The UK cold chain market is experiencing a period of extremely rapid growth, spurred by increased consumer demand for fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, and dairy products – and the necessity of temperature-controlled logistics during the pandemic to disseminate vaccines and pharmaceutical components. 

What is the cold chain logistics market?

Historically, many sectors have included chilled goods among their product offerings. However,

the cold chain logistics market is a growing industry that focuses exclusively or primarily on the storage and safe transportation of goods that need to be kept at a constant temperature.

Cold chain logistics requires specialised storage equipment, transport vehicles, and skilled personnel capable of accurately monitoring time-temperature data throughout transport – as well as control equipment, coolers and freezers, packaging materials, refrigerants, and software/IT solutions. This cold chain logistics infrastructure is critical for preserving product freshness and safety when transporting fresh produce, pharmaceutical products, prepared meals, and dairy foods that need to remain below ambient temperatures.

Cold chain technology – including data logging devices – has revolutionised the way companies store and transport temperature-sensitive material, allowing goods to stay fresher for longer, across long distances.

The global market for coal chain monitoring products has grown in step with this demand, from a value of approximately €720 million in 2021 to an estimated €1.2 billion per year by 2026.

QA challenges facing the sector

Cold chain monitoring is an important aspect of the cold chain market due to the need to ensure quality and safety during transport and storage. Quality Assurance (QA) in this space can be extremely challenging, as data needs to be collected in real-time from a variety of sources and continually monitored.

Data points include temperature, humidity levels, location information, pressure, vibration readings and more, drawn from RFID tags, GPS technology, and temperature data loggers, that require constant processing and evaluation to ensure product safety.

Poor storage conditions can lead to significant problems in product integrity, shelf life, and safety, leading to spoilage, high replacement costs and medical complications in the case of pharmaceuticals. A lack of commonly agreed standards, industry-wide accreditations, and training pertaining to operating procedures, security, and monitoring are also challenges that need to be overcome if they are not to inhibit the growth of the market. 

The importance of effective cold chain monitoring solutions

To combat these issues, stakeholders need to implement systems that offer high levels of visibility and accurate monitoring at every stage of production and distribution, as well as regular temperature checks to ensure compliance with regulations. Cold chain QA ultimately requires concerted effort from suppliers, retailers, and manufacturers alike in order to ensure customers receive a safe product that meets their needs.

Find out more

Signatrol supply a wide range of data logging devices and monitoring solutions for the cold chain sector, helping ensure product safety and quality assurance. To find out more, please call today.