Swisslog has been appointed as automation partner for Magnavale’s new frozen storage facility at Avonmouth, Bristol, marking the second frozen high bay warehouse project delivered under a framework agreement between the two companies.
The project, known as Magnavale Bristol, builds on the earlier Project Phoenix development at Easton in Lincolnshire, which became fully operational at the end of 2024. That site formed the basis of a wider framework agreement under which Magnavale plans to develop up to eight frozen high bay warehouses across the UK and EU.
Swisslog Australia and New Zealand Director of Sales Steve Dimitrovski said the project reflects broader shifts in cold chain logistics.
“The project reflects broader global trends toward high-density automated cold storage, helping operators improve throughput, reduce labour dependency, maximise land use, and maintain operational resilience in challenging environments,” he said.
He added that similar pressures are being observed in Australia and New Zealand, particularly across food and retail supply chains, including rising land costs, labour constraints, and increased demand for traceability and throughput.
Swisslog UK Managing Director Shane Faulkner said the repeat appointment highlights ongoing confidence in the partnership. “Winning a second project with Magnavale is a strong signal of the trust they place in Swisslog’s technology and our ability to deliver,” he said, noting the long-term scope of Magnavale’s expansion programme.
Magnavale’s parent company, Sadel Group, said the collaboration is based on shared operational experience. Director Andrew Lawrence said: “We are delighted to be continuing the partnership with Swisslog for our development in Bristol,” adding that both teams share a “deep understanding of the standards this project demands.”
The Avonmouth facility will operate at temperatures down to -28°C within a clad-rack high bay structure providing around 90,000 pallet positions. The system will include ten Vectura stacker cranes, a dual-level monorail system, and approximately 1,500 metres of conveyor infrastructure, all coordinated through Swisslog’s SynQ warehouse control system for real-time inventory visibility and stock management.
Swisslog said a key feature of the design is its resilience approach, including guaranteed minimum throughput levels in the event of a system disruption. The company said this capability was validated through simulation modelling during the design phase.
According to Swisslog, the same automation strategies are increasingly relevant across the Asia-Pacific region.
Steve Dimitrovski said cold chain operators in Australia and New Zealand are facing similar challenges to global markets, including cost pressures and capacity constraints, with high-density automated storage systems being explored to improve efficiency and energy performance.
