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New smart frozen food storage system promises energy and labour savings

Norwegian retail technology firm, Strongpoint, says it has successfully trialed its new multi-zoned frozen food system with food distribution company Haugaland Storhusholdning.

The trial took place at the company’s distribution facility in Svelo, Norway, where the technology, called AutoStore Multi-Temperature Solution, was put to the test.

Haugaland Storhusholdning CEO Oskar Kirkeleit explained that his company is the first to trial the system, reporting that it helped to “boost operational efficiency and creates a safer work environment for our employees.”

Discussing the multi-temperature system going live, Jaco Tveraabak, CEO of Strongpoint said: “The solution will revolutionise grocery operations by enabling safer and more efficient picking of frozen inventory,” adding that the general release of the technology will be taking place in the first quarter of 2025.

What does the technology installation mean for grocery retailers?

Knut Olav Nyhus Olsen, senior vice president and spokesperson at StrongPoint explained that there are several primary and secondary areas where the technology will bring all-important cost savings to grocery retailers. Primary costs cover infrastructure, such as robots, bins, and control components, and secondary costs include integration and customisation, maintenance, and staff training.

Typically, it can cost anything upwards of $1 million for a small freezer installation, to $10 million for a larger scale project, complete with 50,000+ storage bins and 50+ robots, Olson said.

“StrongPoint is the only AutoStore partner that has delivered an operational site with three temperature zones and also especially designed for grocery logistics,” Olson explained.

“This solution required nearly two years of development to create special features and software to support the entire value chain. StrongPoint acts as both designer and installation partner, and also provides advisory services for such projects,” he added.

How efficiencies will help retailers recoup their investment

Olson points to four primary areas where retailers will be able to recoup their investment thanks to several specific improvements. Those areas include increased efficiencies gained from better storage density and reduced picking times, together with reduced labour costs, energy savings, as well as higher throughput enabling faster order turnaround and enhanced stock control.

The AutoStore Multi-Temperature Solution has also been designed for easy installation and setup, thanks to user-friendly software, further enhanced by minimal human intervention once the technology is installed and up and running.

Olson added that scalability has been built into the design, ensuring the easy addition of robots and story grids, so retailers can grow operations according to specific demands without it being too complex.

The grocery retailers that will be best suited to the technology

Olson explained that the technology has been designed with flexibility in mind, making it ideal for a broad range of grocery retailers working across a selection of frozen storage volume requirements.

“AutoStore, in general, is used in all types of industries that have stock keeping units (SKU’s) that fit into the standard bins,” Olson noted. “Our new temperature-controlled AutoStore is addressing a major headache that has faced the industry for decades: How to make robots work in -25 C/-13 F degree environments?

“This has now been solved. All industries that use chilled and/or frozen storage can use this invention. This fits extremely well with the food industry where multi-scaled temperature zones are needed. It also fits the pharmacy sector, 3PL [third party logistics], large warehouse retailers, and others that today need sub-zero environments.”

Efficiencies include cutting down on potential food waste

Olson also explained how, because foods can be kept at their optimum storage temperature, this can significantly reduce spoilage due to improper storage.

“We have seen that the food items have much less ice and frost on the packaging due to a more stable humidity and temperature in cube storage,” Olson noted. “The StrongPoint software system allows for real-time inventory tracking, ensuring products are picked on a first-expired, first-out (FEFO) basis. This reduces the likelihood of spoilage.

“Improved efficiency with faster picking and order fulfillment means that perishable goods spend less time in transit or storage, thus extending their shelf life, also keeping an unbroken cold chain for a longer period. Our software keeps track of each batch, and in case of recall we make sure that disposals are only done for the relevant items.”