New installations and retrofitment of facilities witness growth acceleration

Vishnu Sasidharan, VP and Business Head of Climate Technologies at PLUSS Advanced Technologies, sees much potential in the growth of the cold storage sector in the frozen and chilled categories. Urbanisation and the demand for localised logistics are driving this expansion. The trend leans towards smaller cold storage units.

What is your perception of India’s growth prospects in cold storage and warehousing market growth?

There is a very large scope of growth in the Frozen and chilled cold storage category, which is driven by urbanisation and the need for agile logistics to cater to this segment. These cold storages are small, 1 to 5 metric tons, and are used to cater to clusters within cities. The growth for new and existing retro fitment/ revamping is growing.

What recent advancements have taken place within your company?

As a company, we are focused on tapping opportunities with the potential for either energy-cost savings decarbonisation or reduction in product loss. Our PCM technology essentially provides an innovative method to store cooling. We focus on how this ability can help meet the customers’ objectives. Most recently, in the last few months, we have had two exciting developments. Firstly, the data collection and diagnosis online portal launched recently provides access to customers for information on various parameters of the operation of cold storage remotely. Secondly, we launched a superior PCM product – leak-proof – A form stabilised   Phase Change Materials (PCM) designed for products at +5 deg C. This year, we plan to promote this technology, with traction already building up with the Defence segment and Global logistics companies where there is an increased need for durability of PCMs packaging. This PCM enables minimising the cost of bulky plastic packaging and offers a very robust mechanical property.

What features would you recommend for environmentally friendly cold storage facilities?

Energy efficiency must be the cornerstone of environmentally friendly cold storage design. With refrigeration systems accounting for up to 70% of energy consumption in cold storage operations, even marginal insulation and thermal retention gains can yield significant savings.

We recommend a layered approach that includes high-performance insulation using materials with low thermal conductivity to minimise external heat ingress. Thermal energy storage systems such as PCMs help shift energy loads and maintain temperature consistency during power outages or transit. Furthermore, implementing smart monitoring systems enables tracking and optimisation of real-time energy usage. Finally, transitioning to natural refrigerants and lower global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants further improves environmental sustainability.

How is the rise of online shopping impacting demand for cold storage and warehousing facilities?

The surge in online grocery and food delivery services has significantly increased the demand for decentralised, last-mile cold storage hubs. The focus is now on smaller, strategically located cold storage that supports quick turnaround and maintains product integrity through precise temperature control. E-commerce players require agility and speed, and cold storage is adapting to this shift with flexible infrastructure, often enhanced with thermal energy storage like PCMs to ensure temperature maintenance during handling and short-haul deliveries.

How have air curtains and automated doors contributed to energy savings in cold stores?

While we do not manufacture these solutions, we certainly recognise their importance. Air curtains and automated doors are critical in minimising temperature fluctuations during frequent door openings. They act as thermal barriers that prevent warm air from entering the cold chamber, reducing compressor load and enhancing overall energy efficiency. Using them in combination with PCMs can further stabilise internal temperatures and reduce peak load consumption.

How do IoT, digital monitoring and sensors optimise the performance of cold storage?

IoT-based monitoring has become an essential tool in modern cold storage management. It enables real-time temperature, humidity, door openings, and energy consumption tracking. This data helps operators respond proactively to anomalies, optimise energy use, and predict maintenance needs. While our core is thermal energy storage, our off-grid solar-based cold rooms are integrated with digital tools to assess performance and validate energy-saving outcomes.

What are the latest advancements in automated material handling solutions for commodities in the supply chain?

Automation in cold storage, particularly for pallet handling and retrieval, is seeing growing interest. Solutions such as AS/RS (automated storage and retrieval systems), AGVs (automated guided vehicles), and shuttle systems are being adopted to improve efficiency and reduce manual exposure to cold environments. Though not our primary area, we view such automation as complementary to our mission – since consistent temperature and speed are vital to reducing product spoilage and energy loss, where PCMs again play a valuable supporting role.

What recommendations do you have for increasing cold storage capacity in the country?

We need to move beyond traditional, large, centralised cold storage to smaller, distributed, and specialised cold storage close to urban clusters and production hubs. Policy support for such decentralised infrastructure and incentives for energy-efficient technologies, like advanced insulation and thermal energy storage, would go a long way. We also believe in revamping and retrofitting existing facilities with modern materials to quickly scale up capacity without waiting for green-field projects.

What are your focus areas and plans for the future?

We focus on enabling sustainable cold chain solutions contributing to energy savings, product integrity, and emissions reduction. We are expanding our footprint in cold storage applications—both static and mobile—and working with partners across the food, pharma, and logistics sectors. Our key drivers will be continued innovation in PCM formulations, packaging solutions, and field-level performance validation. We also see potential in co-developing integrated solutions with equipment and monitoring companies to deliver higher value to end users.

For more information, visit: https://www.pluss.co.in/