Preparation starts the day before dispatch, not on the morning of it. A plate delivers no cooling power until it is frozen through; GEBHARDT's plate table recommends 24 hours for every plate, and the time is 8 to 24 hours depending on the cooling technology. The freezing temperature is set at least 5 °C below the melting point.
| Step | When | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Put the plates in the freezer | The day before | 24 hours (8-24) |
| Pre-cool the container | Before loading | 12-20 hours |
| Prepare and place the product | At loading | Reverse of delivery order |
The backward calculation is simple: from the last delivery time subtract the round and loading time and the pre-cooling, and the hour the plates must go into the cabinet falls out. Most of the morning's lost time is spent waiting for plates that are not ready; paperwork and a vehicle arriving late at the dock come next, and a ready container waiting in the open gives back what it gained.
Putting plates in the cabinet every evening, even before orders are confirmed, pays off, because an unused frozen plate costs nothing. On days with two rounds, the plates for the second round must go in during the morning; that is the real test of freezing capacity.
