MONTERREY, NL.- ALMER , a Mexican company focused on comprehensive logistics, warehousing and inventory financing services, inaugurated ALMER Frigorífico Monterrey , a new temperature-controlled distribution center (DC), with which it seeks to strengthen the logistics infrastructure and the cold chain in northern Mexico.
During the opening ceremony, Luis García Serrato, general director of ALMER, highlighted that more than 500 million pesos (mdp) were invested in the new infrastructure and it is the company’s second refrigerated distribution center in the country.
The warehouse was built on a 15,000 square meter (m2) plot of land and has approximately 9,000 m2 of construction, of which 6,500 m2 are dedicated to temperature-controlled operations . The infrastructure includes a maneuvering yard of more than 4,000 m2 and 12 loading docks, and has Federal Inspection Type (TIF) certification .
In terms of technology, it implements a WMS system for traceability and inventory control. It features continuous temperature and pressure monitoring and integrates German technology into refrigeration systems, panels, doors, and automation processes. Its design prioritizes energy efficiency and LED lighting.
The refrigeration capacity incorporates four freezing chambers at -20 degrees Celsius, with a combined capacity of approximately 15,000 positions, in addition to a dual chamber for refrigeration or freezing.
The opening of this new unit is relevant in a context where Mexico has only 15 million cubic meters (m3) of refrigerated storage , well below the 130 million m3 of the United States, reflecting a significant gap compared to potential demand.
One of the elements that distinguishes the warehouse is its refrigeration system based exclusively on R744 carbon dioxide. According to García, this responds to criteria of safety, efficiency and environmental responsibility , in addition to allowing the operation of a refrigeration facility within the urban area of Monterrey without resorting to ammonia as a refrigerant.
The decision is also related to the region’s conditions. The executive noted that the system was designed to operate without the continuous water consumption associated with cooling towers , a relevant aspect for Monterrey given the restrictions the city has faced regarding water availability.
The company plans to install solar panels that will provide around 30% of the cooling needs, while the remaining 70% will be supplied through cogeneration schemes.
For ALMER, the Monterrey project represents a step within a broader expansion strategy . The company already operates a temperature-controlled facility in Guadalajara, which maintains occupancy levels close to 100%, according to García Serrato.
The next project is located in Tultitlán, State of Mexico , where the company is building a facility with similar characteristics and around 23,000 positions.
The company is also analyzing projects in Mérida, Cancún, Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, with the goal of closing 2030 with at least six large temperature-controlled centers strategically distributed throughout the country.
In an interview with T21, Édgar López, CEO of Grupo Inversor Veracruzano (Griver) , considered that the new facility signals that the refrigeration logistics chain continues to be a sector that demands growth in infrastructure, and that it confirms that it is on the right track for high-scale refrigeration services for the supply chain in various segments.
“We will be present to support ALMER, with whom we have a joint relationship with our clients, where we receive cargo through the port of Veracruz,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Carlos López, Commercial Director of Logistics Services at ALMER, said that with the new facility they seek to support all their clients in the region as a strategic point in the area .
“This investment represents a sense of confidence in the region, in our country, and in the development of the region,” he concluded.
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