New WAVE BIG WINTER Containers: Buy at Harvest, Plan Your Freeze Drying
20-foot or 40-foot High Cube, cooling down to −30 °C: how a frozen-storage buffer connects larger harvest purchases with planned freeze-drying batches.
In this article
What are WAVE BIG WINTER 20 and 40?
WAVE BIG WINTER refrigerated containers provide temperature-controlled storage down to −30 °C. The new range includes the BIG WINTER 20 in a 20-foot format and the BIG WINTER 40 as a 40-foot High Cube container. Both the container body and refrigeration unit are brand new from 2026 production.
Both models use Thermo King Magnum Plus with an MP5000 controller. Temperature and event logging, local alarms, automatic defrost and pretrip inspection of the empty container support operation. Aluminium T-bar flooring is included.
For a freeze-drying business, the benefit goes beyond extra storage space: a correctly sized frozen-storage buffer can separate purchasing and preparation from immediately available drying capacity. The container is part of the cold chain, not a freeze dryer.
Use the harvest window to buy larger batches
A good harvest does not wait for the next free freeze-drying cycle. When ripeness, quality, availability and purchase price align, taking a larger lot of fruit, berries or vegetables can make sense. Without planned cold-chain and processing capacity, however, a plant's daily output can quickly become the limit on purchasing.
A generously sized frozen-storage buffer, combined with a suitable pre-freezing process, allows larger quantities to be frozen in advance, held as frozen inventory and worked through gradually. A suitable harvest lot does not then have to be freeze-dried in full during its short harvest window.
This can make production easier to schedule beyond the harvest peak and reduce dependence on daily fresh deliveries. Whether a larger purchase pays off depends on more than the price per kilogram: preparation, freezing, storage energy, handling, working capital, suitable storage duration and available drying cycles all belong in the calculation. It does not imply a fixed saving or unlimited shelf life.
Pre-freeze, store and freeze-dry in batches
A practical workflow coordinates receiving, pre-freezing, frozen storage and freeze drying:
- Select and prepare harvest lots: inspect, sort and prepare goods according to the intended product process. Match lot sizes and packaging to later drying batches.
- Size the pre-freezing step: product type, incoming temperature, layer thickness, packaging, quantity and required product temperature determine the freezing capacity needed.
- Build frozen inventory: store released batches with identification and temperature monitoring. Loading and airflow must follow the planned configuration.
- Work through batches: transfer the amount needed for the next cycle to the freeze dryer according to the approved process, leaving the remaining inventory in cold storage. Frozen feedstock does not replace a product-specific drying recipe.
- Coordinate stock and machine scheduling: account for new deliveries, planned withdrawals, cleaning and maintenance together. Avoid planning more inventory than production can reasonably work through.
Storage capacity is not freezing capacity. Container dimensions and a temperature specification of “down to −30 °C” establish neither a particular kg-per-day output nor a guaranteed freezing time. BIG WINTER is not presented here as a blast freezer with a verified batch throughput. WAVE must assess the product, loading and target time to determine whether fresh goods can be pre-frozen directly in the container or require a separate pre-freezing solution.
Temperature suitability is also product-specific: the air-temperature setting is not automatically the temperature at the centre of the goods. Pre-freezing and transfer must meet the requirements of the particular freeze-drying recipe. See the fruit freeze-drying guide for further background.
20 or 40 feet: models and prices
| Feature | BIG WINTER 20 | BIG WINTER 40 |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 20 ft | 40 ft High Cube |
| External dimensions L × W × H | 6,058 × 2,438 × 2,591 mm | 12,192 × 2,438 × 2,896 mm |
| Cooling temperature | Down to −30 °C | Down to −30 °C |
| Unit / controller | Thermo King Magnum Plus / MP5000 | Thermo King Magnum Plus / MP5000 |
| Power supply | 380/460 V · 3 phases · 50/60 Hz | 380/460 V · 3 phases · 50/60 Hz |
| Net price | €19,750 | €23,900 |
Prices exclude VAT and transport. External dimensions do not specify usable internal volume. Payload, pallet or rack layout, airflow paths and permitted loading must be agreed for the project. The individual quotation takes precedence.
BIG WINTER 20 offers the more compact external format. BIG WINTER 40 is a longer and taller High Cube configuration for projects needing more space. Select the model around the inventory required, loading arrangement and installation site, not the price difference alone.
What information does planning require?
- Harvest and purchasing: product type, largest delivery, daily incoming quantity and length of the harvest period.
- Pre-freezing: incoming temperature, required product temperature, packaging, layer thickness and time available for freezing.
- Frozen-storage buffer: maximum planned stock, suitable storage duration and access to individual batches.
- Freeze drying: actual load per cycle, product-specific cycle time and available machine time including cleaning and maintenance.
- Site: ambient temperature, installation space, delivery access, electrical supply and professional installation.
The buffer required follows from the inventory accumulated when deliveries and withdrawals occur at different times. Refrigeration sizing must also account for the relevant heat load. A large container alone increases neither freezing capacity nor freeze-dryer throughput.
Frequently asked questions about BIG WINTER and freeze drying
How does a refrigerated container help with freeze drying?
It can act as an inventory buffer between pre-freezing and freeze drying. Larger quantities of prepared, frozen goods can be stored and processed gradually in suitable drying batches. Pre-freezing, storage conditions and the freeze-drying recipe must be coordinated.
Can I buy larger quantities during a good harvest?
Yes, provided receiving, preparation, pre-freezing, permitted storage and later processing are sized for them. Frozen storage can separate purchasing from immediately available drying capacity. A favourable purchase price alone does not guarantee lower total costs.
Are BIG WINTER containers blast freezers?
The published specifications describe refrigerated and frozen storage down to −30 °C, not a verified blast-freezing throughput. Direct pre-freezing of fresh goods must be assessed for the product, loading and target time; a separate pre-freezing solution may be required.
How much product can I freeze per day?
The published container specifications do not establish a binding kg-per-day figure. Product type, initial and target temperatures, packaging, loading, airflow and ambient conditions determine the sizing needed. WAVE requires these project details for a technical assessment.
What is the difference between BIG WINTER 20 and 40?
BIG WINTER 20 is a 20-foot container; BIG WINTER 40 is a longer and taller 40-foot High Cube container. Both have Thermo King Magnum Plus with MP5000 and cooling down to −30 °C. Usable storage arrangements and loading limits are clarified for each project.
How much do the new WAVE refrigerated containers cost?
On 26 September 2026, the published net price is €19,750 for BIG WINTER 20 and €23,900 for BIG WINTER 40, excluding VAT and transport. The individual quotation confirms current prices and scope of supply.
Plan harvest purchasing, frozen storage and freeze drying together
Tell us about your products, harvest lots, intended inventory, pre-freezing process and existing freeze dryers. WAVE supports model selection and installation planning.
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