The European Cold Storage and Logistics Association (ECSLA) has announced format changes to their industry association event bringing together all links of the cold chain.

It’ s all change at the ECSLA Winter Cold Chain Logistics Conference & Trade Show. The new management team at the leading European cold chain association has swept away the compartmentalised approach of the past and replaced it with a single integrated conference programme, open to all delegates. The two-dayevent takes place on 24-26 February 2014 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Maastricht/The Netherlands, and brings together delegates from all links in the cold chain.  

ECSLA secretary general, Christine Weiker said: “We’ve lined up a really innovative conference programme and delegate registrations continue to come in thick and fast.  Our trade show is set to sell out too, with just a few places stil lavailable. We’re excited. It’s going to be a great event and a great new departure for ECSLA.” The speaker programme runs over one-and-a-half days, with a full-day on Monday 24 th and a morning session on Tuesday 25th February. On Tuesday afternoon a closed session for direct and affiliated members of ECSLA will focus on the Association’s future strategy and planning. A parallel programme is scheduled Tuesday afternoon for other delegates. Site visits are planned on Wednesday 26th February.  “We’ve organised a sharply-focused conference programme around three themes of key interest to `the business,”continues Weiker. “The trade show will run in parallel to the conference, offering delegates the chance to learn about the latest industry-relevant technology and product developments.”

Fire is the last thing you want to encounter as a cold store operator. In the first of the three speaker sessions, “Fire & Ice”, a representative of industry giant STEF will talk frankly about the company’s direct experience of a nasty fire in one of its European cold stores. The focus will be on the real-life differences between theoretical risk planning and the harsh reality of dealing with a major fire if and when it actually happens. And managing the aftermath…Other experts will contribute. 

The scandal surrounding horsemeat masqueradingas beef in food products all across Europe rocked markets and regulatory control in 2013. A conference module entitled “The horsemeat scandal: one year later” will take a closer look at how the scandal influenced consumer thinking and consumer attitudes across Europe and the consequences for the market. One of the questions in the spotlight is whether lessons have really been learned (with recent stories of new cases of fraud) and what needs to be done to rebuild consumer confidence in Europe’s global food supply chain.  

The European Union’s new regulation restricting the use of F-gases, notably for refrigeration purposes, will change the way cold stores are operated across theEU. In a session entitled “A world without F-gases” delegates will learn what the EU rules actually mean in practice for cold store operators, ending with a brief overview and case study of what future alternative cooling technology could look like and its impact once installed.  There will be lots of time for networking with the social highlight being a gala dinner set to take place on Monday 24th February in an exciting “underground” venue just outside Maastricht, in the hills of South Limburg. The organisers promise a festive evening with culinary delights, musical surprises and an awards ceremony honouring several industry leaders that have significantly contributed to ECSLA since its merger with the former GCCA European division several years ago.

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