Antibacterial panels for cold store

Australia's largest cold chain logistics service provider, Swire Cold Storage, has opened its latest warehouse facility in Sydney's western suburbs, featuring the latest in cold storage technology including antibacterial cool room panels.

The warehouse at Lurnea has been designed to hold up to 11,300 pallets of frozen food products and utilises state-of-the-art temperature control equipment and software to ensure the safety of all goods on site. Further to this, Swire Cold Storage has used antibacterial cladding - Colorbond Permagard steel - for the internal and external skins of the insulated panel walls and ceilings.

Recently launched by BlueScope Steel, Colorbond Permagard steel combines the strength of Colorbond steel with Microban antibacterial technology to help inhibit the growth of bacteria on panel surfaces, which can lead to cross-contamination and food poisoning.

Peter Shand of Beca Pty Ltd, consulting engineers for the warehouse, explains: "Colorbond Permagard steel was chosen for the facility ahead of imported alternatives because it is tried and tested in Australian conditions. The product has the added advantages of easy cleaning and improved antibacterial protection, which are of real benefit where hygiene is obviously so very important."

Larry Martin, New South Wales state manager for Swire Cold Storage, adds: "This is the first project for which we have used this new product and we are delighted with the outcome. We will certainly be looking to roll out the use of Colorbond Permagard steel for any new facilities that we build in the future."

The main application for Colorbond Permagard steel is in cool rooms and other facilities used for the storage and processing of food items such as supermarket cold stores, food processing plants, abattoirs and wineries, where hygiene is a key concern.

The panels are easy to clean, durable and have been independently tested in the UK in accordance with Japanese Industrial Standards against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli 0157, both of which can be of particular concern to those seeking to maintain good food hygiene standards.