Solution · Food & Cold Storage

Ensure hygiene,
prevent ice & condensation

Whether it's a cold storage room, ripening chamber, freezer warehouse, or processing hall: wherever food is stored and produced, air humidity is the decisive factor for hygiene, shelf life, and operational safety. DÖLCO provides stationary dehumidification technology Made in Freiburg – from the K/T series with hot gas defrosting to adsorption drying for the freezer sector.

Consultation →Expert advice: +49 7664 50559-0

The problem

Humidity – the invisible cost driver

In cold storage and warehouse rooms, warm, humid air meets cold surfaces, condenses, and settles as water or ice – with consequences for hygiene, plant engineering, and occupational safety.

Spoilage, mold & germs

High humidity creates ideal conditions for microorganisms and mold on food, packaging, and surfaces – this shortens shelf life and compromises food hygiene.

Condensation & ice in cold storage

Infiltrating outdoor air cools below the dew point and condenses. At sub-zero temperatures, the condensate freezes into ice – a direct slip and accident risk and a burden on machinery.

Icing of evaporators & doors

Frost and ice settle on evaporator fins, impair cooling performance, and drive up energy consumption; iced-up doors no longer close tightly.

Condensation water above food

Dripping condensate from ceilings, cooling pipes, and supports falls onto open goods and work surfaces – a hygiene deficiency that leads to complaints during HACCP audits.

The solution

Keeping room air controlled and dry

DÖLCO dehumidifies the room air in a targeted manner and keeps it permanently in the safe range – tailored to the temperature of your warehouse, from cold storage just above 0 °C to freezer storage far below.

Hygiene below 60% RH

A constantly low humidity deprives mold and germs of their livelihood. Food stays fresh longer, packaging remains dry – and you reliably meet your hygiene requirements.

Condensation & ice prevention

With dehumidified air, the dew point is below the surface temperature – no condensation on ceilings and doors, no ice on the floor, longer defrost cycles.

Suitable technology for every temperature

In the cooling sector, K/T units work with hot gas defrosting even at low temperatures; for the freezer sector below 0 °C, adsorption drying is used.

KISS – HACCP-relevant

The KISS sensor system continuously documents temperature and humidity as seamless proof and provides early warnings before limit values are exceeded.

Expertise

60%, dew point & the right technology

Microorganisms, yeasts, and molds require moisture to grow. Below approximately 60% relative humidity, their growth is noticeably inhibited because they lack freely available water. Controlled dehumidification is therefore an active contribution to food safety – it works where cleaning alone is not enough: in the air and on hard-to-reach surfaces.

Air can only absorb a limited amount of water vapor – the colder it is, the less it can hold. If humid air cools down to its dew point, the vapor condenses. If the surface is below 0 °C – on evaporator fins, freezer walls, or doors – water does not form, but rather frost and ice directly. This is exactly why freezer warehouses are so susceptible; the key lies in keeping the air dry, not in clearing away the ice.

Condensation units cool the air at a cold heat exchanger below the dew point and extract the water. In the cooling sector, hot gas defrosting prevents the evaporator itself from freezing. Below the freezing point, adsorption drying is used, which binds water vapor to a desiccant and dehumidifies even at sub-zero temperatures. The design is based on room volume, target humidity, temperature, and door opening frequency.

Products

The right DÖLCO systems

Condensation with hot gas defrosting for the cooling sector, adsorption for the freezer sector – regulated and documented.

K-series with hot gas defrosting

Robust wall/console units (K 3000–K 25000) for cold storage, ripening chambers, and processing rooms – hot gas defrosting keeps them in continuous operation even at low temperatures.

T-series (large-scale systems)

For large warehouses and logistics cold stores with high dehumidification loads and large air volumes (up to 2,000 l/24 h).

Adsorption dryers

The solution for the freezer sector below 0 °C, where condensation technology reaches its limits – dehumidifies reliably even at sub-zero temperatures.

ITR & KISS

ITR for demand-based control, KISS for continuous, HACCP-relevant recording with alarm functions.

View stationary systems →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What air humidity is ideal in a food warehouse?

A relative humidity below 60% is considered a guideline. In this range, the growth of mold and germs is effectively inhibited, packaging remains stable, and shelf life increases. The exact target value is determined by the product and storage temperature.

Why does ice constantly form in the freezer warehouse?

Infiltrating, more humid air cools below the freezing point; the water vapor settles directly as frost and ice. Targeted dehumidification removes the basis for this process – significantly less ice on floors, doors, and evaporators.

Does a condensation dehumidifier work at sub-zero temperatures?

In the cooling sector around the freezing point, yes – provided the unit has hot gas defrosting like the K-series. For continuous operation well below 0 °C, adsorption drying is the correct technology.

Does dehumidification help with HACCP documentation?

Yes. Controlled humidity is a direct contribution to hygiene. With KISS, temperature and humidity are continuously recorded – this provides the proof that HACCP concepts and audits expect.

Does dehumidification lower the energy costs of the refrigeration system?

Generally, yes. Iced-up evaporators work inefficiently and force frequent defrost cycles; dry room air reduces ice formation, extends defrost intervals, and relieves the refrigeration technology.

Consultation

Keep your cold storage dry?

We will design the appropriate dehumidification for your cold or freezer warehouse – free of charge and without obligation.

📞 +49 7664 / 50559-0 ✉ info@doelco.de

Ensure hygiene,prevent ice & condensation