Phononic launches cold chain platform for e-grocery fulfillment

​​​​​​Phononic recently unveiled its Active Cooling Solutions platform, a full-service, sustainable solution to solve end-to-end cold chain fulfillment needs for the grocery industry, the company says.

The system has 20 commercial installations so far, according to a news release.

The ACS platform offers a complete cold chain fulfillment solution, the release said. Its launch includes critical hardware, accessories and data-driven services and support optimizing e-grocery fulfillment, according to the company.

Related news: Global cold chain capacity to grow at rapid clip

The platform’s features, according to the release, include:

• ACS Actively-Cooled Tote 2000 offers precise and secure cooling and freezing with accessories including plug-in carts for optimized picking, staging and curbside pickup; vertically powered storage racks to minimize storage footprint; integration into robotics automation; IoT data connectivity features, and turn-key installation and support.
• ACS Connected Services provides real-time monitoring of temperature data, tote utilization and tote traceability, ensuring critical food safety and the highest food quality and maximum operational efficiency alongside complete cold chain documentation.
• ACS Last Mile is the first all-electric, tri-temperature delivery vehicle, realizing zero emissions and sustainability for grocery retail.
• ACS Cooling as a Service is a flexible and turn-key business model for retailers, robotics, and last mile providers delivering cooling through a combination of hardware, software, and installation and support optimizing CAPEX and OPEX budget preferences.

“ECONO has experienced first-hand the benefits provided by Phononic’s cooling solution in support of our e-grocery fulfillment initiatives," Juan Carlos Agosto, CEO of Store Management Systems, said in the release. “Since adopting the actively-cooled tote, our stores have experienced up to 70% energy savings and 50% space savings — while improving both the employee and customer ordering and fulfillment experience.”

“Today, there is a lack of an end-to-end cold-chain solution that is effective and provides flexibility, sustainability, and cost advantages,” Dana Krug, senior vice president at Phononic, said in the release. “Phononic’s ACS platform addresses this gap — providing on-demand cooling and freezing on order through-put achieving unprecedented energy savings. Our State of Online Grocery Shopping annual report showed that 67% of retailers are planning to spend between $500,000 to $1.5 million on cold chain technology and/or fulfillment this year.”