Unbroken cold chain

The distribution process needs to ensure goods are loaded from cold storage onto temperature-controlled vehicles and vice versa. For some products, this transfer can take place several times, as products travel from production unit to primary cold store, from primary cold store to distribution centre, and from the distribution centre to the retailer.

Careful logistics planning, sorting and assembling loads in a temperature-controlled environment and ensuring that the distribution vehicles are pre-cooled before loading is an essential element in minimising temperature fluctuations. Keeping loading bays covered, using screened vehicles as well as high speed doors is also vital to this process.

One solution developed by Easilift Loading Systems is a 4-sided inflatable shelter that creates a secure environmental seal between the temperature-controlled vehicle and the cold storage facility, allowing vehicle doors to be opened from inside the cold store only after docking has been completed.

As well as helping to maintain an unbroken cold chain, the system has other benefits:

• Access to the vehicle is fully controlled from within the cold store and therefore limited to cold store personnel
• Contamination risks are reduced as the doors do not need to be opened prior to docking
• The vehicle driver can remain in his cab, reducing on-site health and safety issues
• Faster docking speeds up the loading and unloading process

Customers who have installed Easilift’s 4 sided inflatable shelters have reported reductions in temperature fluctuations, helping to reduce energy consumption by as much as 50%, and increasing efficiencies in vehicle loading and unloading.