Refrigerated Containers for Chemical Companies in NJ & NY
Cross Cold Storage rents and sells refrigerated containers to chemical companies across New Jersey, New York, and the Tri-State area. Every unit holds a set temp from -20°F to +70°F. You program the number. Use it to hold product cold, or to keep freeze-sensitive stock above 32°F all winter.
What a Refrigerated Container Is Right For, and What It Is Not
Let us get this out of the way first, because your EHS lead will ask.
A refrigerated container is a temp-control tool. It is an insulated steel box with a cooling unit and a thermostat. That is the whole job.
It is not a hazmat storage building. Our units are not explosion-proof. They do not come with forced air venting, a spill sump, or fire suppression. Flammable and reactive goods need storage rated for that job. No reefer is.
So the honest split looks like this:
Good fit: product that is not flammable, is not reactive, and has a temp spec. Stability holds, shelf life, freeze protection, samples and retains, and staging finished goods.
Wrong fit: flammable liquids. Reactive or explosive goods. Anything that needs rated air venting or a spill sump. Anything your SDS or fire code says needs a purpose-built structure.
Match the box to the material. Not sure which side you fall on? Call us and read us the SDS. We would rather pass on a job than drop a unit where it does not belong.
Why Chemical Companies Rent On-Site Cold Storage Containers
Once the material is a fit, the case is simple. Building cold space takes months, a contractor, and a permit. A refrigerated container rental takes days.
Chemical companies call us for:
A run that outgrew the cold room
Freeze protection for water-based product in winter
A cold room or chiller down for repair, with stock that cannot wait
Raw material bought ahead at contract price with nowhere cold to put it
Samples, retains, and stability sets that need their own space
A plant project that takes cold space offline
Staging finished goods before a truck picks up
What Chemical Companies Store in a Refrigerated Container
Anything with a temp spec and no hazmat storage rule. Common loads:
Water-based coatings, adhesives, and emulsions. These are the classic freeze losses.
Resins, polymers, and additives with a stated storage range.
Catalysts, initiators, and enzymes that lose strength when warm.
Cosmetic and personal care stock. Surfactants, actives, and fragrance.
Food-grade additives held cold.
Samples, retains, and stability sets kept at one set temp.
Finished goods staged before a shipment.
You set one target and the unit holds it. The thermostat takes an exact number, not a dial position.
Storage Temperatures: Read Section 7 of the SDS First
Do not guess your set point. It is already written down.
Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard, every hazardous chemical ships with a 16-section safety data sheet. Section 7 covers handling and storage. That includes safe storage conditions and what the product cannot sit next to. Section 9 covers physical properties, such as melting and freezing points. (29 CFR 1910.1200, Appendix D)
Pull Section 7. Find the storage range. Program that number. If the range sits inside -20°F to +70°F, our units cover it.
Cold storage for stability and shelf life
Plenty of specialty product breaks down faster as it warms. Catalysts lose strength. Emulsions split. Holding stock in its stated range is the difference between a full drum and a write-off.
Auto defrost stops ice buildup, which is what causes temp swings in a cold box.
Freeze protection is the other half of the range
Most people think of a reefer as a cooler. Here, the top end of the range counts just as much.
One hard freeze ruins water-based coatings, adhesives, and emulsions. If your only spare space is an unheated warehouse or a trailer in the yard, January is a real risk. Set the unit above freezing and it holds that number no matter what the weather does.
This is one of the best uses of a reefer in the Northeast, and one of the least used.
Flammables need a rated unit, not a reefer
Worth saying twice. Standard cooling gear is not approved to store flammable goods. Lab safety programs across the country call for flammable-rated units for those materials. The same logic holds at container size.
If Section 2 of your SDS calls the product a flammable liquid, a reefer is the wrong tool. Ask us and we will say so.
20ft or 40ft Refrigerated Container: Sizing Your Cold Space
Two sizes cover most operations.
| 20ft unit | 40ft unit | |
|---|---|---|
| Interior length | 17'6" | 38'1" |
| Interior width | 7'4" | 7'6" |
| Interior height | 7'5" | 8'4" |
| Rough capacity | 1,000 cu ft | 2,300 cu ft |
| Best fit | Samples and retains, one-line overflow, a down cold room | Pallet stacks, drums and totes, year-round cold space |
The 20ft refrigerated container fits in one parking space. The 40ft refrigerated container suits pallet and drum loads. Full specs sit on our refrigerated container specs page.
Tell us your pallet count, drum count, or cubic feet and we will size it for you.
Electric or Diesel Power for Your Plant
Most chemical sites run electric. Some cannot.
