Cold Chain Solutions

Offering Chilling Innovations

The cold storage sector in the UAE is well-positioned for future development and innovation because of its topnotch logistical infrastructure and the advantageous location at the intersection of Asia, Europe and Africa

Anam Khan anam@khaleejtimes.com

The UAE’s refrigeration and cold storage industry has expanded significantly in recent years as a result of rising consumer demand for food and pharmaceuticals. The nation is a hub for logistics and cold storage services due to its advantageous location as a key transit country between Asia, Europe, and Africa.

According to Research and Markets, the need for frozen and chilled food goods, medicines, and chemicals will drive the UAE cold storage market’s compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5 per cent between 2021 and 2026. The research also highlights the industry’s expanding emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency, as well as the increased use of cutting-edge refrigeration technology.

Among the key players in the UAE refrigeration and cold storage sector are Al Furad Refrigeration, Ampex Engineering Services and Technical Supplies & Services Company. These companies have established a strong presence in the market, offering a range of innovative solutions and services to meet the growing demand for cold storage and logistics.

Leading refrigeration solution supplier in the UAE, Al Furad Refrigeration provide tailored solutions to satisfy the unique demands

of its customers is one of its main competitive advantages. The business closely collaborates with its customers to comprehend their demands and build suitable systems. Due to this, the business has amassed a devoted following of clients and developed a solid name in the industry.

Another significant participant in the UAE’s refrigeration and cold storage market is Ampex Engineering Services. It emphasise innovation and technology as one of its main advantages. The business has made significant investments in research and development to create cutting-edge refrigeration systems that are sustainable and energy-efficient. Due to this, the business has managed to outperform its rivals and get significant contracts for the sector.

Established in 1973, Technical Supplies & Services Company (TSSC) is another one-stop solutions provider for the cold chain, building and housing industry. The company invests heavily in green initiatives that are in line with its commitment towards a more sustainable engineering in terms of design and production.

Leading the way

The growth of the UAE refrigeration and cold storage sector has also been driven by the government’s focus on developing the country’s logistics infrastructure.

The cold transport market in the UAE is expected to grow really fast, with a substantial high demand for temperature sensitive and perishable goods, food and pharmaceuticals, alongside an increase in consumer spending on retail goods.

Established in 1973, Technical Supplies & Services Company (TSSC), is a one-stop solutions provider for the cold chain, building and housing industry. A member of Harwal Group, the company has long been a pioneer in the manufacture of isothermal bodyworks. Headquartered in the UAE, with manufacturing and sales facilities across the region including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Russia. TSSC employs the latest construction techniques to produce over 200 insulated vehicle bodies per month to the highest standards which guarantee thermal efficiency and durability.

From small to large, midtemperature to deep-frozen, TSSC’s Refrigerated Truck Division builds refrigerated vehicle bodies for pickups,

trucks, vans and trailers according to specific requirements. These vehicle bodies are ideal for transporting dry goods as well as food products such as dairy, poultry, meat, fruits and juices. Insulated bodies can be constructed to maintain temperatures as low as -25°C. Some of the other industries apart from food and beverage that utilise TSSC products and services include the pharmaceutical and medical industry for transporting temperature-sensitive medicines, medical samples and medical waste products, the beauty / cosmetic industry — heat and direct sunlight can have chemical effects on beauty products — the animal livestock industry and the electronics industry — low temperature is a critical factor for sensitive electronic equipment.

A few features of the products that makes TSSC stand out are its unique aerodynamic profile box designs that help reduce drag and improves fuel efficiency, high insulation panels that improve temperature retention, tem-

perature monitoring system, and the choice of flooring panels for different applications — anti-skid aluminum checkered plate, food safe and water proof GRP and T profile checkered aluminium for better air circulation. Other features include refrigerated trailers with multi- temperature movable partitions, range of accessories from European partners — meat hanging, PVC curtains, under slider tail lifts, range of shelving. Unlike other manufacturers, TSSC does not design box structure for chiller vans — panels are designed and installed to provide maximum cubic storage space. In addition to after sales service we offer comprehensive service for refrigersted boxes at our service centres in Sharjah and Dubai Investment Park.

