Have you ever been in a situation where you had to search for an item in your cold room for hours without any luck? Or perhaps you kept two products so close together that one contaminated the other? Or maybe you stored two products that required different storage temperatures in the same compartment and one got damaged? Well, if you’ve experienced any of these, then this article is for you.  Keeping your cold storage space organized can be difficult at times. It’s not just a matter of managing the goods; but it’s also about efficiently storing and arranging them. This article will show you the three key steps to maximizing your cold storage space and organizing any inventory you may have on hand. Why do you need to organize your storage space? Here are some reasons why you need to keep your storage space organized: 1. Temperature control  Proper organization allows for better temperature control. It ensures that products are stored in the appropriate areas of the cold room at the appropriate temperatures.  2. Efficient use of space  Organizing the space increases the amount of goods that can be stored. It also ensures that products are located and removed with ease. 3. Improved air circulation  Organizing the products in your cold room can also improve air circulation throughout the room, which can help to maintain a consistent temperature. 4. Easier inventory management  Keeping the storage space organized can make it easier to keep track of what products are stored in the cold room, how much of each product is on hand, and when products need to be restocked or used. 5. Easier to find products Proper organization of the products makes it easier for staff to find and retrieve products, which can help reduce the time it takes to complete tasks and improve productivity. 6. Food safety Organizing the goods in your storage space can also help prevent cross-contamination and ensure food safety. By storing raw, cooked, and ready-to-eat foods in separate areas, you can be sure your products are safe. 7. Compliance the food regulations Organizing the cold room can also help to ensure compliance with food safety regulations and guidelines by ensuring that products are stored at the appropriate temperatures and in the appropriate conditions. Organizing your products in 3 easy steps  Now that you know the benefits of having your storage space organized, let me take you through how you can achieve this in three easy steps: Step 1: Sort and categorize Sort and categorize your inventory by type of product, expiration date, and storage temperature requirements. This will allow you to determine which products should be stored together and at what temperature. Step 2: Label and store Label all products with the date they were stored and use the “first-in, first-out” (FIFO) method to rotate your products. This ensures that older products go out/are used before they expire. Store the products in the appropriate area of the cold room at the appropriate temperature. Step 3: Regularly review and adjust Regularly review your inventory and make adjustments as needed. This includes monitoring expiration dates, restocking products, and removing expired or spoiled products. You may also keep track of these using software or spreadsheets  Equipment/Tools That Can Help With Cold Storage Organization The following equipment are useful when it comes to cold room organization: (i) Racking and shelving systems These systems can be used to optimize the use of space and improve air circulation within the cold room. They can also be used to create designated areas for different types of products, such as raw meats, cooked meats, fruits, and vegetables. Shelves allow the effective use of every single space in your cold room from breath to length and everything in between.  There are different types of shelves in use these days: (a) Adjustable shelving: Adjustable shelving allows you to customize the height and spacing of the shelves to fit the specific products you are storing. This can help optimize the use of space and reduce wasted space. (b) Mobile shelving: Mobile shelving units can be easily moved to optimize space usage, and can be easily accessed from all sides. This can help improve the flow of products in and out of the cold room and improve productivity. (ii) Inventory management software This type of software can be used to track inventory levels, expiration dates, and product locations, which can help to ensure that products are rotated correctly and that out-of-date products are removed from the inventory. (iii) Barcode scanners and label printers These devices are used to create and print barcode labels for products, which can be scanned and tracked as they are moved in and out of the cold room. (iv) Pallet jacks and hand trucks Pallet jacks and hand trucks can be used to move and stack pallets of products in and out of the cold room, making it easier to manage the inventory and maintain proper organization. (v) Plastic bins and containers  Plastic containers can be used to store small items and help keep the inventory well organized, while also keeping the products fresh and protected. (vi) Label holders  These are used to tag the shelves, making it easy to identify the products stored on each shelf. Wrapping up  The key to keeping your products organized and efficient is to make sure things stay visible. By applying the suggestions identified above, you will not only be able to increase your storage space but also organize the inventory. You will also be able to reduce the amount of time it takes to complete order fulfillment and delivery. If you need a professional HVAC/R company to help you maintain, build, or install a cold storage facility, then you should talk to us at Ofin Global. Contact us via mail at info@ofinglobal.com.ng or WhatsApp chat on +2348063150242.

