14 minute read
Refrigerated Transport
MAJOR ADVANCES IN REFRIGERATED TRANSPORT
Over recent years, there have been some significant technological advances in the transportation of chilled and frozen goods, pharmaceuticals and other temperature sensitive cargoes.
We have also seen the introduction of quite strict rules and regulations governing inner city and urban operations, especially in relation to reducing the level of noise emissions, which is one of the key requirements for transport operators using refrigeration units. And then there is the even bigger issue regarding the impending withdrawal of the tax rebate on red diesel; it comes into effect on April 1st next year. That has led to manufacturers of refrigeration units urging operators to be prepared for the price hikes well in advance. According to Hultsteins, the British and Swedish hydraulic refrigeration & electric hybrid systems manufacturer, operators can avoid the inevitable and very significant cost burden by fitting an engine drive PTO, to power an on-board electrical generator which will drive their existing fridge. Alternatively, say the company, they can fit a hydraulic fridge system to any truck or drawbar system and stop using diesel altogether. Anybody doing so, they say, will benefit from reduced fuel consumption, lower carbon output, less noise and significant reductions in NOx and particulate emissions. Also, apart from the obvious environmental benefits, operators will be able to drive into the numerous clean air zones currently being identified by local authorities throughout this year and next. Over the following few pages, we take a look at new innovations, technologies and other developments in this growing sector.
Thermo King Introduces Advancer Whisper Pro
Thermo King has introduced its latest, ultra-quiet addition to its Advancer A-Series trailer refrigeration systems - the A-500 Whisper Pro. The new model is compliant with the most stringent noise regulations including PIEK , and allows for inner-city deliveries at any time of day and night.
Thermo King A-Series units are up to 30% more fuel-efficient and offer are up to 40 percent quicker pull down than the market average. The A-500 Whisper Pro offers the same high performance with sound level below the PIEK enforced 60 dB (A) standard. “European cities are committed to reducing the level of noise emission to improve inner-city living conditions. It’s one of the key requirements for transporters operating in urban areas to ensure their refrigeration units meet the strict noise regulations,” said Laurent Debias, product and marketing director at Thermo King in Europe, Middle East and Africa. “For decades, Thermo King has prioritized noise attenuation across all its product lines. Advancer units are already one of the most silent trailer refrigeration units on the market today. With our Whisper Pro model, we went the extra mile and our offering our customers the highest cooling capacity for a trailer unit that can enter a city at night.” The A-500 Whisper Pro is using geo-fencing to automatically switch into low-noise mode when entering a pre-defined zone. This allows the transporters to operate unrestricted day and night schedules with the peace of mind that the unit complies with the regulations in the given area. “Studies show that operating outside rush hour can result in 14% faster distribution routes”, said Colm O’Grady, product manager Trailer at Thermo King. “With the A-500 Whisper Pro, dispatchers can plan a more efficient night route, to avoid rush hour, traffic jams and save precious time. Our new Advancer unit offers them more flexible operations and more possibilities to deliver their freight.” Thermo King Advancer A-Series includes unique features that comprehensively address a wide range of operational and financial challenges, including: • Complete transparency of fuel levels and fuel consumption. Customers can easily access the fuel consumption data of the unit - recorded, displayed, and made available remotely via telematics. • Fully variable airflow that can be regulated for each journey and cargo, and is independent from unit engine speed • Unrivalled electrical and fuel efficiency contributing to lower CO2 footprint and engines with 50 percent less emissions than the maximum allowed by latest
NRMM Stage V emission standards • Lower maintenance costs and enhanced serviceability compared to the predecessor, thanks to sensors offering more insight into the engine, fuel, battery and the performance of other key components • Future-ready power agnostic capabilities that can utilize diesel, axle generator, or shore power sources with ease • 2 years of full telematics connectivity in the purchase price.
Increasing Profit Margins in The Cold Chain
Already in the late 1990’s LoadLok noticed increasing pressure on profits and margins for transport companies in refrigerated transport. Fleet operators needed a solution that enabled them to reduce fuel consumption while increasing flexibility in terms of the types of cargo they transport in one trailer. LoadLok developed the IsoLok Frigowall and the IsoLok Tempwall product ranges and has occupied the number one market position in the multitemp segment ever since.
IsoLok Multitemp solutions help to rescale the conditioned compartment to the minimum. With market-leading insulation performance and compartment closure, IsoLok solutions are able to save users over 40% on energy consumption. The reduced size of the conditioned compartment enables them to transport dry or cooled products in the remaining space, increasing flexibility and load efficiency. Sean Spelman (Board Member, head of Product & Technology) says: “Regardless of the differences in temperatures, the number of stops, or the flexibility requirements of our customers- we can offer a solution that fits best. We have the widest range in ‘Fixed’ and ‘Removeable’ solutions that excel in insulation values, durability, ergonomy, with the minimum loading height restriction in the market.”
