China cold storage solution provider
For farmers and distributors in Thailand, Vietnam, India, or Kenya, Long Beans (Yardlong beans) and Hyacinth Beans are highly perishable.
The Problem: At ambient temperature, beans yellow, wilt, and rot within 5–7 days.
The Solution: A professional cold room extends shelf life to 25–35 days, allowing you to bridge gaps to the next shipping window and sell at peak market prices.
But before you build, you need to know: “For my budget, how many cartons can I store, and what will the electricity bill be?”
📦 Storage Capacity: How Much Can You Fit?
Unlike apples or potatoes, beans are stored in cartons or crates (typically 10–12 kg per box) to prevent crushing. Assuming a standard ceiling height of 5 meters:
| Cold Room Size | Floor Area | Estimated Volume | Storage Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (Local Market) | 200 m² | 1,000 m³ | 2,500 – 2,800 kg (≈250 cartons) |
| Medium (Export Hub) | 600 m² | 3,000 m³ | 7,500 – 8,000 kg (≈750 cartons) |
| Large (Industrial) | 1,000 m² | 5,000 m³ | 12,500 – 13,000 kg (≈1,250 cartons) |
💡 Pro Tip: Do not stack more than 6–7 cartons high. Beans are heavy, and you need airflow channels to prevent heat buildup in the center.
💰 Investment & Operating Costs (USD)
A bean cold room requires precise humidity control (85–90% RH) to prevent shriveling. This requires specific equipment, affecting the price.
1. Construction Cost (Turnkey)
| Scale | Estimated Cost (USD) | Features Included |
|---|---|---|
| Small (200 m²) | 55,000 | 100mm PU insulation panels, basic humidifier, 20HP compressor |
| Medium (600 m²) | 150,000 | Siemens PLC controls, high-velocity airflow fans, backup power interface |
| Large (1,000 m²) | 250,000 | Multi-zone temperature control, automated defrost system, full remote monitoring & IoT integration |
2. Operational Efficiency (The “Hidden” Profit Factor)
| Metric | Performance Standard |
|---|---|
| Ideal Temperature | 5°C ± 0.5°C (Never below 0°C — risk of chilling injury and pitting) |
| Relative Humidity | 85% – 90% RH (Critical to prevent shriveling and weight loss) |
| Power Consumption | 380– 450 / month (for a 600 m² cold room, based on 24/7 operation at $ 0.12/kWh) |
| Spoilage Reduction | From 30% (open-air market) → < 8% (professional cold storage) |
🌍 Real Project: Long Bean Storage Hub – Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
To give you a clear picture of the return on investment, consider this real project we executed for a Thai exporter supplying to Singapore and Japan.
- Client Profile: Agri-cooperative of 45 farmers, producing 20 tons of Long Beans weekly.
- The Challenge: They were forced to sell immediately after harvest at low prices because they had no storage. During the rainy season, up to 25% of the harvest was discarded due to mold.
- The Solution: We built a 500 m² (2,500 m³) multi-compartment cold room.
- Specs: 100mm PU panels, Italian-made humidification system, Siemens PLC control.
- Cost: $148,000 USD (Turnkey).
- The Outcome (After 1 Year):
- Extended Shelf Life: From 5 days to 30 days. This allowed them to wait for the best shipping container schedule.
- Price Arbitrage: By holding stock for 3 weeks, they avoided the “harvest glut” price drop and sold at a 35% higher price.
- Reduced Waste: Spoilage dropped from 25% to less than 5%.
- ROI: The system paid for itself in 14 months purely through better market timing.
📩 Get Your Custom Storage Plan
If you are handling Long Beans, Hyacinth Beans, or Snake Gourds, don’t guess on capacity.
Tell us:
✅ Your average weekly harvest volume (kg or tons)?
✅ Target market (Local, Export, Processed)?
✅ Maximum ambient temperature at your site?
We will provide:
● Recommended cold room size (m² + carton capacity)
● Estimated monthly energy cost
● A rough ROI timeline based on your local market prices
Store longer. Sell smarter. Waste nothing.