5 Things To Consider Before Designing A Cold Room Cold rooms are highly effective in preserving meat, vaccines, vegetables and other items, and they vary in size and cooling rate. Designing cold storage facilities to suit your exact business features and conditions will save you both energy, construction and installation costs. Are you considering building a cold room for your business? I’ll be sharing some important factors to consider before designing one. But first, What are the major components of a cold room?  The basic components of a cold room are: 1. Insulated panels  They are versatile, durable, lightweight, and energy-saving materials with thermal insulation qualities. One of the major benefits of cold room panels is that they are efficient at controlling the storage temperatures of your refrigerated room. 2. Compressors  They are the main components that run the cold room. It is the only device that needs energy to run. The compressor consumes almost all the power in a cold room. It is used to raise the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant vapor coming out of the evaporator. 3. Condenser units  They are required to remove the heat from the refrigerant and the circulating water. It carries out the phase change of the condenser from gas to liquid at high temperature and pressure. The condenser acts as a heat sink, and its heat exchange efficiency determines the efficiency of the cold storage plant. 4. Evaporator  This is where the cyclic process that lowers the temperature of the items stored takes place. It absorbs heat from the storage compartment or the environment that is supposed to be cooled. The heat from the compressor is then used to evaporate the liquid refrigerant. This way, the food items are cooled and preserved. 5. Valves  It uses a throttling device to lower the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant. The throttling process involves friction, and a change in the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant occurs. Source: Intarcon How does the cold room work? A cold room’s working principle is based on cooling the room by transferring heat from a high temperature to a low temperature. Through an artificial air flow, the warm air is condensed using a condenser. The compressor lowers the boiling point of the refrigerant by raising its temperature and pressure. The condenser removes heat from the refrigerant as it transitions from a gaseous to a liquid state. The refrigerant has now been moved to the reservoir for storage. The refrigerant is then transferred to an expansion valve to lower the temperature and pressure in the liquid state. The final stage occurs in the evaporator, where heat from the surroundings is used to convert the refrigerant back to a gaseous state, resulting in the cooling effect. This cool air is circulated by the blower. 5 things to consider before designing a cold room When designing a cold storage facility, there are some major factors that need to be considered. Follow me closely as I take you through these factors: 1. Type of cold room We have different types of cold storage facilities with different temperature ranges, so it is important to clearly define the temperature of your product before designing. We have five major types of cold rooms: i. Pre-cooling chamber: used for pre-cooling of products in the range of 0 to 8 °C. ii. Cold storage room (cool room): Used for cold storage in the range of +8 to +14 °C. iii. Cold storage chamber: used for cold storage in the -1 to 8 °C range. iv. Frozen storage chamber: used for the preservation of frozen products in the range of -18 to -24 °C. v. Blast freezing chamber: -25 to -40 °C used for range blast freezing. Whatever temperature you want, consult your HVAC/R experts. 2. Cooling goals with respect to products When designing a cold room, the calculation is done according to the type of products to be stored. Mismatched products and temperatures can lead to shorter storage and shelf lives of the products. They are useful for a variety of products and food processing or preservation, such as frozen product storage, cooled product storage, blast freezing, processing rooms, fruit or vegetable pre-cooling, fruit ripening, beef or cheese ageing, wine storage, convenience stores, medical tests or products, industrial material preservation, and so on. 3. Ecological regulations  There are refrigerating procedures and pieces of equipment that use cooling gas, which is extremely harmful to the environment. This is why you must comply with the regulations; otherwise, you risk incurring costs and environmental fines. Make sure environmental regulations are in check. Today, many businesses are considering this not only because it is necessary but also because it helps them to significantly cut their energy costs. What are environmentally friendly natural cooling gases? These gases include: i. Carbon dioxide (Co2), or R-744, is a low-damaging gas commonly used in the automotive industry. ii. Ammonia (NH3), or R-717, is a cooling gas primarily used in industries. It can be used either on new equipment or on an already-existing one. iii. Hydrocarbon (HC)-based cooling agents A3-ranked cooling agents, i.e., flammable gas-based These are applied to several small-scale cooling systems.  What are synthetic cooling agents? They include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). It’s well known that these chemical agents are environmentally harmful, especially for the ozone layer and the consequent greenhouse effect and global warming. Their use is strictly regulated, and they are rarely used. 4. Storage capacity The room’s proportions are defined by the required capacity, area, and regulatory condition. Different products need different cold room capacities. The decision to cool and export food immediately or to store it for a period of time is frequently influenced not only by the type of fruit and market conditions but also by the availability of storage space in the facility. However, highly perishable produce requires less storage space than less perishable items because it cannot be held for long periods without losing quality. Therefore, when designing a cold room, adequate

