NewCold, the Advanced Cold Logistics company has been expanding quickly across the UK. The logistics company is also looking at expanding in to the US market by investing in a new coldstore located in Tacoma. It is thought that the Tacoma site is one of the largest in the country with the capacity of more than 25 million cubic feet.

The warehouse space in Tacoma cost $50 million and is the first large US project for NewCold, according to the company’s business development manager, Jonas Swarttouw. Jonas is also in charge of managing the logistics company’s US operations. NewCold is working alongside Trident Seafoods, who is the company’s first major US client in order to carry out the project in Tacoma.

The Advanced Cold Logistics business is expected to have their Tacoma warehouse operational by the middle of this year. The intention is to make the warehouse fully automated, and the business will be using their experience from operating in Europe to try and make sure that their US extension is successful. Their European operations include a site in Wakefield, in the North of England.

As part of the aim for a fully automated warehouse there will be less fork lifts and an increased use of conveyors and robots. These robots and conveyor equipment will be used to collect customers’ orders. It is thought that automating a warehouse is the best way to combat the increased costs that are incurred with labour, energy and land. The pressures of increased costs and demand to have more efficient shipping and faster delivery means that more businesses are looking to automated solutions.

At the Wakefield warehouse, NewCold is expanding their fleet by taking delivery of 36 new Volvo FH Tractors. These new vehicles are part of the plans to upgrade their fleet and meet the increased demand for the company’s services.