Relocatable Cold Rooms
Flexible, cost-effective cold storage without the need for permanent construction. Our relocatable cold rooms are designed, built, and supplied for hire or purchase—delivering reliable performance with fast installation and the ability to move as your business grows.
Six situations where relocatable beats permanent
A permanent cold room is the right choice for many businesses — but not all of them, and not always right now. These are the scenarios where relocatable is the smarter decision.
You need cold storage faster than a build allows
Permanent cold room construction takes weeks from design to commissioning. A relocatable unit can be on-site and operational in days. If a contract, event, or seasonal peak is driving the timeline, relocatable removes the lead time problem entirely.
Your existing cold room is down and you need cover now
When a built-in cool room fails or is taken out of service for repairs, a relocatable unit provides immediate operational continuity. Stock stays protected, service continues, and the repair timeline doesn't become a revenue crisis.
Seasonal demand exceeds your permanent capacity
Hospitality venues, caterers, and food producers regularly face peak periods — Christmas, Easter, major events — where cold storage demand spikes well beyond normal operations. A hire unit covers the peak without committing capital to year-round capacity you don't need.
You're expanding, relocating, or fitting out a new site
During a fitout or site transition, a relocatable unit bridges the gap between your current operation and your permanent infrastructure. It moves with you or gets removed when the permanent room is ready — no sunk cost.
You're in a leased space and can't modify the building
Permanent cold room installation often requires structural modifications, building approvals and landlord sign-off. A relocatable unit requires none of that — it arrives as a self-contained system, connects to power and operates independently of the building fabric.
You're testing a new product line or operation before committing
If you're launching a new product, expanding into food service, or testing a new site location, a relocatable unit lets you validate cold storage requirements before locking in permanent capital expenditure.
Which option is right for your situation
Both hire and purchase deliver the same commercial-grade cold storage. The right choice depends on how long you need it, how you prefer to manage costs, and what flexibility matters to you.
Best suited for
- •Short-term or seasonal requirements
- •Emergency or breakdown cover
- •Event catering and temporary operations
- •Fitout or construction bridging
- •Testing a new location or product line
- •Leased premises where purchase isn't practical
Advantages
- •No capital outlay — operating expense only
- •Return or swap the unit when requirements change
- •Maintenance typically included in hire terms
- •No asset disposal when no longer needed
Best suited for
- •Ongoing operations with permanent cold storage need
- •Sites where relocation is possible but not frequent
- •Businesses preferring asset ownership
- •Multi-site operations scaling cold storage capacity
- •Lower long-term cost vs extended hire
Advantages
- •Capital asset on the balance sheet
- •No ongoing hire cost after purchase
- •Customisable to your exact specification
- •Relocatable — moves with the business if needed
“Most clients who call about hire end up staying on hire for longer than they expected — because the flexibility turns out to be worth more than the ownership. But for clients with ongoing cold storage needs on a site they'll occupy long-term, purchase is almost always the better financial outcome after 18 months.”
— ACRO — relocatable cold rooms, SE Queensland
How relocatable cold rooms compare to permanent installation
Same refrigeration performance. Very different deployment, cost and flexibility profile.
| Factor | Relocatable cold room | Permanent built-in cold room |
|---|---|---|
| Installation time | Days from delivery to operation. No construction lead time. | Weeks from design approval to commissioning. Site works required. |
| Building works | None required in most cases. Self-contained unit connects to power. | Structural modifications, drainage, ventilation and approvals typically required. |
| Upfront cost | Lower — hire requires no capital. Purchase unit cost lower than full build. | Higher — design, materials, installation and trades included in project cost. |
| Flexibility | Can be relocated, returned, or swapped as requirements change. | Fixed to the building. Modification requires significant cost and disruption. |
| Refrigeration performance | Commercial-grade components, same temperature ranges as permanent rooms. | Commercial-grade components, fully bespoke specification for the application. |
| Long-term cost | Ongoing hire cost if not purchased. Purchase pays off vs hire after ~18 months. | Higher upfront, lower long-term cost. 15+ year lifespan with proper maintenance. |
| Best for | Flexibility, speed, leased premises, temporary or seasonal demand. | Permanent operations, high-traffic applications, maximum customisation. |
Commercial-grade specification. No compromises on performance.
Relocatable doesn't mean reduced spec. Every unit is built to the same standard as a permanent cold room — because the product inside doesn't know the difference.
Structure
PIR or PUR insulated panels
Same closed-cell insulation as permanent builds
Food-grade aluminium or stainless lining
Easy to clean, corrosion resistant
Insulated floor with non-slip surface
Suitable for pallet entry and foot traffic
Commercial hinged door with magnetic seal
Internal safety release as standard
Refrigeration
+1°C to +4°C cool room or −18°C to −22°C freezer
Specified to application at order
Low-GWP refrigerants — ARCtick compliant
Handled by licensed technicians
External mounted, sized for Queensland ambient conditions
Not undersized for average conditions
Digital temperature controller with alarm output
Temperature deviation alert capability
Compliance
Temperature logging capability included
Supports food safety documentation requirements
Standard single-phase or three-phase connection
Installed by licensed electrical contractor
Internal door release, alarm, temperature monitoring
Compliant with Australian standards
Commissioning report and compliance records supplied on delivery
Available for audit and HACCP records
What's Included
Relocatable cold rooms give you commercial-grade refrigeration without committing to permanent construction. They are a smarter option for businesses that need flexibility, faster deployment, or a lower upfront cost than traditional built-in systems. We design and supply units that perform like a fixed cold room but can be installed, relocated, or removed as your needs change. Whether it’s for expansion, redundancy, seasonal demand, or a temporary setup, relocatable cold rooms keep your operation running without disruption. Available for both hire and purchase, they provide a scalable solution that adapts to your business instead of locking you into it.
Secure Flexible Cold Storage TodayKey Benefits
- Lower upfront cost than built-in cold rooms
- Fast installation with minimal disruption
- Relocatable and scalable as your business changes
- No major building works or approvals in most cases
- Available for hire or purchase
- Reliable commercial-grade performance
- Ideal for temporary, overflow, or backup storage
How It Works
Enquiry & Site Review
We assess your storage needs, site conditions, and whether hire or purchase is the best fit.
Recommendation & Quote
We recommend the right relocatable cold room and provide a clear quotation.
Build or Allocate Unit
We either prepare a hire unit or build your cold room to suit your requirements.
Delivery & Installation
We deliver the unit, position it on site, connect services, and complete setup. The set up service may not be available in all areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do they perform as well as built-in cold rooms?
Yes. They use the same refrigeration principles and components, delivering consistent commercial-grade temperature control.
What size options are available?
We offer a range of standard sizes and can customise units to suit your space and capacity requirements.
Do you handle delivery and setup?
Yes. We manage delivery, installation, commissioning, and can provide ongoing service and support.
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