Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate Dangerous Goods Storage Case Study

Case studies

TMS

Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate Dangerous Goods Storage Case Study

Case study on DSV's low-oxygen warehouses for storing flammable cocoa powder using automated VNA/AGVs and CO2 fire suppression.

Published

June 4, 2026

Read time

3 min read

Source

Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate partnered with DSV to design fire-safe storage after major cocoa blazes in the Netherlands. Two warehouses reduce oxygen to 16-17% to prevent ignition and deploy CO2 to 12% if fire occurs. Fully automated VNA/AGVs handle all movements, eliminating human presence in the low-oxygen environment while improving efficiency and reducing error risk.

Key takeaways

Cocoa powder is highly flammable due to 10-20% fat content and large surface area

Oxygen reduction to 16-17% prevents ignition; CO2 deployment drops levels to 12% for suppression

Automated VNA/AGVs eliminate worker exposure in controlled-atmosphere zones

New Dutch legislation and fire prevention focus drove the innovative warehouse design

Concept uses proven automation and oxygen control in a novel cocoa sector application

Market overview

SCR methodology note

Vendor landscape

Leaders

Implementation considerations

Important consideration

Original Source

Vendors mentioned in this report

No items found.