructure status and allowing 100 per cent FDI through the automatic route. Increasing collaboration with the private sector and backed by NABARDs fund infusion, modernisation of existing facilities is underway and establishment of new ventures via private and government partnerships are being considered.
 
With a capacity of 5000 MT, the model cold storage at Sabharwal is compliant with FSSAI/ food safety norms. At this facility, six vehicles can be docked at a time at the entries to the cold storage chambers. Delivery from the vehicle to the storage rooms is a sealed process, controlling the entire area and temperature to avoid food loss. Most of the functions are mechanical to ensure food safety unlike in a conventional cold room where workers are involved in the movement of the stocks.
 
The entry is swipe card controlled to minimise human contact with the food products thereby improving the hygiene quotient in handling food. Equipped with tracking and traceability function Sabharwal Food Industries is capable of operating the cold store all-round the year with varying loads allowing customers to stock and cater to demand as required.
 
Ravichandran Purushothaman, president, Danfoss India and chairman of CII National Task Force for Cold Chain Management, said, “Energy consumption for cold stores is highly influenced by the design criteria of the refrigerating system. Studies have revealed that 60-70% of the total consumed electricity in cold stores is used for the refrigeration plant. We have closely worked with customers in India and have engineered innovative solution which helps companies like Sabharwal Food Industries cut down their opex by 20% with efficient energy efficient solutions .This has not just direct benefit to cold storage owners but also helps farmers to maintain right storage conditions & reduces weight losses for produces thereby increasing their pricing realisation.”
 
Customised solutions by Danfoss ranging from variable frequency drives to industrial refrigeration applications like valves and electronic controllers such as liquid level controllers, defrost controller, pulse modules, and extension modules among others have been instrumental in realising this green cold room.