Customisable
With market demands varying greatly, LoadLok’s product offering goes far beyond it standard solutions. If the end-user wishes specific requirements which are not in the product line, LoadLok is able to customise or develop custom-designed solutions, tailored to the specific needs of its customers. Sean Spelman says: “For a German supermarket chain our R&D and manufacturing teams worked closely with the customer to develop a customised IsoLok Tempwall. The customer has two conditioned compartments in their vehicles separated by a fixed longitudinal wall. To close both compartments with maximum insulating performance, combined with easy and light user operation, we developed the IsoLok Tempwall60 Autostow solution, split in line with the location of the vehicle’s longitudinal divider. Such was the success of the solution that it has now become the industry standard in supermarket distribution.” Sean continues: “Another growing market is the transport of temperature sensitive pharmaceutics. Such products demand the highest levels of temperature control. Combining excellent temperature performance with the short open/ close times needed to minimise temperature variation, together with easy, light, ergonomic operation, we developed the IsoLok Frigowall Pharma for one such pharmaceutical customer. The addition of a manual flap (instead of open air-vents) ensures a sealed vacuum is maintained within the conditioned compartment until its release when the wall needs to be opened.”
Delivering All-Electric Zero-Emission Solutions for End-to-End Cold Chain by 2023
Thermo King, a brand of global climate innovator Trane Technologies, will invest more than $100 million over the next three years to deliver a fully electric product in every segment of the cold chain by 2023.
The company’s all-electric
portfolio, branded evolve™, will include electric refrigeration solutions for truck, trailer, rail, air and marine transport in the North America, Latin America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regions. The evolve portfolio aligns with customers’ goals to transition to more sustainable solutions for their fleets, and will help advance Trane Technologies’2030 Sustainability Commitments, including its Gigaton Challenge to reduce customer greenhouse gas emissions by 1 billion metric tons. As new products are added to the evolve portfolio, electric solutions will be available in every cold chain segment in EMEA by 2023, and in the Americas by 2025. “Bold solutions for a more sustainable world are core to our strategy. We continue to innovate to help reduce the carbon footprint of customer operations,” said Paul Camuti, chief technology and sustainability officer for Trane Technologies. “The evolve portfolio builds on our ongoing efforts to help customers reduce environmental impact and meet their sustainability goals as they transition fleets and stay ahead of future regulation.” The global leader in temperature control solutions already offers fully electric products such as the E-200 for middle and lastmile delivery, and the TE-18 and Athenia all-electric HVAC units for public bus transit. Successfully launched in EMEA in 2020, the Advancer trailer unit is 30% more fuel efficient than the market average and can operate on a variety of power sources such as shore power, hybrid, holdover battery and axle generator.
CARRIER TRANSICOLD MOVING REEFERS INTO AN EMISSION-FREE FUTURE
For temperature-controlled trucks and trailers, there is a lot of misinformation out there implying that fridge engines spend their lives running continuously in our towns and cities, pumping out pollutants.
This isn’t the case, says Scott Dargan, Managing Director UK and North Europe, Carrier Transicold. “In fact, the average annual engine run time across Carrier Transicold’s entire managed fleet of rigid truck systems is 1,250 hours, meaning for over 85% of a year the engine itself is not actually running.” He adds: “Moreover, when it is, it won’t always be in an urban environment. Though trailer units do tend to run for longer, they generally travel greater distances, with a lower duty cycle geared towards inner city work. “That said, with the expansion of clean air zones and similar in our towns and cities, increasing noise restrictions and the impending removal of the red diesel rebate in the UK, it is fair to say the dynamics are starting to change for temperaturecontrolled fleet operators.” This shifting landscape has led to a significant advance in trailer technology, namely with the development of the award-winning Carrier Transicold Vector eCool. A world first, the Vector eCool is a fully autonomous, all-electric engineless refrigerated trailer system which combines a myriad of new technology to deliver a genuine zero-emission solution. Suitable for operation with the engineless versions of the Carrier Transicold Vector HE 19 and Vector 1550 E, the Vector eCool combines Carrier’s well-established E-Drive all-electric technology with a new cutting-edge energy recovery and storage system. This converts kinetic energy generated by the trailer’s axle and brakes into electricity, which is then stored in a battery pack to power the refrigeration unit. This loop creates a fully autonomous system that produces no direct CO2 or particulate emissions. The Vector eCool’s E-Drive technology means there is no need for the mechanical belts and drive train seen in competitor systems, and with no engine required the noise of diesel power has also been replaced by an electrical hum, meaning it operates significantly below the PIEK 60 dB(A) standard. The total cost of operation for the system will of course depend on an individual customer’s specific application, though internal testing has shown the Vector eCool’s operating costs to be lower than those of a standard diesel refrigeration system. Regardless of the system, Carrier Transicold customers can rely on exemplary maintenance and repair support from the company’s Service Partner Network, including TSS Ltd, which has sites in Dublin, Limerick and Hillsborough in Northern Ireland.
