The Constellation Difference: How Constellation is successfully delivering expansion projects to support customer growth

In the cold storage industry, expanding our network enables our customers to grow. Delivering these projects on time and within budget ensures that customers have a trusted logistics partner that they can rely on for increased capacity and excellent service. 

Constellation Cold Logistics has consistently proven its ability to exceed client expectations, solidifying our reputation as a reliable partner for their complex cold storage needs. Our track record showcases a commitment to precision, efficiency and financial stewardship, ensuring our clients benefit from our in-house expertise and unwavering dedication as we continue to grow our network.

– Robbert Jan Te Raa, VP Solutions & Engineering

In this article, we will break down how our approach keeps our expansion projects on time and on budget – with real examples – to provide an exceptional experience for our clients and their customers. 

Timely Project Delivery

One of the hallmarks of Constellation’s success is our ability to deliver expansion projects on time. This is essential for maintaining the seamless operation of supply chains. 

Constellation’s 2020 Rakkestad expansion is a prime example. We completed the construction of a 14k pallet position-expansion at our Rakkestad site, meeting our deadlines and providing our clients with the expanded capacity they needed, exactly when they needed it.

This is far from the only example – let’s look at our expansion project at our Mouscron site in Belgium in greater detail.

Expanding our Mouscron site

Expanding Constellation’s Mouscron site involved the construction of a fully automated high-bay cold store, Ice Highbay 2 (HB2), which added approximately 29k pallet positions by the end of 2022. This project required careful planning and execution, and took place across four phases to ensure  it stayed on track:

• The Preparation Phase: We dedicated six months (June 2020 – December 2020) to thorough preparation, ensuring that we plan and design the building in the most efficient way..
• The Permitting Phase: Another six months were allocated to secure all necessary permits, showcasing our efficiency in navigating regulatory requirements.
• The Construction Phase: Over the course of 14 months (June 2021 – August 2022), we constructed and fit out the facility, adhering strictly to our timeline.
• Go-Live and Testing: The facility was live and tested within a month, with a subsequent three-month ramp-up to full capacity, ensuring a seamless transition for us and our clients.

This structured approach not only ensured timely delivery but also minimised operational disruptions: remarkably for an automated cold store, there were no major launch issues.

Financial Efficiency

Delivering projects within or under budget is another critical aspect of Constellation’s project management excellence. 

The expansion of Constellation’s Nijkerk facility in 2023 is testament to this. By bringing online new capacity of 19k pallet positions within budget, we demonstrated our excellence in managing financial resources effectively without compromising on quality or functionality.

To explore this in greater detail, let’s look at another example – Constellation’s Tønsberg Greenfield Project.

Tønsberg Greenfield Project

The recent completion of the Tønsberg project in April 2024 further underscores our financial excellence. This new build, designed to serve our key Norwegian customer, Nortura, added 13k pallet positions of capacity. 

Despite the complexities inherent in greenfield projects, we managed to deliver this facility on time, adhering strictly to budgetary and environmental constraints. The planned Phase 2, now awaiting approval, demonstrates our ongoing commitment to expand capacity efficiently and cost-effectively.

Supplier Capabilities and In-House Expertise

Our success delivering projects on time and within budget is significantly bolstered by our robust supplier network and in-house project management capabilities.

By handling construction project management internally, with dedicated structural and refrigeration project managers, we ensure direct oversight and control over every aspect of our projects. This approach was particularly effective in the Mouscron expansion detailed above, where our in-house expertise facilitated a smooth go-live process, free of operational issues, thanks to rigorous planning and testing.

The Constellation Difference

Constellation Cold Logistics stands out in the industry for its strong track record in delivering projects on time and within budget. Our methodical approach to project management, combined with our strategic use of resources and in-house expertise, ensures that we not only meet but exceed client expectations. 

From the Rakkestad expansion to the complex developments in Mouscron and the success in Nijkerk, our track record speaks volumes about our dedication to operational excellence and financial responsibility.

Choosing Constellation means partnering with a cold storage provider that understands the critical importance of timely and cost-effective project delivery, ensuring that your supply chain operations remain uninterrupted and efficient every step of the way.