Cold chain logistics refers to a systematic project that ensures refrigerated and frozen food products remain under specified low-temperature conditions throughout various stages, including production, storage, transportation, sales, and pre-consumption, to guarantee food quality and minimize spoilage.
Cold chain logistics refers to a systematic project that ensures refrigerated and frozen food products remain under specified low-temperature conditions throughout various stages, including production, storage, transportation, sales, and pre-consumption, to guarantee food quality and minimize spoilage. The scope of cold chain logistics includes primary agricultural products (vegetables, fruits), meat, poultry, eggs, aquatic products, floral products, processed foods (frozen foods, packaged cooked meats, poultry, and aquatic products, ice cream, dairy products, chocolate), and specialty goods (pharmaceuticals). Each stage of cold chain operations is closely tied to energy consumption, making energy control and reducing operational costs critical for advancing the cold chain industry. Key facilities in the cold chain—such as cold storage warehouses and refrigerated containers for storage, refrigerated shipping containers and refrigerated trucks for transportation, and refrigerated display cabinets and vending machines for retail—are not only the primary insulation facilities but also the main sources of energy consumption.
Application of Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs) in Vending Machines
Vending machines are automated devices that dispense products upon receiving payment, first developed in Japan, Europe, and the United States in the 1970s. As a common tool in commercial automation, vending machines operate without time or location constraints, saving labor and facilitating transactions. They represent a new retail model, often referred to as "24-hour mini-supermarkets." In Japan, approximately 70% of canned beverages are sold through vending machines. According to a report by the international market research firm Tech Navio, the global vending machine market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17% from 2019 to 2023.
Vending machines gained traction later in China, but with the maturation of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine vision, coupled with the country's leading mobile payment ecosystem, "new retail" models like unmanned stores have attracted significant attention. As a key component of unmanned retail, vending machines, supported by China's vast consumer market, are experiencing rapid growth. Research data from the China Commercial Industry Research Institute indicates that in 2017, China had 460,000 vending machines in operation. With the expansion of the "new retail" sector, this number is projected to surge to 2.3 million by 2020.
Most vending machines require refrigeration and freshness preservation, necessitating high-performance insulation materials. Vacuum insulation panels (VIPs), as ultra-efficient thermal insulation materials, have already been applied in vending machines. In developing countries, the penetration rate of vending machines remains low, with future market growth primarily driven by demand for new equipment. In contrast, developed regions such as Japan, South Korea, North America, and the European Union, where vending machines are already widespread, market growth is mainly fueled by replacements of older units. In summary, as the vending machine market rapidly develops and matures, VIPs are also finding applications in the medical cold chain sector.
Application of VIPs in the Medical Cold Chain Market
Pharmaceutical cold chain logistics is a specialized system for transporting temperature-sensitive drugs. Throughout storage and transportation, refrigerated pharmaceuticals require various professional equipment, including low-temperature cold storage, ice pack freezers, standard cold rooms, refrigerated trucks, medical refrigerators, and insulated transport bags. In recent years, the global pharmaceutical industry has grown rapidly, driving demand for medical cold chain services, such as: Hospitals procuring refrigerated drugs, vaccines, and in vitro diagnostic reagents. Urban blood centers transporting plasma to hospitals. Hospital pathology departments sending tissue samples and biopsy specimens to third-party testing centers. Transportation of human transplant organs.
The medical cold chain industry is characterized by stringent safety requirements, unpredictable demand, high costs, and specialized expertise. Currently, the United States, Japan, and Europe lead in pharmaceutical cold chain development, excelling in hardware investment, regulatory support, management practices, and supply chain integration.
Medical insulated containers typically maintain a constant temperature between 2–8°C. The efficiency of the insulation layer directly impacts their performance. Compared to traditional materials, VIPs offer advantages such as reduced volume, less coolant requirement, and extended thermal retention. VIPs can more than double the insulation duration, ensuring safer transportation and temporary storage of medical supplies.
Application of VIPs in Cold Storage Markets
Cold storage is an essential facility for preserving temperature-sensitive products, representing a vast market. As global reliance on cold chains increases to meet growing trade and consumption of perishable goods, expanding cold storage capacity has become a worldwide trend. According to data from the International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses (IARW), global cold storage capacity grew from 143 million cubic meters in 2004 to 616 million cubic meters in 2018, achieving a CAGR of 10%. Cold storage capacity continues to rise globally, with India, China, and the United States accounting for about 60% of the total, making them the largest cold storage markets.
As a critical energy-saving facility in the cold chain, cold storage is increasingly adopting advanced insulation materials to further reduce energy consumption.
Application of VIPs in Refrigerated Container Markets
Refrigerated containers, as key carriers in multimodal transport, are growing in number alongside global trade. Their production serves both replacement demand for aging units and incremental demand driven by expanding trade volumes.
Refrigerated containers are highly mobile, and their refrigeration systems face fluctuating sensible and latent heat loads due to changes in external temperatures, seawater conditions, solar radiation intensity, and cargo requirements, making energy consumption control challenging. Key methods to reduce energy use include optimizing refrigeration systems and improving insulation. VIPs can enhance energy efficiency by over 26.82%, delivering significant savings.
Currently, VIPs are primarily used in high-efficiency refrigerated containers with stringent energy requirements. As production costs decline, VIPs are poised for broader adoption in this sector, offering promising prospects.