TSSC continues to invest in green initiatives that are in line with its commitment towards a more sustainable engineering in terms of design and production. Its solar powered refrigeration unit provides various benefits such as less energy consumption, less noise pollution, elimination of emissions from diesel exhausts and less dependency on the truck engines to maintain cooling in cases where engines are shut off.

TSSC’s innovative solutions also include Eutectic plate systems for freezer applications, which ensures the maintenance of temperature inside a refrigerated truck for long periods, even after the unit has been disconnected from the power supply. To know more, get in touch Website:www.tsscgroup.com

Email: sales@tsscgroup.com

Tel: +971 4 8850474

Market leading and innovative products are instrumental in making the company a cut above the rest when it comes to refrigerated solutions

A Thriving Enterprise

Thirty-five years ago, a visionary entrepreneur had a dream of creating a company that would be a leader in its field. Today, that dream continues to live on through its industry-leading products

The cold chain industry in the UAE is growing rapidly due to increasing demand for temperature-controlled logistics and storage services in the region. According to a report by ‘Research and Markets’, the cold chain market in the UAE was valued at $2.2 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $4.4 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of around 12.5 per cent during the forecast period.

One name that stands out in this sector is that of Al Furat Group. The rise of this family business reflects the ethics of Varughese Kallurumpil Chacko, Founder and the Group Chairman of Al Furat, who started the company in a two-shutter shop. Over the years, as the cold storage facilities and transportation sector have undergone a huge transformation in the UAE, the new generation at Al Furat, led by his son-in-law Pribu John, Group Director and daughter Teeja P J, Group CFO, have taken up the responsibilities. Established in 1988 with more than three decades in the business, Al Furat Group has over the years, become a one stop solution provider for intelligent mobile storage solutions, cold rooms, polyurethane panels and specialised vehicles.

Keeping up with the best global standards, Al Furat’s home-grown range of products and services related to cold storage and transportation, has become a market leader in this space. Having served more than 10,000 happy customers in last 35 years and counting, the expertise of the company in the mobility division comprises refrigerated containers-freezers, refrigerated containerschillers, insulated containers, dry containers, beverage carriers, skid mounted refrigerated freezer/chiller containers, delivery vans, specialised truck bodies, and car carriers among others.

“The importance of a reliable cold chain extends beyond the preservation of agricultural goods and encompasses

The importance of a reliable cold chain extends beyond the preservation of agricultural goods and encompasses industries such as horticulture, floriculture, dairy, confectionery, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, poultry, and meat processing.”

industries such as horticulture, floriculture, dairy, confectionery, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, poultry, and meat processing. In the UAE, the cold chain market is experiencing rapid growth, as the country has emerged as a pivotal transshipment center in the GCC region, owing to its central location. The nation’s heavy reliance on imports to satisfy its food needs has underscored the need for cold chain infrastructure, a space where we assist businesses,” said Varughese KC.

Talking about the group’s product range in storage division, Teeja said: “We specialise in industrial cold rooms like, walk in chiller and freezer, medical cold rooms, skid mounted cold rooms, centralised refrigeration system, food processing plants (sea food, dairy, poultry, meat), blast freezer and chiller, hypermarket solutions, and remote monitoring and control systems.”

While the food and beverage sector constitutes the one of the largest industries that rely heavily on cold chain logistics, with products such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, seafood, and frozen food requiring specific temperature and humidity conditions to maintain their quality and prevent spoilage, there are other industries too that rely on the services provided by Al Furat.

“The pharmaceutical industry also heavily relies on cold chain solutions for the transportation and storage of their products. Many medications, vaccines, and biological products require specific temperature and humidity conditions to maintain their efficacy,” said John adding the examples of the chemicals industry, the biotechnology industry, the agricultural industry, the cosmetics industry

We specialise in industrial cold rooms like, walk in chiller and freezer, medical cold rooms, skid mounted cold rooms, centralised refrigeration system, food processing plants (sea food, dairy, poultry, meat), blast freezer and chiller, hypermarket solutions, and remote monitoring and control systems.”

and the e-commerce industry as well.