For all your Carrier Transicold transport refrigeration needs
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Find out more at www.tssltd.ie
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Thermo King has unveiled its new ThermoKare 24/7 Fleet Monitoring offering, which combines Thermo King expertise with TracKing Connected Solutions two-way communication capabilities and enables continuous, proactive24/7 monitoring of the customers’ refrigerated fleet.
The ThermoKare 24/7 Fleet Monitoring gives the customers the peace of mind that the environment in which their temperature sensitive cargo is transported, is constantly monitored and taken care of by the industry experts. In case of a temperature deviation or problem with the refrigeration unit, the Thermo King team immediately responds and takes actions to resolve the issue remotely or recommend the nearest on-theground support for rapid resolution. “The new ThermoKare 24/7 Fleet Monitoring is more than just an alarm that notifies the fleet manager about a problem with the cargo. We’re actually taking this burden off his or her shoulders,” said YoungJo Hong, senior product manager services concepts at Thermo King. “With the ThermoKare 24/7 Fleet Monitoring we paired the real time data analytics with Thermo King experts, who monitor and actively help customers if a problem arises. We’ve combined the technology, knowledge, and service infrastructure to back our customers up throughout every step of their cargo’s journey.” In the event of a breakdown or problem, the first action is to resolve it by using the TracKing two-way communication capabilities that allow the Thermo King expert to manage the refrigeration unit remotely. In case the problem couldn’t be resolved remotely and requires an immediate attention from the customer, the customer receives immediate notification of the event including the expert analysis, recommendation for next steps and directions to the nearest Thermo King service dealership that can provide the solution. “With ThermoKare 24/7 Fleet Monitoring, our customers can rest assured that the condition in which their cargo travels is monitored and controlled by true experts. Especially in combination with ThermoKare Service Agreements, our complete uptime solution gives them the peace of mind to focus on the rest of their operations,” said YoungJo Hong. A company that has experienced the ThermoKare24/7 Fleet Monitoring service in real life is Transfesa Logistics, a leading company in door-to-door logistics and freight transport solutions. Transfesa Logistics offers its customers the largest road, train and intermodal door-to-door transport service network in Europe. To meet the specific needs of transporting perishable food and drink products and minimise product spoilage, Transfesa Logistics complemented the high-performing Thermo King refrigeration solutions with the new ThermoKare24/7 Fleet Monitoring service. “We want to ensure the highest temperature-controlled standards in our containers and a lot can happen when transporting sensitive cargo at long distances,” said Pedro Ramos Vila, global account manager at Transfesa Logistics. “To make sure no failure goes unnoticed at any step of a long journey, and that it is handled accordingly - we decided to leave it in Thermo King’s hands. “Throughout the six months of using Thermo King’s 24/7 Fleet Monitoring service, it has saved us at least three full cargo loads of perishable shipments. Those loads would be wasted, if not the intervention of the Thermo King monitoring teams,” concluded Pedro Ramos Vila.
Sustainable refrigeration manufacturer prepares operators for red diesel changes
Hultsteins, the British and Swedish hydraulic refrigeration & electric hybrid systems manufacturer, is cautioning temperature-controlled operators to prepare early for the impending withdrawal of the tax rebate on red diesel and refers to a current HMRC paper which states that all TRUs must be emptied of red diesel and re-fuelled with white from April 1st, 2022.
Further, Hultsteins point to the detail regarding the replacement of white diesel by advising that while it is necessary to run down all the red diesel in each tank, it is not mandatory to first clean the system. Hultsteins’ UK Managing Director, Graham Usher, explains: “Some operators may be of the belief that the existing red diesel in each tank can be used until empty from April 1st 2022 and thereafter that the tank should be cleaned. In fact, according to a white paper produced by HMRC – see https://assets. publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/ system/uploads/attachment_data/file/966132/ Summary_of_responses_to_the_red_diesel_ consultation.pdf - this is not so in both cases and continued use of red diesel from this date can attract a £250 fine for each unit, while the expense in terms of labour and downtime to flush out the system need not be incurred.” HMRC advice states: “...the Government expects users of vehicles and machinery losing their red diesel entitlement to ensure that they do not purchase red diesel for use from 1 April 2022 and run down their existing stocks before that date.” However, according to Hultsteins, while operators should plan to make these preparations ahead of the new price increase, they can avoid the inevitable and very significant cost burden by fitting an engine drive PTO, to power an on-board electrical generator which will drive their existing fridge. Alternatively, say the company, they can fit a Hultsteins hydraulic fridge system to any truck or drawbar system and stop using diesel altogether. “There’s no question,” adds Graham, “anybody taking this easy and affordable course of action will benefit from reduced fuel consumption, lower carbon output, less noise and significant reductions in NOx and particulate emissions. Also, apart from the obvious environmental benefits, operators will be able to drive into the numerous clean air zones currently being identified by local authorities throughout this year and next.”
