Maple Reinders
Delivering Excellence With State-Of-The-Art cold Storage Construction

Cold storage units play a vital role in ensuring a year-round supply of exotic fruits, vegetables, groceries, and ice creams from around the globe. Over the years, the expanding food production market, encompassing ready-to-eat, frozen, and chilled foods, has driven demand for storage and distribution space. This surge has resulted in a scarcity of storage space relative to the quantity of products. Food and beverage producers seek to expand on-site storage facilities, while third-party logistics providers aim to meet the growing market demand by offering available pallet positions.

This situation underscores the imperative need to construct cold storage facilities capable of handling the escalating demand for perishable goods, both in terms of capacity and efficiency.

When searching for a cold storage construction partner, company owners are well aware that these specialized facilities come with a substantial price tag. Furthermore, the aging infrastructure of facilities over 30 years old has a negative impact on energy costs. Owners need a partner with a proven track record and extensive experience in constructing these structures.

Enter Maple Reinders.

The full-service construction solutions provider offers comprehensive services for the cold storage industry. Its competence in planning, coordinating, and successfully executing complex construction projects has helped Maple Reinders build a reputation for consistently delivering projects within the specified budget and timeframe.

“Our experience in the cold storage sector sets us apart from standard design-builders or general contractors. With 56 years of industry expertise, our organization has earned a reputation for trustworthiness and integrity in the cold storage industry,” says Joseph Sabourin, Project Director (F&B) at Maple Reinders.

The company specializes in providing design-build services to clients in the cold storage industry, developing state-of-the-art facilities that meet their needs. It conducts thorough due diligence and planning studies for specific sites, assisting owners in making informed investment decisions. Maple Reinders guides clients through the design permitting process, racking design, and selecting suitable refrigeration options. It explores integrating various cutting-edge technologies into the building to enhance its functionality.

Maple Reinders provides design, architecture, and engineering services to lead clients through the site plan application process and the acquisition of building permits. This is done in close partnership with the owner to ensure effective collaboration throughout the process.

The project management staff play a crucial role in coordinating unified schedules to ensure on-time completion of projects. The team responsible for estimating the project costs collaborates with subtrade partners and suppliers to develop informed budgets at key intervals in the process. The reliability and accuracy of these aspects are essential for meeting the project’s goals.

In estimating and forecasting, the ability to break down costs and present various options to clients is crucial. This enables Maple Reinders to offer a comprehensive understanding of the expenses involved and provide alternative solutions. The ability to forecast short and long-term advantages, by analyzing both capital and operating costs, is a value add that sets Maple Reinders apart in the industry. Joseph references an example where such an analysis was undertaken to compare added costs related to integrating an automation solution into a facility while substantially reducing long-term labor costs.

While interacting with a client, Joseph emphasizes the need to attentively listen, comprehend the requirements and challenges, and collaborate with the owner to find solutions. The true value Maple Reinders offers lies in the ability to discover distinctive solutions for one-of-a-kind challenges. The team collaborates closely with project stakeholders throughout the project to achieve the most optimal and productive resolution for these issues.

Joseph expands on this by saying, “Our approach depends on the problem’s nature and the willingness of the owner and their team to consider new ideas. By evaluating these factors, a customized solution can be created that not only resolves the owner’s issues but ensures their comfort and involvement in the process.”

Dot Foods, North America’s largest food redistributor, was constructing their flagship office freezer and ambient food storage facility in Ontario. They sought a partner to integrate the design criteria they had developed through multiple U.S. builds. After multiple discussions with Maple Reinders and learning of the advantages their team could provide, the decision was made to enter a design-build partnership. The objective was not only to customize their services for the Canadian market but also to improve efficiency and deliver a cost-efficient solution that exceeds the customer’s expectations for the facility. Maple Reinders implemented their alternative solutions process which led to a switch from an ammonia refrigeration system to a trans-critical CO2 one. These changes highlighted their innovative mindset as well as displayed their dedication to adopting eco-friendly measures for a sustainable future.

Maple Reinders utilizes a comprehensive client satisfaction survey that evaluates 25 criteria elements, which include the performance of the project oversight team, management team, onsite team, engineering group, as well as subcontractors and consultants. This ensures that client feedback is incorporated into every aspect of its work. The first survey is carried out during the design phase to assess the pre-construction team’s performance. Another survey is conducted halfway through construction, and a final survey upon substantial completion to gauge overall client satisfaction.

“Our team is driven by challenging projects; the more complex, the more exciting. We have an impressive track record in this industry, excelling in distinct and challenging building designs. From the thermal envelope to the slab and structural capabilities, and into the systems. We view each element as an integral part of a cohesive and integrated building solution,” says Sabourin.

Maple Reinders emerges as the perfect solution for companies seeking a reliable and proficient construction services provider. Its expertise within the cold storage sector provides clients with a turnkey solution to assist them with every part of the construction process.