Case Study: Nichirei Logistics Group
Real-Time Temperature and Humidity Management System for Refrigerated Warehouses Using Wirepas Mesh Network / Improving the on-site environment and reducing labor requirements
“Wirepas brings revolutionary change.”
— Planning and Development Department, Nichirei Logistics Engineering
Nichirei Logistics Group is one of Japan’s largest temperature-controlled logistics companies. The company operates logistics centers that store a wide variety of food products from more than 5,000 companies annually. In addition, the group operates an engineering business through Nichirei Logistics Engineering, which designs and maintains refrigeration and freezing equipment.
In food logistics warehouses, understanding environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity inside the facility is extremely important.
At the Nichirei Logistics Kyushu Fukuoka Higashihama Logistics Center, a wireless network was built to monitor environmental conditions. The primary goal was to analyze changes within the warehouse in greater detail, prevent temperature variations, and improve both product quality and energy efficiency.
Challenges
- Data acquisition and analysis had to be performed retroactively using devices without communication capabilities
- Data collection required moving stored cargo, which was time-consuming, labor-intensive, and raised safety concerns
Solution and Effects
Easy installation and real-time data acquisition
Previously, the equipment in use had no communication capability. Data loggers had to be collected manually once a month to retrieve the data. In some areas, cargo had to be moved each time the data loggers were retrieved, creating challenges in terms of time, labor, and safety.
With the introduction of the Wirepas Mesh wireless network, data can now be collected automatically without moving cargo. Communication is not hindered by the thick walls of refrigeration and freezing facilities, which had been difficult with previous communication technologies. Real-time data acquisition has made it possible to improve the accuracy of product quality control and to detect abnormalities at an earlier stage.
A representative from the Planning and Development Department of Nichirei Logistics Engineering, who was responsible for the implementation, commented:
“By looking at real-time data, we can now quickly identify the cause of problems and take immediate action. We also plan to use this data for designing new refrigeration and freezing equipment and for improving operational efficiency.”
“Above all, the installation of the device is easy.”
The installation was also highly evaluated.
At the Kyushu Fukuoka Higashihama Logistics Center, a total of 150–160 sensor devices (child units) were installed, while only one parent unit was installed on each floor. The child units were simply placed at locations where measurements were required.
Wirepas Mesh theoretically has no limit on the number of connected devices. In addition, with its “autonomous route building” capability, the devices automatically find communication routes and connect to the network. Even without specialized knowledge, devices can be easily installed, added, or relocated.
As the number of measurement points increased, the scope of analysis expanded beyond monitoring the warehouse as a whole. It is now possible to compare temperature and humidity distributions on a room-by-room basis, analyze changes depending on the amount and type of cargo, and determine optimal management settings.
Data screen of environmental sensors
(© Nichirei Logistics Group, image is for illustration purposes)
Going beyond problem solving:
"We can expect to discover even more ways to utilize it in the future."
Wirepas Mesh technology was initially introduced primarily to understand temperature variations within the warehouse. However, after implementation, additional use cases have emerged.
In addition to temperature and humidity, the Wirepas Mesh unit can also measure air pressure, acceleration, light intensity, and noise. Nichirei Logistics Group is considering using this data to continuously monitor the working environment on site.
By maximizing the use of sensor data and wireless networks for automation, the system is expected not only to improve cargo management but also to enhance safety, improve working conditions for on-site staff, and reduce labor requirements.
Products Used
Reference/cited source
- Nichirei Corporation | Nichirei Group DX
物流倉庫をリアルタイム把握。大量のセンサーをつなぐ新技術とは (Japanese)
- MODE Inc. | 無線の届かなかった倉庫への無線温度センサーの導入 ～センサーたちの大冒険 ―電波の届かない地下倉庫からの脱出〜 (Japanese)
About Nichirei Logistics Group Inc.
- Nichirei Corporation | Nichirei Group DX
物流倉庫をリアルタイム把握。大量のセンサーをつなぐ新技術とは (Japanese) - MODE Inc. | 無線の届かなかった倉庫への無線温度センサーの導入 ～センサーたちの大冒険 ―電波の届かない地下倉庫からの脱出〜 (Japanese)
About Nichirei Logistics Group Inc.
Nichirei Logistics Group is one of Japan’s largest cold-chain logistics groups. Its business includes logistics network operations based on transportation and transshipment centers (TC), regional storage operations centered on refrigerated warehouses, overseas operations in Europe, China, and ASEAN, and engineering services covering the planning, design, and maintenance of low-temperature logistics facilities.
By combining advanced facilities with detailed service capabilities, the company provides universal one-stop logistics services and supports cold-chain infrastructure that bridges the time and distance gap between production, harvesting, and consumption.
URL: https://www.nichirei-logi.co.jp/english/
About MODE Inc. (FCL Components partner company)
As social norms change, Mode transform real data into value with AI-driven IoT power, and shift to a new social model.
Using the power of data to accelerate business decision-making and growth. By combining IoT and AI, MODE will continue to innovate the workplaces of the future.
URL: https://www.tinkermode.jp/ (Japanese)
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