The Challenge
A cold storage and logistics operator running three facilities across Adelaide's northern corridor was experiencing frequent refrigeration breakdowns — averaging two unplanned outages per month across their sites. Each outage risked spoilage of temperature-sensitive stock and triggered emergency callout costs.
Their existing maintenance arrangement relied on reactive repairs from multiple contractors, with no coordinated preventative program across sites.
What We Implemented
Consolidated Maintenance Program
CHS took over all refrigeration, HVAC, electrical, and general building maintenance under a single integrated contract. This replaced four separate contractor relationships and gave the client one point of contact for everything.
Preventative Maintenance Schedule
We designed a risk-based PM schedule covering:
- Weekly — visual inspections of compressor rooms, condenser coil condition, refrigerant leak checks
- Monthly — detailed performance testing of each refrigeration circuit, electrical connection torque checks, defrost cycle verification
- Quarterly — comprehensive system health assessment including oil analysis, vibration monitoring, and control system calibration
- Annually — full compliance audit against Australian Standard AS 1677 and food safety cold chain requirements
24/7 Monitoring Integration
We connected their existing BMS alarm system to our dispatch workflow, ensuring that temperature excursions trigger an immediate response rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit.
Results After 12 Months
- Unplanned outages reduced from 24 to 14 per year — a 42% reduction
- Average response time for critical alarms dropped from 3.5 hours to 55 minutes
- Zero stock spoilage events attributed to maintenance failures
- 15% reduction in total maintenance spend despite increased service frequency, driven by fewer emergency callouts
"Having one contractor who understands all three of our sites and can respond around the clock has completely changed how we manage our facilities." — Operations Manager
Key Takeaway
Reactive maintenance is almost always more expensive than prevention. For cold chain operators where downtime directly impacts product integrity, a structured PM program pays for itself through avoided losses alone.
If you operate cold storage, food processing, or temperature-controlled logistics facilities, talk to our team about a tailored maintenance program.