OPEX Corporation, a Moorestown-based leader in robotic automation, and Peltier, a pioneer in cold chain commerce, announced a landmark technology partnership on Wednesday that promises to eliminate one of the most expensive hurdles in modern logistics: the freezer room.
The collaboration introduces a first-of-its-kind multi-temperature storage solution for OPEX’s Perfect Pick and Infinity automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS). By using Peltier’s actively cooled, AI-enabled totes, companies can now store frozen, chilled, and ambient products side-by-side in a single warehouse aisle.
Traditionally, grocery and pharmaceutical fulfillment centers required massive, energy-intensive refrigerated chambers or specialized frozen infrastructure to house temperature-sensitive goods. These “cold rooms” are not only costly to build but also dangerous and uncomfortable for the human workers tasked with entering them.
The new Peltier Tote changes this by moving the refrigeration from the room to the individual container. Each tote features:
-
Solid-state cooling: Uses patented thermoelectric technology instead of traditional compressors and harmful refrigerants.
-
IoT connectivity: Integrated APIs provide real-time temperature monitoring and reporting, essential for FDA-regulated life sciences and food products.
-
Precision control: Individually controlled setpoints allow for exact temperature management down to the tote level.
The system is designed to work within OPEX’s existing automation framework without requiring structural modifications. OPEX’s iBOT robotic vehicles handle the heavy lifting, delivering power to the totes while they are in “multi-deep” storage and maintaining temperatures during transport to the pick station.
“Many of our customers are often dissuaded by traditional solutions that require costly infrastructure,” Monty McVaugh, head of product at OPEX said. “By integrating Peltier’s technology, we deliver a flexible, scalable, and highly cost-effective solution without modifying our core systems.”
Beyond the financial savings, the OPEX-Peltier partnership offers significant operational advantages:
-
Worker comfort: Staff can operate in ambient temperatures, eliminating the safety risks associated with harsh freezer environments.
-
Reduced waste: In a traditional cold room, a refrigeration failure can ruin an entire facility’s inventory. With this modular approach, potential issues are isolated to a single tote.
-
Eco-friendly design: The solid-state cooling system is more environmentally friendly than compressor-based units, significantly reducing a warehouse’s carbon footprint.
“The Peltier Tote is fundamentally changing how the world applies cold storage in commerce,” Hanson Li, CEO of Peltier said. “Customers can now optimize operations and space without cold and temperature being treated as major constraints.”