Electric units plug into 3-phase power at 230V or 440V. They run quieter, cost less per day, and give off no fumes. You need a dedicated outlet, set up by a licensed electrician, before we drop the unit.
Diesel generator units run with no grid hookup. Pick diesel for a remote yard, a lot with no 3-phase circuit, or backup in an outage. If you hold stock that cannot warm up, a grid failure is the risk that matters. Our post on how refrigerated containers help during natural disasters covers how diesel units keep running when power does not.
We also offer a dual voltage transformer if your panel does not match. For a side-by-side, read electric vs. diesel refrigerated containers.
Built for Drums, Totes, and Pallets
Every unit ships with these standard features:
Aluminum T-grade floor. Rated for pallet jacks and forklifts. Roll a drum pallet straight in.
Stainless steel walls. Smooth, rust-proof, with sealed welds and round corners.
Built-in floor drains. Sweat clears on its own.
Strip curtains. Hold temp while you load, so the box bounces back faster.
LED lights inside. Full-length light for lot pulls and counts.
Full-swing doors with keyed locks. Wide enough for pallets. Locked when you close up.
Ask about the add-ons too. A roll-up door helps in tight lots. A freezer door suits sub-zero work. A dock-height chassis lets you load straight off a truck.
Note what is not on that list. No forced air venting. No spill sump. No explosion-proof rating. If your material needs any of those, a reefer is not your answer.
Rent for a Project or Buy for Year-Round Capacity
Both paths are open, and the math is simple.
Refrigerated container rentals run daily, weekly, monthly, or by the year. We handle delivery, setup, and pickup. If your need runs six months or less, rent. That covers one winter, a chiller repair, a single run, or a plant project.
Refrigerated containers for sale make more sense past 12 months. Sites with a permanent cold need usually buy. We stock new and used 20ft and 40ft units at our Manalapan yard. We test the compressor, thermostat, door seals, and insulation before anything ships.
Delivery Across New Jersey, New York, and the Tri-State
We deliver from our Manalapan, NJ yard to sites in every New Jersey county, all five NYC boroughs, Long Island, Westchester, the Hudson Valley, and parts of Connecticut and eastern Pennsylvania.
Your unit rides in on a tilt-bed truck and sits at ground level, ready to wire. We can crane it onto docks and tight lots. Most Tri-State drops land in 3 to 5 business days. Rush jobs can ship in 24 to 48 hours.
You need a flat, level spot with room for the truck to swing. Read how to prepare for a refrigerated container delivery before we book a date.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chemical Cold Storage
Can chemicals be stored in a refrigerated container?
Some can. A reefer works well for product that is not flammable, is not reactive, and has a temp spec. It is not a hazmat storage building. It is not rated for flammable or reactive goods. Check Section 7 of your SDS, then call us with what you have.
Are your containers explosion-proof or hazmat-rated?
No. They are insulated steel boxes with a cooling unit and a thermostat. If your material needs an explosion-proof or hazmat-rated space, you need purpose-built storage, not a reefer.
Can I store flammable liquids in one?
No. Flammable goods need storage rated for that job. If Section 2 of your SDS calls the product a flammable liquid, we will tell you a reefer is the wrong fit.
Do the containers have ventilation or spill containment?
Not as standard. The unit ships with the features listed on our specs page. No forced air venting. No spill sump. If your storage plan needs either, a reefer will not meet it.
What temperature should I set it to?
Whatever Section 7 of your SDS says. Our units hold any set point from -20°F to +70°F. If your range falls inside that, we can hold it.
Can I use a refrigerated container to keep product from freezing in winter?
Yes, and it is one of the better uses. Set the unit above freezing and it holds that number no matter how cold it gets outside. Water-based coatings, adhesives, and emulsions are the usual picks.
Do I need 3-phase power at my site?
For an electric unit, yes, at 230V or 440V, with a dedicated outlet put in by a licensed electrician. If your site lacks 3-phase, a diesel generator unit runs on its own. We also offer a dual voltage transformer as an add-on.
How fast can you deliver if our cold room goes down?
Most Tri-State drops happen in 3 to 5 business days. Ask about a rush placement for emergencies. Those can ship in 24 to 48 hours.
Can I buy a unit instead of renting?
Yes. We sell new and used 20ft and 40ft reefers, and every unit gets tested before it ships. See our refrigerated containers for sale page.
Do you work with labs and pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. We serve medical labs, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and government agencies, plus every other trade on our industries page.
Get a Free Quote on Temperature-Controlled Container Storage
Call Cross Cold Storage. Tell us what you are holding, the range from your SDS, and how much space you need. If a reefer is the right tool, we will pick a size, a power setup, and a drop date. If it is not, we will say so.
You can also request a free quote online.