Magnavale, the UK’s leading food specialist cold storage provider, and Sadel Development Management are pleased to announce that Swisslog, a global leader in warehouse automation, has been selected as the automation supplier for Magnavale Bristol, a new 90,000-pallet, fully automated frozen cold store strategically located at the junction of the M4 and M5 motorways in the Southwest of England.
The appointment of Swisslog marks a crucial milestone in the development programme. With site levelling works complete, piling for the building’s foundations is ongoing, underlining the momentum behind this landmark project.
World-Class Automation at Magnavale Bristol
Swisslog’s solution for Magnavale Bristol builds directly on the automation system proven at the recently opened Magnavale Easton facility in Lincolnshire, the largest single cold store ever built in the UK, while incorporating site-specific enhancements developed for the Bristol project.
The automation package centres on an approximately 45-metre high clad-rack automated High Bay Warehouse with a combined capacity of ~90,000 pallet positions.
The entire system will be orchestrated by Swisslog’s SynQ warehouse management and control software, delivering real-time visibility, intelligent load sequencing, and FEFO/FIFO stock management across the full pallet estate.
Engineered for Resilience, Flexibility and Sustainability
Magnavale Bristol has been designed with no single point of failure. The intelligent monorail system features multiple entry points so that operations can continue uninterrupted even in the event of a system disruption. Inline pallet rectification and profile-checking stations will ensure the integrity of every load entering the automated system, which is designed to handle any pallet format, at heights up to 2.25 metres and weights up to 1,250kg.
The facility will also include dedicated Value-Added Services levels, supporting a full range of services including picking, packing, labelling, blast freezing, date coding and export handling. A standard mobile racking cold store will be built adjacent to the Low Bay Warehouse.
Running entirely on renewable energy, Magnavale Bristol will feature a low oxygen atmosphere fire suppression chamber, reducing the need for traditional water-based systems and protecting stored goods from both fire and water damage.
Addressing a Longstanding Gap in the Southwest
Positioned at the M4/M5 junction, Magnavale Bristol offers unmatched road access to the entire Southwest of England and South Wales. Upon completion, the facility will provide 90,000 pallet positions at frozen temperatures, addressing a longstanding deficit of high-capacity, automated cold storage in the region and supporting supply chain resilience, food security and sustainability for food businesses across the Southwest and beyond.
Quotes from Key Stakeholders
Amanda Cogan, Chief Operations Officer, Magnavale
“Confirming Swisslog as our automation partner is a major step closer to being able to provide the services our customers need in the Southwest. Development is proceeding at pace, which is encouraging for the businesses that have already expressed interest in the facility and the significant positive impact it will make to their supply chains.”
Jonathan Gagg, Engineering Director, Sadel Development Management
“This announcement represents a major step forward in addressing the longstanding cold storage gap in the Southwest. With the automation supplier confirmed and works well underway, we are on course to deliver one of the UK’s most advanced automated facilities – designed to support supply chain resilience, food security and sustainability for decades to come.”
Andrew Lawrence, Director, Sadel Group
“We are delighted to be continuing the partnership with Swisslog for our development in Bristol. Having successfully delivered the automation at Magnavale Easton in partnership with Swisslog, we have a deep shared understanding of the standards this project demands and are confident that Swisslog’s systems can and will deliver the throughput, reliability and flexibility that Magnavale Bristol requires.”
Shane Faulkner, UK Managing Director & Head of Sales, Swisslog
“Swisslog is proud to continue its partnership with Magnavale, delivering best in class freezer pallet technology in the UK. The system has been engineered with high resilience to ensure Magnavale can consistently meet its customer commitments.”
