A new ALDI logistics center was recently inaugurated in Landriano, in the province of Pavia. It boasts a warehouse area of 52,504 square meters, of which 9,409 square meters are reserved for cold rooms: one half dedicated to "fresh" (0°C) and the other half to "frozen" (-20°C) products, in addition to a cooled area of approximately 5,000 m2.
The ammonia refrigeration systems were installed by Cold Energy, a company based in Verona, which operates internationally in the industrial refrigeration sector.
"The interesting aspect of this project is its ecological system: we use ammonia, a natural fluid that respects the environment but which at the same time guarantees the best performance in terms of consumption energy - stated the sales manager Massimiliano Castagna - It was our first, important experience with a distribution group and we were very happy in making our customer satisfied".
ALDI is an attentive and demanding customer who knows exactly what it wants, according to the sales manager of Cold Energy. "Paradoxically, working with a demanding client is easier. Furthermore, we share the same values regarding energy sustainability".
A low energy consumption ammonia group being built in the Cold Energy workshops.
Castagna stresses the fact that he has never worked with supermarkets before, because until a few years ago the issue of saving energy was overlooked in this sector. "Large retailers focused on immediate investments, without looking at future earnings. However, things seem to have started to take the right direction now".
Coronavirus effect
Although the work on the plant was carried out before the Covid-19 emergency in Italy, Castagna does not deny that the pandemic spurred a different way of doing business. "It was necessary to reinvent ourselves. If we think that last year I took 160 flights, whereas so far I took just twenty, the situation has changed quite a lot. There have been more exchanges on platforms such as Skype, Teams, Facetime or WhatsApp, but I must admit that it is not the same thing".
"In our job looking and touching are very important, not to mention human contact when meeting new customers or potential ones. It is thus necessary to take measures for every situation. We are preparing to start again in foreign markets, with different projects. We remain optimist as usual and I am sure that we will also win this challenge", concludes Castagna.
Contacts:
Massimiliano Castagna 
Cold Energy
Via Ippolito Nievo, 15
37128 Verona (VR)
Email: castagna.m@coldenergy.it
Web: www.coldenergy.it