The Port of Tauranga has addressed an issue with its storage capacity for kiwifruit by building a new cargo shed that uses less electricity and more environmentally-friendly refrigerant than the old converted cargo shed that was used before.<\/p>\n
The problem the port faced was that the old Number 1 Coolstore at the Mount Maunganui wharves had been leased to Tauranga Kiwifruit Logistics (TKL) since the early 1980s to handle kiwifruit exports, but the retrofitted refrigeration equipment had become obsolete. The shed was a converted dry cargo warehouse and its time was up.<\/p>\n
The problem was compounded because New Zealand\u2019s kiwifruit industry is currently experiencing strong growth volumes, with exports expected to keep increasing over the coming years.<\/p>\n
Environmental features<\/strong><\/p>\n The old facility was not meeting TKL\u2019s needs and with cargo volumes expected to grow, an action plan was required. The Port of Tauranga worked with TKL to design a state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility that embraced environmental features.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong>Dan Kneebone, Property and Infrastructure Manager at the port, says whenever the company replaces or purchases new equipment, it tries to find the most efficient, environmentally-friendly and cost-effective option available.<\/p>\n \u201cThis project was no different. On behalf of our customer, we sought improved cool chain efficiency, greater temperature control, and improved food grade standards.<\/p>\n \u201cWe sought the best design and fit-out to meet our customer\u2019s need to maintain fruit quality and maximise efficiency \u2013 ultimately leading to energy and cost savings. This customer-oriented approach is central to our property development strategy.\u201d<\/p>\n Energy saving<\/strong><\/p>\n