Lineage Logistics has inaugurated a new cold-storage distribution center in the Humboldt Industrial Park, Hazle Township. The $150 million facility is equipped with advanced automation technologies and aims to enhance efficiency in food storage and distribution.
The distribution center features a 32-degree storage area, and a deep-freeze section maintained at -7 degrees. It includes a 60-door loading dock where workers use forklifts and hand jacks to manage food pallets. The facility employs automation systems such as the “Lineage Eye,” which photographs pallets to inspect for damaged packaging and ensure quality. If issues are detected, workers address them before the goods proceed through the system.
Additional automation includes robotic cars that transport pallets on tracks and a layer separator that reconfigures palletized goods using adjustable pressure settings. Cranes manage operations in the deep-freeze section, reducing the need for worker entry and prioritizing safety.
Algorithms play a key role in the facility’s operations, determining efficient routes for pallets, managing storage positions among the 85,000 available, and ensuring products are prepared for transport just before trucks arrive to prevent thawing. These technologies aim to optimize safety, reduce waste, and streamline operations.
The Hazle Township location was chosen due to its proximity to major markets, with 60 million people within a 250-mile radius. Lineage Logistics operates 450 facilities globally, employing 26,000 people. The new center is expected to create over 100 jobs locally.
State Representative Dane Watro, R-116, described the facility as a significant addition to the regional economy, noting its potential to positively impact multiple sectors.
This new cold-storage facility highlights the increasing role of automation and technology in modern warehousing.
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