Monolithic
Domes For Cold Storage
by Freda Parker
"It's a matter of you tell us what you want and need, and we will help you design and build it," said Monolithic's President David B. South. "We can do a cold storage dome of just about any size -- small ones with diameters of 75 feet or less, giant ones with diameters of 200+ feet, or anything in between."
"That's important," he continued, "because every product has its particular set of storage problems. Take the potato, for example. America's favorite vegetable can't be frozen. If it's frozen it turns black. Potatoes have to be stored at about 45 degrees. At that temperature, potatoes think it's winter and go to sleep. But if it's too warm they sprout, and if it's too cold their starch turns to sugar."
Adaptability applies to the interior design of a Monolithic Dome cold storage as well. South said, "All you have is a whole lot of beautiful, open space on the inside of the dome. So you can hang what you want from its ceiling and include all the conveyor systems and cranes you need."
Not only is the Monolithic Dome adaptable, it's affordable. South said, "Even with its superior insulation, a Monolithic Dome cold storage costs less to build."
"And," South added, "the savings are on-going. Because of its massive thermal capacity and its insulation, the dome can use energy at off-peak prices. Here's an example:
Savings are also realized with lower insurance premiums since Monolithic Domes are virtually indestructible. They can and have withstood hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes. They are impervious to fire and cannot be eaten by bugs.
The Proof of the Pudding is in the Eating -- that was Miguel de Cervantes' way of saying that you never know how good something is until you try it! The axiom applies to just about anything -- including Monolithic Dome cold storages. Their adaptability and affordability have been proven through use. Here are some examples.
In 1990, CALAMCO (California Ammonia Co.) built two Monolithic Domes, 230' x 115' each, for cold storage of food products at the Port of Stockton, California.
When the facility opened, CALAMCO used it for apple storage, since each dome was big enough to hold 600 semi truck loads. At its center, each dome was equipped with a 100-foot-tall cooling tower that doubles as the pivot point for a large, computerized crane. The crane can place and remove containers, often weighing more than 13 tons.
For apple storage, CALAMCO maintained a controlled atmosphere, within the domes, of one percent oxygen and less than one percent carbon-dioxide. That atmosphere coupled with a constant temperature of 34 F put the apples to sleep and prevented further aging.
According to CALAMCO Vice President Lee Gardner, the domes have been in continuous use and performed well since their completion. Over the years, however, the products they store have changed.
Nevertheless, CALAMCO reports that in 2000 their Monolithic Dome cold storage facility had a record season: "Diamond Walnut increased their business with CALAMCO storing approximately 9.5 million pounds of walnuts in the shell from their 1999 walnut crop. We look forward to continuing this business in the future. We have also had the pleasure of doing business with Del Monte for a number of years and in 2000 a total of 15,820 bins of Bartlett Pears July through December. In addition, we had an increase in seed potatoes, storing just under 3 million pounds." (www.calamco.com/7operations.htm)
In 1979, Monolithic Constructors, Inc. built a 40' x 20' freezer adjacent to a 90' x 30' manufacturing plant in Rexburg, Idaho for K-P Foods, Inc. At the time, K-P Foods made frozen dessert products that had to be stored at -5 F. Owner Phillip Ricks said the 1250 square feet within the freezer used only five tons of generator power to maintain its chilling atmosphere. Ricks said that several refrigeration experts told him that his freezer area should have required four times the amount it was using.
The experts also claimed that K-P's manufacturing plant, with its 6,350 square feet that are heated in winter with 120,000 BTUs of power, should need five times more heating.
After successfully operating the domes for several years, Ricks was asked about their energy efficiency. He said, "My Monolithic Dome buildings are saving me 75% on heating and cooling bills."
More recently, K-P Foods was sold and its dessert-making Idaho operation closed. Snowy Mountain Spring Water bought the Monolithic Domes which they use to store bottled water.
Manager Toby Simmons said, "Oh yeah, we love the domes. They do a great job for us. We really don't have to do anything, and they stay cool in the summer and keep things from freezing in the winter."
In 1980, Sun Glo of Idaho, a company that packaged and distributed a variety of convenience and frozen foods, had a Monolithic Dome freezer storage, 75'x 28', built in Sugar City, Idaho. Sun Glo used this facility until 1999 when the company united with Northland Frozen Foods to form NorSun Food Groups Inc. According to Supervisor Daren Hines, NorSun continues using the dome as a refrigerated storage unit, with a maintained temperature of 45 F.
Tell Us What You Want and We Will Build It -- President David South said that Monolithic Dome cold storage facilities can be built virtually anywhere in the world, in any size and for any need.
"They can be built as way points or distribution centers," South said, "for a specific business or product, or for someone who wants to lease storage space to others. We'll accommodate your needs."
To help a company decide just what their cold storage needs are, a Free Evaluation Form is available. When completed, it can be submitted to the Monolithic Dome Institute for a free evaluation.
Related Articles:
- Calamco Cold Storage
- K-P Foods, Inc. (Spanish translation PDF)
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