9 min read
Ammonia vs CO2 refrigeration in 2026
Two natural refrigerants, two engineering cultures, two operating costs per pallet. A practical comparison for cold-storage operators choosing today.
By Tomas Brennan
engineeringrefrigeration
News and field notes
Writing from the dock.
Engineering, operations, compliance, and the small numbers that matter on a cold chain. No press release fluff.
7 min read
Energy contracts for cold storage, fixed vs index
Electricity is the second-largest line on a cold-storage P&L. The contract structure matters as much as the rate. Fixed, index, and hybrid, compared.
By Linda Rasmussen
energyoperations
8 min read
How FSSAI cold-chain compliance changed in 2025
The 2025 FSSAI guidance shifted the cold-chain audit conversation in India. Three changes that matter most to operators and to the customers they hold inventory for.
By Aisha Okonkwo
compliancefssai
6 min read
The hidden cost of dock-door dwell times
A trailer sitting at the dock with the door open is a refrigeration plant fighting summer. Most operators do not measure the cost. Here is how to.
By Daniel Chen
operationsenergy
8 min read
The case for solar at a cold-storage facility, and where it falls short
Cold-storage rooftops are huge and electricity bills are heavy. The math on solar is good, with three caveats most operators do not talk about.
By Maya Whitfield
sustainabilityenergy
8 min read
IQF tunnel sizing, a practical guide
Oversize an IQF line and you waste capital and energy. Undersize it and you miss the harvest window. A practical framework for getting it right.
By Tomas Brennan
blast freezingengineering
9 min read
Pharma cold storage vs food cold storage, what is actually different
From the outside the two look identical. Big box, cold air, racking. Inside, the SOPs, the setpoints, and the audit posture are different sports.
By Priya Anand
pharmacompliance
6 min read
Why 80% of recalls happen at the warehouse, not in transit
The reefer trailer gets the blame and the headlines. The warehouse is where most of the actual recall causes start. Here is why, with our data.
By Aisha Okonkwo
food safetyoperations
7 min read
Reefer trailer telematics, what to actually monitor
Most reefer telematics dashboards show 40 signals and surface 4 alerts. We strip it down to the six numbers that actually move the cold-chain needle.
By Daniel Chen
transportationtelematics
6 min read
Cross-docking in cold chain, when to insist on it
Cross-dock is the fastest way to move cold product, and the worst place to discover your 3PL is sloppy. When to insist on it, and when to pass.
By Daniel Chen
operationscross-dock
6 min read
Five signs your blast freezer needs recalibration
Blast freezers drift. The drift is gradual, the signs are quiet, and the cost shows up on the QA bench long after. Five things to watch for monthly.
By Tomas Brennan
blast freezingengineering
7 min read
Why pallet positions beat sqft for cold-chain capacity planning
Square footage looks tidy on the spec sheet. It lies about what your operation can actually hold. Here is the math behind why pallet positions win.
By Daniel Chen
operationscapacity planning