Neogen Safeguarding Diagnostic Test Kits with ICS Cool Energy’s Cold Store Containers

With a pressing need for enhancing their temperature-controlled space, Neogen EMEA,  a subsidiary of Neogen Corporation who provides the most comprehensive range of solutions for the food processing, animal protein and agriculture industries, sought a partner that could offer them a dependable storage solution for their diagnostic test kits.

The Challenge

Their Food Safety business offers products covering culture media and diagnostic test kits to detect foodborne bacteria, natural toxins, food allergens, drug residues, hygiene indicators and much more.

Neogen’s recent business project necessitated a swift increase in refrigerated storage capacity at their Auchincruive, Ayr Neogen site to accommodate a higher level of stock at short notice, particularly diagnostic test kits for distribution in various global markets. With a pressing need to enhance their temperature-controlled space, Neogen sought a partner that could offer them a dependable solution.

“We had limited space in our existing facility and a mounting urgency. We needed to hold a higher level of stock at short term to accommodate more areas than what we currently service.” Shared Andy Keirs, warehouse and logistics manager at Neogen EMEA.

The Solution

ICS Cool Energy, renowned for its expertise in critical and process temperature control solutions, emerged as the timely answer to Neogen’s challenge. Within a short timeframe, they provided Neogen with three 40ft temperature-controlled Cold Store containers. These refrigerated containers are based on a shipping container that has an integrated refrigeration system. They can be used in many different applications, frozen or perishable food and beverage products, or pharmaceutical goods and ensure products are stored safely at the desired temperature, maintaining consistent temperature, humidity, and atmosphere.

“Having the containers on-site allowed us more control and responsibility for the extra stock hold. The decisive factor for choosing ICS Cool Energy was the cost-effectiveness and very short time their hire team needed to have everything set up and running. It was paramount for us to add extra storage space on site and none of our current suppliers or contractors we work with had any options for what we needed,” Keirs elaborated.

The Result

With the added storage capacity, Neogen effectively stored their diagnostic test kits, readying them for distribution primarily within the UK and European Union, with a portion destined for Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The benefits of the collaboration were multifaceted. Not only did Neogen secure the required storage in a timely manner, but they also gained the advantage of overseeing stock at their own facility without the need to rely on a third-party logistics provider with whom they weren’t fully integrated.

”Keeping the stock at a Neogen facility in the short term and not have it stored and shipped from a 3PL has proven to be the right choice. Timely solutions, strategic decisions, and the right partnerships are essential in business growth.  The collaboration with ICS Cool Energy ensured we had the right support for this critical project,” Keirs concluded.