Cold Storage

Project Details

Americold is a multinational cold store operator with 248 temperature-controlled warehouses worldwide. An ongoing partnership with Woolworths NZ led Americold to expand operations and storage capacity at their Wiri site in Auckland.

Apollo was appointed to lead the expansion project that provided an additional 14000m² of freezer space to the existing 7000m² footprint.

The project's initial design was costly, however Apollo was able to identify innovative solutions for an efficient design that better fit Americold's brief and budget. By reconsidering the brief, the team was able to shrink the facility’s footprint, ultimately lowering construction costs.

The team also identified an opportunity to reduce the facility’s carbon footprint by choosing a low-charge ammonia system for the cold stores. Refrigerants can have a major impact on emissions, with the low-charge ammonia system delivering significant energy improvements over a standard HFC-based system. 

Considered an essential service, this project continued throughout Covid-19 Alert Level 4 lockdown. In that environment, the on-site team was confined to essential personnel only and travel was limited. Physical distancing and mask wearing was compulsory, and breaks were scheduled in work groups. To help mitigate other Covid-19 complications, a Project Risk Register was established, which considered supply chain disruptions, the possibility of having an infected person on-site, and the potential government shut down of the premises. The register also prompted the team to take pre-emptive steps such as purchasing offshore items early and having alternative suppliers on standby.

Despite significant challenges, Apollo demonstrated exceptional determination, achieving what few projects could during this period. While many comparable initiatives were delayed by lockdowns and supply chain disruptions, Apollo was delivered on time, under budget, and exceeded all expectations.