“With a surge in local population and further economic growth, the demand for storage and transportation of FMCG products is on the rise and logistics companies require cold chain solutions to transport and store perishable & temperature sensitive goods,” he added.

With one of the largest factory in the UAE dedicated for light and medium duty vehicle conversion with 400,000 sqft of manufacturing facility, with zero

outsourcing, Al Furat Group takes pride on being the complete cold chain solution provider, making it a single stop for all your cold chain requirements. “Our strength lies in our lasting bond with our clients. We have more than 10,000 happy customers till date,” said John. The group has four offices and service locations spread across the UAE, providing complete vehicle conversion and temperature-controlled product range.

The group enjoys industry leading quality certification from leading brands like Ford and Stellantis Group. “We have received ISO 9001-2015 certification and our in-house panel production meets the national food safety and quality guidelines, along with quality certification from DCL (Dubai Central Laboratory),” said John. He added that more than 80 per cent of the manufacturing components are imported from leading European suppliers and the group enjoys more than 65 per cent of the market share due to its industry leading products.

“There’s something to be said about a company who’s been in business for 35 years. In fact, it is rare to find manufactures with that kind of stability and longevity. Our stability is the result of our experience; experience that comes from working with our industry’s best and brightest,” said John.

“We are one of the fastest-growing cold chain solution companies in the region, who have adapted several sustainability and eco-friendly innovations, like replacing the traditional refrigerants with non-toxic and energy efficient ones. Familiarising customers with use of renewable energy sources such as solar power and wind energy to power cold storage facilities and transport vehicles. We’re constantly expanding our product and service offerings, introducing advanced monitoring systems and automation technologies, growing our infrastructure, and adding new employees to service the needs of our customers,” he concluded.

Speaking about the certification, John said: “The certification process itself was not a walk in the park. The engineering and development, production, quality control and after sales departments were all scrutinised in the minutest of detail. Checks were also carried out to ensure that Al Furat Group complies with every letter of the Stellantis and Ford body conversion guidelines. The result? A pass with flying colours.”

“It’s also good news for customers, since when they purchase an Al Furat product they can be sure that they’re buying a high-quality branded product. Ideally customised to every vehicle and installed to the highest possible standards. Certification means that the OEM warranty on the vehicle remains intact.” he added.

Varughese Kallurumpil Chacko, Founder and Group Chairman, Pribu John, Group Director, and Teeja P J, Group CFO, Al Furat Group of Companies.

A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE

CERTIFIED STELLANTIS PARTNER

Coupled with innovation and advanced technology, Ampex Engineering LLC has emerged as the leader in the international refrigeration industry with its extensive product range

Kushmita Bose

The UAE government has been effective in diversifying its economy over the last 51 years of its formation, evident in many successes apparent in the country today.

Ampex Engineering Services LLC (Ampex) is one such success story. Headquartered in Dubai Investment Park (DIP), the rise of this family business reflects the true ethics of its founder Mahesh Karani, who started this firm in 1974.

In just a matter of decade, the company has grown leaps and bounds under the leadership of Jayesh Karani and Bhavesh Karani, who have further expanded Ampex’s business ventures by providing advanced solutions in the HVAC/R industries by acquiring distributions in leading brands for Transport Refrigerations (Reefer) and Refrigerated Cold Rooms from leading brands in Europe, USA and Korea.

Bhavesh Karani, CEO for Ampex Engineering Services, said: “Ampex has earned its name and stripes in the industry through their unrelenting focus on customer satisfaction backed up with their fully qualified sales, service and marketing teams.”

Today the company’s competency lies in providing the largest range of components for:

♦ Automotive air-conditioning.

♦ Commercial Transport Refrigeration (Reefer).

♦ Refrigeration solutions for commercial and industrial cold rooms.

