ColdPoint Logistics, Edgerton, Kan., completed Phase II of its cold storage distribution facility project at Logistics Park Kansas City in Edgerton.

Constructed by NorthPoint Development, Riverside, Mo., Phase II of the project concludes with the opening of a 5.4 million-cubic-foot, temperature-controlled distribution facility featuring automated racking, blast freezing and the potential for additional automation coming in future phases. The facility will serve several customers exporting proteins to the Asian rim and dairy products and other finished goods within the United States, with the capacity to meet additional customer demands.

“Our goal in this entire project is to build partnerships within the supply chain to enhance the services offered to our customers and offer new solutions to the growing global food logistics community,” says Thom Smith, chief executive officer of ColdPoint. “Building cold storage facilities in such a critical logistics hub allows our customers to drive out cost and give them easier, more efficient access to export their products through the ports on the East and West Coast. Our location supports a diversified mix of activity with both export and domestic activity.”

As a hub of the BNSF intermodal yard in Kansas City, ColdPoint is uniquely positioned to provide warehousing and distribution services for temperature-controlled products being transported across the United States to the East and West Coast for export. ColdPoint also provides direct access to containers at the ports, eliminating the need for cross-docking between trucks and containers.

The new facility is the second in a 4-phase project, following the opening of ColdPoint Logistics Phase 1 in July 2017, a 4.9 million-cubic-foot cold storage distribution facility doing export and domestic for several major protein processors in LPKC.

“Our customers can ship products anywhere in four days from our location at LPKC,” says Dane Bear, vice president of business development for ColdPoint. “This is critical for perishable products that need expert handling in distribution facilities and fast action as they head off to the ports.”

Phase III of the project continues with an anticipated open date in September and a focus on domestic distribution. The three project phases together will total 16,200,000 cubic feet, with Phase 4 being designed now with expectations of starting construction in 2019. Past the Kansas development, ColdPoint is evaluating other market areas to support the next facility.

“ColdPoint Logistics is an operationally driven company that is new in the industry, but has assembled a team that has over 150 years of cold storage experience,” says Smith. “Being able to operate with true core values that foster a ‘People First’ culture is the key in providing operational excellence. Our best-in-class facility is successful because of our great people that work hard each day to exceed the customers’ expectations. Utilizing innovative solutions, our people and customer partnerships, we will continue to grow the business with our customers that we are very proud to be associated with.”