Why You Might Need a Temperature Controlled Warehouse

In many areas, temperatures are regularly above 100 degrees in the summer and often below freezing in the winter. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. These drastic weather changes and extreme temperatures are fairly normal for most of the United States and even the world. When you have products being stored and moved around the country, especially lately with supply chain delays, you want to be sure they are well protected from those temperature fluctuations. Depending on what you have, the temperature of your storage could affect your inventory. That’s where temperature controlled storage facilities come into play.

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What Does Temperature Controlled Storage Mean?

Temperature controlled warehouses are kept at a consistent temperature above freezing and below 90 degrees (often below 80). They also help to keep a constant humidity, in addition to the temperature, so that your products will not experience the challenges associated with low or high moisture like mold or mildew. These facilities ensure your inventory is not subject to extreme heat, extreme cold, or other weather events or variations that could harm them.

Why Do I Need a Temperature Controlled Warehouse?

Temperature controlled storage space keeps your inventory at a safe temperature all year long. But who actually needs their products stored at that safe, consistent temperature? Well, it may seem obvious that some types of products would need this more than other types, but in reality, nearly every single item out there could benefit from temperature control. The benefits ensure that the different materials and components that make up the items you sell are kept in proper condition while storing them.

If you sell food or some pharmaceuticals, it seems obvious that you will need a temperature controlled warehouse to keep those things from spoiling or going bad too soon. However, food, beverage, and medicine are not the only things that can benefit from temperature control. In fact, most items will do better when stored at a consistent, controlled temperature. Whether the products are being stored short-term or long-term, temperature changes can impact on them. Temperature control helps protect your inventory from sudden weather events (like ice storms, dust storms, wind storms, heat waves, etc.) and keeps them from adverse reactions to too much moisture from excess humidity. 

Let’s look at what happens to various components that you may use in your products when they are exposed to extreme weather conditions. Metal parts will expand or contract when the temperature changes. Wood parts can experience wood rot if stored incorrectly over time. Plastic or rubber parts might melt if it gets too hot (think a Phoenix summer in a warehouse). Humidity can create condensation and grow mildew, and moisture can damage electronic components.

When considering temperature controlled warehousing, there are a few key questions to ask yourself about your products and the materials that make them. These questions will give you a chance to think about what your products are and what they are made of, so you can decide if temperature control is for you:

• Can it get damaged from mold or mildew? 
• Can it warp, crack, or become discolored from moisture or heat? 
• Would high heat cause it to expand or contract? 
• Does it need to be stored at a specific temperature (like artwork)? 
• Are any of the materials sensitive to extreme heat or cold? 

4 Benefits of Temperature Controlled Warehouses

There are four key benefits of using a temperature controlled warehouse. Even if you do not sell electronics, food or beverage, or medical supplies, you might find a benefit that will help your products stay in good condition longer, so you can keep your customers happy when their order is received.

1. Protection from Extreme Temperature 

This is probably the primary benefit people think of when they hear “temperature control storage.” It is a huge benefit, especially in areas subject to potentially extreme weather like parts of Texas or parts of Minnesota (and just about everywhere in between at various points of the year). It will keep your products stored at a consistent temperature, somewhere between 55 and 85 degrees, so the risk of damage from temperature or weather events is drastically decreased. No matter the outside weather conditions, like a week of 120 degree days or a three-day-long ice storm, it will impact the temperature inside where your products are stored.

2. Improved Air Quality 

Many temperature controlled warehouses have improved air quality. Improved air quality primarily benefits sensitive items like artwork, collectibles, or antiques. But it can also help any product you want to keep in pristine condition. This is a huge benefit to you if you are going to provide a good customer experience, even if the product being sold is not a bestseller and may sit in storage for a little longer than other products.

3. Barriers Against Dust and Debris 

There are often barriers against dust and debris getting into a cold storage facility. This means that your temperature-sensitive products like electronics will not get damaged from dust. Dust gathering not only on top of the boxes but creeping into the electronics can  potentially cause damage that won’t be detected until it gets to the customer, causing a negative customer experience.

4. Humidity Control 

This is a big one for people who have products that can be damaged by mold and mildew (hint: that’s just about everyone!). When there are fluctuations in humidity, mold and mildew can grow, or rust can develop, damaging products that have parts made out of wood, metal, leather, or paper. Humidity can render some products, especially those with electronic components, unusable. 

Your Temperature Controlled Logistics Partner

When you are looking for a temperature controlled logistics partner, you are looking for someone that you can trust to keep your products safe, no matter the outside weather conditions. Rakuten Super Logistics has temperature controlled facilities around the country, so your products can be ready to go in good condition when your customers place their order. If you are ready to learn more about how temperature control can protect your inventory during storage and order processing, get in touch today for a quote. 

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