German manufacturer Viessmann Refrigeration Solutions and Noyes Technologies, a supplier of automated storage systems, on April 12 announced a partnership to develop an automated refrigeration system to serve retailers and quick-delivery providers.

The modular cooling technology will be designed for the NoyesStorage automated “nano-warehouse” storage system.

The new refrigerated system is intended to simplify and streamline storage of products with complex requirements such as temperature and hygienic safety, the companies said in a statement. The offering is expected to be available by 2023.

The system “will be developed to have minimum ecological impact, based on the natural refrigerants, and ensuring energy optimization,” the companies said. Viessmann is a provider of propane (R290)-based commercial cabinets and cold rooms.

“Until now, there has been no solution on the market to store different products with varying temperature requirements in a confined space and in an energy-efficient, flexible way,” said Marco Prueglmeier, co-founder and CEO of Noyes. “By partnering with Viessmann, we are now developing a revolutionary system with measurable added value for customers.”

“We are proud to partner with such an innovative company as Noyes, with its extended expertise in robotics,” said Frank Winters, CEO of Viessmann Refrigeration Solutions. “Their strengths combined with Viessmann’s digital, sustainable, and integrated solution offering will create a future-oriented offering specifically for urban logistics. Both traditional retailers as well as the quick commerce companies are welcome to contribute to a revolutionary new eco system for bringing food to people.”

The companies noted that grocery suppliers are faced with “a particularly difficult challenge” given the strict specifications for the storage of groceries.

“Refrigeration has repeatedly been named as one of the biggest challenges; compliance with the cold chain must be ensured, perishable products such as fresh meat and dairy products must be constantly checked for their best-before date, and different environments must be maintained for individual product groups,” they added. In high-rent urban storage areas, storage systems should additionally be as space-efficient as possible, the companies said.

The modular design of the new refrigerated system “enables the storage system to be assembled according to the customer’s individual requirements and with a precise fit,” they said.

“Until now, there has been no solution on the market to store different products with varying temperature requirements in a confined space and in an energy-efficient, flexible way,”

Marco Prueglmeier, Noyes Technologies

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