Headquartered in Dubai Investment Park (DIP), Ampex today has three operational centers in Deira, Ras Al Khor and DIP and plans to expand its services in other Emirates in the UAE in the near future.

AUTOMOTIVE AIR-CONDITIONING

With a prime focus in automotive airconditioning industry, the company started its journey with the distribution-ship of compressors from leading manufacturers in the automotive airconditioning industry ‘Sanden’, further expanding the product range to provide complete solutions for air-conditioning that caters to varied clientele across the UAE such as government and private organisations, automobile dealerships, as well as leading regional automotive distributors cum service providers in the Middle East, Indian sub-continent, Africa, the CIS & the GCC countries.

Reiterating on the same, Sreeraj Rajan, Sales Manager — Stationary Refrigeration Solution, said: “Every distributor and installer in the refrigeration industry should provide right

accurate design and follow pre-commissioning guidelines for a refrigeration system to operate efficiently for years with reduced power consumption.”

Ampex Commercial Refrigeration division is the total solution provider with qualified sales team and adequate stock for leading brands in the industry such as LU-VE, which is the only name in the industry that confirms its full range of products as ‘EUROVENT’ certified. It has captured a major market share in the region due to its complete and European quality product range with innovative technology that provides various advantages to increase efficiency and power saving. Since its inception LU-VE Group has invested in research and development, a constant commitment, which has allowed the company to affirm its technological leadership in various industries which include:

♦ Hotel kitchens

♦ Restaurants, Central Kitchens

♦ Warehouse Storages of Chilled and Frozen Goods

♦ Towers and many more.

The HORECA, FMCG, franchising (fast food) and cold rooms are one of the fastest growing and most competitive sectors in the UAE, owning to the growing population. In line with this, Ampex has joined hands with ZANOTTI (part of Daikin) and introduced revolutionary products for walk in chiller and freezers.

The units are available as Mono-block, Split or Modular systems with different installation options. This in turn ensures maximum flexibility for businesses in professional kitchens and anywhere cold storage is essential.

COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT REFRIGERATION (REEFER)

In today’s fast paced and inter-connected world, logistics play a crucial role in transporting goods from one place to another in a short time. When it comes to perishable goods, mostly food items, keeping them fresh is very critical owing to the long distances involved in their transportation. In this regard, refrigerated transport has come a long way.

Ampex, provides a complete solution with its distributed brand HWASUNG THERMO, it is the first and number one transport refrigeration manufacturer in Korea that provide complete range of products for various applications in the transport refrigeration industry. They have devoted themselves to the techin-

Modifications in any vehicle can be a very complicated process, and Certifications provide recognized verifications of high-quality products, skill and support for quality upfitting. Vehicles dealer in the UAE such as Al Nabooda, Peugeot division part of the Stellantis Group have started recognizing the importance of these certifications and have recently recognized Ampex for its outstanding efforts by awarding it the status of a certified modification partner.

cal innovation of refrigeration unit for small, medium and heavy duty transportation vehicles and therefore they have made a contribution to the cold chain system in many countries. All their products are CE-certified for their performances and the company has been ISO-9001 certified and also recognised as a “Venture Enterprise” by Korean Government Authority.

Laheri Soni, Sales Manager for Transport Refrigeration Solution, added: “Refrigerated transportation is a vital solution in the cold supple chain. It’s a cost-effective solution to help businesses expand their reach by assuring to maintain the quality of the product to customers. We at Ampex, provide a complete solution for reefers with Hwasung Thermo assisted by highly specialised well-trained professionals, offering exceptional services as well as after sales support for our customers.”

In order to facilitate and accelerate the business growth in Dubai, Ampex has always been at the forefront to streamline and unify various business processes and modernise its operations in order to provide quality products and solutions to its customers. The company today is one of the leading progressive name in its field backed up with a team of 150+ specialized professionals availing thought its vast locations across the region. Maqsood M Bashir, Workshop Manager — Automotive A/C and Transport Refrigeration added: To ensure complete customer satisfaction, it is vital to understand customers, their requirement and educate them if required for making the right selection for their refrigeration requirements.”