SSI Schaefer Mobile Rack System for ZORBAS Cold Store

Zorbas's cold store facility operates a frozen food storage facility that faced a common but critical challenge: maximising pallet storage capacity within an existing cold store room where expansion was not an option. In temperature-controlled environments, every cubic metre of refrigerated space carries significant operational cost, making storage density a key performance metric for the business.

The constraint was clear: the cold store footprint was fixed, yet ZORBAS needed to increase pallet positions to meet growing demand without constructing additional refrigerated space. Traditional static racking would not deliver the required density improvement. The facility also operates in Cyprus, where seismic activity is a material consideration for any tall storage structure.

SPIMA specified and installed an SSI Schaefer mobile rack system engineered for cold store environments. Mobile racking eliminates the need for multiple fixed aisles by mounting entire rack bays on rails, allowing them to move laterally to create a single working aisle wherever access is needed. This configuration can increase storage density by compared to conventional selective racking in the same floor area.

The system was designed to meet seismic requirements appropriate to the Cyprus region, ensuring structural integrity under lateral loading conditions. Cold store operation introduces additional engineering considerations: the racking must withstand temperature cycling, operate reliably in sub-zero conditions, and accommodate the weight of fully loaded pallets of frozen goods across.

The installation was completed within the existing cold store structure, avoiding disruption to the building envelope and maintaining the integrity of the insulated room. SPIMA handled design, supply and installation as a turnkey project, coordinating rail installation, rack assembly and commissioning to deliver a fully operational system.

The outcome provides ZORBAS with substantially increased pallet storage capacity in the same refrigerated footprint, reducing the cost per pallet stored and improving operational efficiency in a facility where every degree of refrigeration and every square metre of floor space has a direct cost implication.