Is frozen food hazardous to my health? Frozen food, also known as TV dinner, has taken over most kitchens these days. However, when it comes to nutritional content, people believe fresh food to be better. But fresh isn’t always the best option—or the most convenient. Since frozen food’s popularity is at an all-time high, it pays to be informed about the food you’re eating. What sets frozen food apart from fresh food? What are frozen foods? These are foods taken through a freezing process and stored at the temperature prescribed for the food. To ensure the compliance of such food with the requirements, the period of freezing must be as short as possible. They may include fruits, vegetables, snacks, or even a full-blown meal. It is an affordable way to get your daily dose of fruits and vegetables. With so many choices in the frozen food aisle, there are plenty of opportunities to find something you like. Also, they are perfect for those who do not have time to go to the supermarket daily; since you can store them for long periods without deterioration. What are the benefits of freezing foods? They are beneficial in so many ways, but I’ll be taking you through my top 4.  1. Easy and Flexible Frozen foods are flexible and are everywhere—at supermarkets and convenience stores. It varies from fruits to vegetables and even to a full-blown meal. Zero cooking is involved, nor is washing up pots and pans at the end. They can be cooked in the microwave or oven in no time at all. 2. Highly Nutritional  Freezing typically retains their vitamins and minerals, and their carbohydrate, protein, and fat content are unchanged. In some cases, they contain more vitamins and minerals than fresh foods because fresh foods lose vitamins and minerals over time, whereas freezing retains nutrients. 3. High Quality Generally, we decide what we eat based on “freshness.” However, it is a common myth that all fresh foods are more nutritious and tastier than frozen foods. Many studies comparing fresh and frozen vegetables found no difference in nutrient content, as both contained the same vitamins and minerals. Freezing is nature’s way of preserving food. Humans have been freezing food for thousands of years. 4. Cost-effective They are a convenient and affordable way to incorporate healthy foods from all groups, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, proteins, and dairy. It is not only cheaper but it also helps reduce food loss. Even with the long list of benefits, we can agree that so many people still have a problem consuming them. Follow me closely as I uncover some health concerns associated with frozen foods and the truth behind them.  Are frozen foods hazardous to my health? Frozen foods are not hazardous to your health. Frozen food is just as nutritious as fresh food. This misconception may come from the fact that we see “fresh” produce in grocery stores only a few days after it’s picked. The truth is, most fruits and vegetables are frozen within hours of being harvested at their peak ripeness. Frozen foods contain the same nutrients as their fresh counterparts, but they do lose some vitamins and minerals over time because they’re not exposed to natural air and light like fresh produce. This loss of nutrients is very small and doesn’t affect the overall quality of the food. In fact, freezing preserves nutrients better than canning does, according to experts at the Institute of Agriculture and Food Sciences at Purdue University. Other frozen food myths.  There is a markup for the preparation and freezing process. However, they are a budget-friendly way to eat healthy foods and quick dinners without spending big bucks on off-season produce and restaurant meals. Probably cheaper than fresh. The same applies to summer and winter squash. It’s also, as mentioned, quick-frozen for just a few hours during the post-harvest season, so it’s probably much healthier. Packaged frozen meals are often much healthier and cheaper than takeout or delivery. Save money and calories ( and possibly fat and sodium) and stock up on family favorites from the freezer for nights when dinner is too tasking. 2. Frozen meals are pumped with chemicals. That used to be the case. But today, you can find healthy alternatives that are minimally processed tucked away in the frozen section. Read food labels before buying. Look for unnecessary preservatives and additives, and return them when you find them. A number of health food companies have found innovative ways to freeze food without these unwanted ingredients. Freezing is itself a preservation technique. You can find healthy, minimally processed foods if you search. Wrapping up We have established that the cold chain for freezing food must be optimized at all times. Freezing right after harvesting or processing requires an effective storage facility in order to retain its nutrients and prolong its shelf life.  At Ofin Global, we produce durable and highly effective cold storage facilities. We remain the number one choice of many cold room businesses all around Nigeria. If you need a professional HVAC/R company to help you maintain, build, or install a cold storage facility, then you should talk to us. .