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THERMO KING AND FRIGOBLOCK FUTURE-PROOFING REFRIGERATED TRUCK, TRAILER AND HOME DELIVERY OPERATIONS Thermo King and Frigoblock used the recent Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC in Birmingham to launch a series of innovations and customer projects that ‘demonstrate our commitment to the continuous advancement of transport climate control technologies and sustainable urban distribution.’ They focused on how transport and delivery companies can today future-proof their refrigerated truck, trailer and home delivery operations and investments with solutions powered by electricity, data and clean technology. Thermo King Product Managers David O’Gorman and Colm O’Grady took time out of their busy schedules to speak to Export & Freight about the company’s latest developments and successes. More than 80 percent of Thermo King’s yearover-year investments are focused on new product development and new technology innovations; they were the first to offer European customers a true hybrid and nondiesel truck and trailer refrigeration solution and currently have more than 25 electric products in their portfolio – some 20,000 trucks and trailers are on the road with the company’s electrified transport refrigeration units and the number is growing daily. “The CV show was very positive for us; we were extremely busy and could have done with more space,” commented David O’Gorman. The show saw the global premiere of a new Hybrid prototype developed for under-mount applications on trucks and trailers - the UT– Series. “This prototype demonstrates what we can accomplish when combining Frigoblock technology with the more traditional Thermo King product, and it attracted lots of interest from current and potential customers, as well as body builders and others,” said David. The UT-Series Hybrid unit builds on the proven track of the Thermo King SLXi Hybrid trailer systems. Frigoblock alternator and inverter-drive technology allow the Thermo King refrigeration unit to switch the power between diesel and electric mode as required or necessary, allowing the truck to operate in inner cities, residential areas and low emission zones Thermo King and Frigoblock collaborated with Castell Howell Foods, one of the UK’s leading independent food wholesalers, to test a prototype of the hybrid refrigeration unit, designed for undermount applications
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on trucks, drawbar trailers and highloaders. Frigoblock alternator and inverter-drive technology allow the Thermo King refrigeration unit to switch the power between diesel and electric mode as required or necessary, allowing the truck to operate in inner cities, residential areas and low emission zones. Commented Colm O’Grady: “A crucial part of our product development process involves ‘hands on’ engagement with our customers; getting that direct feedback is really critical for us. A good example of this is how we have been working along with one of our customers – Castell Howell Foods - to develop the UT hybrid.” Castell Howell Foods has been using Frigoblock electric units in its fleet for over 15 years and says it has been waiting for a solution that would combine both the Frigoblock and Thermo King
technologies in a rigid truck refrigeration system, so this has been a welcome development. “The versatility and fuel efficiency of a unit running on the power of the truck where it can, with backup of a conventional diesel on certain routes with long stops or intense drop counts will definitely increase the flexibility of our operations,” said Martin Jones, director of transport operations at Castell Howell Foods. Another customer with whom Thermo King and Frigoblock have been working is Electra Commercial Vehicles, which has converted an Iveco 18 tonne truck into a fully electric refrigerated vehicle, a project made possible thanks to Frigoblock technology. The conversion of the vehicle and the use of electric Frigoblock refrigeration unit and inverter filter are expected to contribute to an average
