Case Study: Transporting multiple product types inside 36F reefer without damage
CooLiner Pallet Cover
Profile:
A national supermarket chain services its locations using a multitude of distribution centers located nationwide.Retailer has a large private fleet of reefer trucks servicing all locations set at 36 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Challenge
Only a small proportion of products transported to the supermarkets can be transported at 36F(dairy/deli), other products ; frozen meats and produce need to be transported using the same reefer containers in order to achieve more efficient shipping. To avoid defrost/damage to the pallets of meats and produce respectively; the company must use equipment that produces the proper temperatures at various “zones” inside their trailers.This equipment produces many challenges: tedious loading into various zones and unloading goods at different temperatures at various retail locations. The equipment also creates poorer fuel efficiency for the trailers, not to mention added cost of the equipment itself.
Proposal
Retailer approached IPC with the desire to protect pallets of produce and meats in order to ship those products, along with dairy/deli products inside trailers set at 36F. They also requested that the solution be low cost, easy to use and environmentally friendly.
IPC Recommendation
IPC recommended its high performance CooLiner Pallet Cover to protect against the dissimilar optimal temperature that is set inside the reefer (36F).CooLiner Pallet Blankets, using a proprietary combination of reflective foils and thermoplastics, have been shown to produce extreme temperature differentials when placed over temperature sensitive cargo. This film technology gives the covers unique performance capabilities that make them appropriate for applications such as this.
Testing
After preliminary data indicated positive results, IPC recommended that the retailer conduct an internal study using the CooLiner Pallet Covers to prove feasibility. Subsequently, retailer conducted a detailed trial with several test shipments.Conclusion & Results
Retailer determined that CooLiner pallet covers provided a suitable temperature differential between the inside of van and inside the covers.This resulted in protection that was more than adequate and ensured that produce and meats would arrive in saleable condition when stored in a reefer set at a less than optimal 36F.
Retailer was enabled to ship all goods including dairy/deli, meat and produce inside the same trailer, set at the same temperature.
- More convenience in loading of goods inside trailer, no need to stagger pallets in optimal “zones”
- More fuel efficiency: no need for special equipment t o produce temperature “zones”
- Less cost: no need to purchase and install special equipment inside trailers
