United States Cold Storage (USCS), Voorhees, N.J., is constructing a 5.5-million-cubic-foot public refrigerated warehouse in Dallas, replacing most of USCS’ original Dallas warehouse, which was built in 1965. Scheduled for completion this June, a Phase One project will include two convertible freezers (+35°F to -20°F) and two more freezers (0°F to -20°F).

“We have been operating at maximum capacity for the past several years,” says Brian Kroll, general manager for the Dallas facility. “This gives USCS the opportunity to provide even more storage space—for both existing and future customers—in an ever-growing market. Our customers' products will be housed in a state-of-the-art warehouse with the very latest in engineering, refrigeration, lighting, warehouse management and transportation management system technologies.”

USCS Dallas handles a broad range of finished goods, including soups, sauces, potatoes, pastries, ice cream and raw materials. For the record, a portion of the original facility and an adjacent Halifax Street operation will remain open. It is located at the intersection of Cockrell Hill Road and Interstate 30, just five miles west of downtown Dallas.

“We are virtually at the crossroads of all major highways, covering all directions coming in and out of the Dallas-Ft. Worth area,” notes Kroll.

The new site will have six 42-pallet blast cells operating at -58°F. The building also will have a temperature-controlled dock (21 doors) with site capacity for two expansions. The site has rail accessibility although rail service won’t be added until later.

“The CO2 cascade refrigeration system will be one of the biggest assets,” Kroll says. “The CO2 cascade refrigeration system will utilize hot gas defrost—in lieu of electric defrost—and this will allow the refrigeration to operate even more efficiently. The new blast freezer design also will facilitate significantly shorter freeze times, and this will be a win-win for both USCS and our customers. We also will be able to provide a drop-trailer program for our customers as well as on-site route truck parking.”