In Yongin, South Korea, a 38-meter-tall automated, high-rise cold storage is operating at full capacity, holding approximately 12,600 tons of beef and pork products. Completed in 2022, the facility’s biggest technological breakthrough lies not in the selection of compressors or refrigerants, but in an innovative air distribution method inside the cold store.

Temperature Uniformity vs. Space Utilization

The automated cold storage at Plaza Logis Logistics Center stands 38 m high, 60 m long, and 36 m wide, with capacity for around 14,000 pallets. To maintain a stable temperature of -25°C for meat products at every position, from floor level to shelves over 30 m high, conventional designs rely on extensive ductwork for forced air supply.

However, installing air ducts sacrifices valuable storage pallet positions and increases air resistance, driving up fan energy consumption. This conflict becomes particularly acute for automated, high-rise cold stores that pursue maximum space utilization and operational efficiency.

Cold Lake Principle, No Ductwork Required

Industrial elevator shaft with metal framework, gears, and a white machine mounted on a rail system; steel beams and cables create a dense, geometric industrial interior.

The Güntner Highstore Air Cooler solution for high-rise warehouses perfectly resolves this challenge. Its core design is based on the physical cold lake principle:

Cold air is discharged from the air coolers and sinks to the cold store floor.
Denser cold air spreads across the floor like a still lake.
Warmed air rises through the entire shelving area, to the ceiling, before being recirculated back into the air coolers to form a closed loop.

This design eliminates the need for supply air ducts entirely, delivering even temperature distribution with minimal temperature deviation — ideally suited to the depth and height of high-rise, automated cold storage.

Proven in real operation, our duct-free solution maintains stable temperatures throughout the entire shelving area. Results speak louder than words, fully addressing all customer concerns.

Youngsu ShinSales Manager, Güntner in South Korea

Customer Benefits: More Pallet Positions + Lower Operating Costs

By adopting the Güntner Highstore Air Cooler solution, Plaza Logis Logistics Center achieved measurable dual benefits:

Expanded storage capacity: Eliminating ductwork increases usable storage space, adding 774 additional pallet positions per year
Higher annual revenue: Equivalent to an annual revenue increase of approximately 140 million South Korean Won (around €80,000)
Reduced energy consumption: No duct resistance to overcome lowers fan power demand, delivering substantial operational energy savings
Lower capital expenditure: No need for the procurement, installation and maintenance of costly duct systems

This design not only cuts upfront investment in ductwork, but also maximises storage space and reduces long-term operating costs — solving many of our operational challenges in one go.

Jun-Hui HanFormer General Manager, Plaza Logis

Highstore Air Cooler Series Overview:

Engineered for high-rise warehouses: Optimised airflow design for ultra-high racking, delivering uniform temperature distribution without ductwork.
Energy efficiency plus space gain: Removes duct resistance to cut fan energy use; freed overhead height is converted into additional storage positions.
High reliability and low maintenance: Simplified structure with no complex duct components, reducing failure points and routine cleaning workload.
Wide refrigerant compatibility: Compatible with multiple refrigerants including natural working fluids, complying with future environmental regulations.