Refrigerated Transport-A Means of Transport for Temperature Sensitive Products

Posted by WCFdistribution on July 1st, 2011

In the past temperature sensitive and perishable products were dependent on the use of ice in loose or dry form. Today, advancement in refrigerated transport technology combined with rapid delivery options from distribution companies have made it possible to reliably transport sensitive products a longer distance. Products like fruit, vegetables, meat and pharmaceuticals can now be transported across the country while maintaining their freshness and delicacy.

Chilled food distribution companies have given a crucial addition to the activities of major supermarkets and food suppliers. Even in the middle of winter goods such as Honduran strawberries, New Zealand apples or Argentinean asparagus are available in your local store. Furthermore the medical industry relies on refrigerated transport technology to ship vaccines, medicines and other biological materials.

In refrigerated food distribution they normally use dry ice to keep their contents cold but newer temperature controlled storage technologies have revised few of its properties and eliminated negative aspects involved in the process. Now they have eliminated the need for the hazardous material designation which was earlier a stringent packaging protocol.

In refrigerated transport a new water-based gel refrigerants like Ice Brick(TM) Shipping Pack from Nortech Labs have been introduced recently. Water based refrigerants also provide a relaxation in stringent packaging protocols like hazard class 9 label. This new technology also works as a safer, non-toxic substitute to dry ice.

The specialized supply chain involved with transporting temperature sensitive products is called the cold chain. They professionally inspect the goods for every aspect of conformity, condition and quality, before delivering them in chilled food distribution vehicles to their destination.

While refrigerated transporting might cost a bit more than normal transporting, its worth paying since they take responsibility of frozen food to deliverer adequately.  Temperature controlled distribution is ideal for diverse applications, from complex cold chain activities to normal frozen food delivery. They are the back-bone for businesses or industries that transport frozen products or products that need to be kept fresh.

About the author:

David Lowe is the General Manager of WCF Distribution Services, part of the WCF group. He has spent his entire career in the food industry, mainly in chilled distribution, working in procurement, logistics and sales/marketing and has extensive experience in dealing with retail multiples.