Behind the refrigerator door: Liebherr’s approach to smarter laboratory cold storage

Laboratory refrigeration deserves the same scrutiny as the science it supports. Maintaining appropriate storage conditions is essential, but efficient day-to-day operation also depends on how an appliance is loaded, accessed and managed.

At Liebherr, our research and appliance development explore the relationship between refrigeration technology and laboratory practice. The question is straightforward; can laboratory cold storage work smarter without compromising what is inside?

Answering it means looking beyond the set temperature to consider energy consumption, usable storage space and the processes that help teams manage valuable materials.

Look beyond the set temperature

A refrigerator’s set temperature does not tell the whole story. Laboratories also need to understand temperature variation throughout the refrigerator, the impact of routine access and how quickly conditions recover afterwards.

Research conducted by Green Light Laboratories at the University of Bristol, using Liebherr products, examined door openings, loading, inventory management and freezer settings.

The findings highlight why temperature performance and energy consumption should be assessed together. In the tests, the refrigerator that recovered fastest was not the one that used the least energy during recovery.

For Liebherr, this reinforces the importance of considering both whether an appliance maintains suitable conditions and how much energy it requires to do so.

The energy impact of organised inventory

Some of the clearest findings concerned a simple operational tool; an appliance inventory.

In the Green Light study, a basic inventory identifying shelf ownership halved door-opening times and reduced the energy required for recovery by 57%. More detailed inventories reduced door-opening times by two-thirds and recovery energy by 62%.

Clearly labelled shelves, identifiable ownership and accurate sample locations can support quicker retrieval and shorter door openings. Alongside appropriate refrigeration equipment, these measures can help laboratories manage energy consumption and staff time.

Focus on usable capacity

When considering Liebherr laboratory refrigeration, understanding storage requirements is an important starting point. Published net capacity alone may not reflect the space available for storing materials.

Before adding another unit, laboratories should review existing contents, check that inventories are accurate and assess remaining usable capacity within the manufacturer’s loading limits.

The aim is not to fill every gap. It is to organise storage effectively while maintaining the conditions the contents require.

Turn monitoring into action

Digital monitoring systems can record temperature histories, document alarms and notify responsible staff when defined limits are exceeded. Their value, however, depends on clear response procedures.

Teams should establish who receives alerts, who responds outside normal working hours and what happens if materials need to be relocated. Temperature records and settings should also be reviewed regularly.

Any adjustment to cooling operations must be assessed against stored materials’ requirements, relevant instructions and laboratory quality procedures.

Bring technology and practice together

Liebherr’s approach brings equipment development and operational knowledge into the same conversation. Selecting an appropriate refrigerator or freezer matters, as does helping teams use it effectively.

Reviewing one appliance, its inventory, loading instructions, temperature records and alarm responsibilities, offers a manageable starting point.

Smarter cold storage is not solely about introducing new technology. It also means understanding existing equipment and refining the practices around it. At Liebherr, that starts with looking behind the refrigerator door.

To learn more about Liebherr’s research and laboratory solutions, or to discuss your facility's cold storage requirements, visit the Liebherr website or get in touch with Mohammed Choudhury.