About Cold Chain Business
Welcome to the Cold Chain Solutions Company,
a divisional company of Panasonic Corporation specializing
in the business domain of "food infrastructure".
ABOUT
The Cold Chain Solutions Company is a leading company supporting food distribution by providing commercial equipment, such as merchandising display cases and commercial kitchen equipment, as well as systems and services.
With our slogan "Create rich dietary culture by Cooling & Heating solutions," we contribute to a safe and enriching culinary experience by connecting producers and consumers through products and systems that leverage our cooling and heating technologies, delivering the wholesomeness of freshly-harvested food and the great taste of just-cooked dishes.
In addition to developing, manufacturing, and selling cold chain equipment, we also provide a one-stop service, covering everything from layout design to installation and post-installation maintenance.
GLOBAL
We expanded our business to Asia in the 1980s and to China in the 1990s. In 2016, when Hussmann Corporation joined the Panasonic Group, our global expansion rapidly accelerated. We have been collaborating to distribute Panasonic and Hussmann branded products worldwide. We manufacture, sell, and provide services for freezers and refrigerated showcases, primarily for food retailers in North America, Asia, Oceania, and other regions, addressing the unique circumstances and needs of each country and region.
Products and History in Japan
PRODUCTS
We develop, manufacture, and provide commercial equipment based on cooling and heating technologies, including merchandising display cases, condensing units, commercial kitchen equipment, logistics equipment, and beverage dispensers.
In addition to the durability and energy efficiency expected of commercial equipment, we focus on creating designs that integrate into store environments while ensuring ease of use for employees and simple maintenance.
Merchandising display cases  Showcases for displaying food in supermarkets or convenience stores while keeping it cool |
Commercial kitchen equipment  Commercial equipment, including commercial refrigerators, ice makers, and dishwashers, designed to integrate into a variety of commercial kitchen environments |
Condensing units  Heat source equipment (outdoor units) for cooling display cases as well as prefabricated cold rooms |
Prefabricated and logistics equipment  Freezing and refrigeration equipment designed for use in store stockrooms, food factories, and logistics warehouses |
Service and heating equipment  Equipment designed for use by food service providers, including soft serve ice cream freezers and small high-temperature high-pressure cookers |
Beverage dispensers  Equipment for serving beverages at self-service drink stations in fast food outlets and restaurants |
HISTORY
Our entry into the industrial equipment sector dates back to 1960. It all started when we were asked to develop a storage unit for selling ice pops, which were very popular at the time. Later, we became the first in the industry to mass produce merchandising display cases with glass doors. As self-service stores (the forerunners of today's supermarkets), which originated in the U.S., gained popularity in Japan, we developed large display cases and rapidly expanded our business. These achievements have been made possible by closely monitoring market trends and customer needs, and incorporating them into our product development. Our commitment to staying close to our customers is still reflected in our manufacturing today.
We have developed many of Japan's first products.
Started production of ice cream storage units
At the time, the most common method to store ice cream was in vacuum flask ice boxes, which were cooled with dry ice. The development of an ice cream storage unit with a small compressor and high storage capacity marked the start of our cold chain business.
Air curtain-type merchandising display cases
Developed with technical support from US-based Weber Showcase & Fixture Co., Inc., this model featured an air curtain to meet the needs of Japanese users seeking to prevent cool air from escaping. It was the most advanced model at the time and the first connectable model from a Japanese manufacturer, allowing multiple units to be linked. It helped keep food fresh, reduce food product waste, and quickly became widely used.
Antibacterial series of commercial kitchen equipment
We launched the industry's first antibacterial series of commercial kitchen equipment (commercial refrigerators, ice makers, and dishwashers), using a high-performance antibacterial agent. With this launch, we responded swiftly to the growing demand for a higher level of food safety following the outbreak of O157 enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli and the enactment of the Product Liability Law (PL Law) in 1995.
HFC-free condensing unit using CO2 refrigerant
Among natural refrigerants, CO2 refrigerant stands out for its excellent characteristics, including zero ozone depletion potential, an extremely low global warming potential (GWP) of 1, and its non-toxic and non-flammable properties, ensuring safe use. We were ahead of other manufacturers in focusing on CO2 refrigerant. After repeated trial and error in field tests starting around 2008, we successfully achieved mass production in 2010. Since then, CO2 refrigerant has become one of our core technologies.
Freezer and refrigerator locker for package delivery
With the expansion of frozen and refrigerated food deliveries driven by the 'stay-at-home demand' during the COVID-19 pandemic, we developed a freezer and refrigerator locker that enables contactless package delivery.
Building on this technology, we later developed Japan's first freezer and refrigerator delivery box for apartment buildings, which was launched in 2024. After the testing period, it has been widely adopted in condominiums and other properties.
For those who want to learn more about the cold chain, please click here.
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