RECORD DIESEL PRICES, NOISE RESTRICTIONS AND CARBON COUNTING. ONE SOLUTION: ECOFRIDGE

ecoFridge is a unique, environmentally friendly and low cost transport refrigeration system. Many food transporters around the globe are already looking to ecoFridge as the only viable transport cooling system which can combat fuel escalation, noise restrictions and carbon emissions.

Asda who have been operating a number of ecoFridge systems from their Skelmersdale RDC, for over six months have so far found EcoFridge to be a success. They reported low running costs from January to July 2008, virtually no routine maintenance and a carbon saving (through not using diesel refrigeration) of 54.60 tonnes!

Adsa Logistics Manager, Chris Hall, when recently commenting about maintenance said “It’s still early days, but reliability has been good with no required reactive maintenance. This will have significant focus over the coming months to ensure the reliability is acceptable. With each of our traditional diesel powered fridges burning over 6,000 litres of diesel every year, this (ecoFridge) does have the potential to make a huge saving.”

Fast, efficient and economic
ecoFridge, which is currently undergoing a number of working trials for other 'high street' names, has been fully ATP certified and has no operational safety restrictions. In brief, the system works by releasing vaporised nitrogen into the load area from an underslung tank with a capacity of up to 1000 litres.

The load space will reach set point from an ambient +30 to -25 in around 30 minutes. After each door opening, it will return to set point at faster than a degree a minute and without top freezing.

The on-board nitrogen, which can last from 40 to 75 hours depending on temperature regimes - deep frozen/ multi-temp or chilled - is supplied from a holding tank which can be easily installed on site and serviced by one of several nitrogen suppliers.

Nitrogen is also very inexpensive - currently 5p per litre. When comparing to a typical dual temp diesel system, which can easily use 3.5 litres per hour, at say 0.58p per litre, (for red diesel, some suppliers are quoting 0.75p) ecoFridge will cost £3,750 for 3000 hours operation compared to £6,090 for diesel.

Add to this, the fact that ecoFridge is virtually maintenance free and therefore slashes workshop and downtime costs, the 'cost of ownership' figures are compelling. Furthermore, diesel produces carbon at the rate of 2.63 KGs per litre burned - nitrogen is carbon free.

Safety First
Safety procedures are necessary when using any type of transport equipment and in this regard, ecoFridge uses a number of 'fool proof' safety devices to ensure complete operator peace of mind and trouble-free use.

Inside the load area oxygen sensors take a constant reading of the atmosphere. When the doors are opened the system's nitrogen automatically switches off and the load space 'vents' itself of the nitrogen from within.

This process, which takes around 80 seconds, must be completed before the operator can enter the vehicle.
To ensure that drivers and handlers are in no doubt, a red flashing light and audible (white noise, low decibels) alarm system will activate until the sensors detect a safe level of oxygen - 18%. At this point the light will turn to green and the alarm will stop.

As an added precaution to the light and alarm signals, ecoFridge uses a steel cable which hooks from one side of the inner wall to the other and cannot be released until the green light comes on.

Training & Back-Up Service.
ecoFridge provides full driver and operator training each time a system is about to enter service. A comprehensive step-by-step user guide explains how the system works and should it be required, how to effect simple parts replacement.

To facilitate nitrogen supply in various markets where ecoFridge has a presence worldwide, ecoFridge is working with three major nitrogen suppliers to ensure a comprehensive coverage and competitively priced fuel service.

As part of the induction and training programme, which takes approximately thirty minutes, operators are fully trained regarding nitrogen fuel filling and appraised of all the safety requirements that apply.

The ecoFridge customer support programme ensures that all new users are supplied with a guide to carry out their own health and safety checks and risk analysis.

Routine maintenance checks, which are required each six months and take approximately forty minutes, can be carried out by anybody who has undertaken the basic operators maintenance training programme.

For repairs and parts replacement, ecoFridge customers can either use their existing vehicle support partner or if preferred ecoFridge will appoint a third party o provide all service and after market support.

Each ecoFridge tank is guaranteed for a minimum of five years and all parts for a maximum of two years. Extended warranty programmes can be agreed to cover all future ‘eventualities’ according to individual customer requirements. Spare parts are kept ‘on the shelf’ by ecoFridge service providers to ensure minimum downtime should a replacement be needed.

Liam Olliff, Director for marketing and sales for ecoFridge sees an exiting journey ahead for the ecoFridge system, “Transport refrigeration had become increasingly expensive, not least because of the escalating cost of diesel. This coupled with the noise and carbon emissions associated with mechanical refrigeration, are driving operators to look for alternatives.

“Ecofridge, which is fully ATP tested, not only meets but exceeds the performance criteria of conventional diesel systems and does so without the relatively high costs of fuel and maintenance. Futhermore” adds Olliff “it’s completely silent and emission-free!”

ecoFridge Demonstrations
Ecofridge has two demonstration vehicles, a rigid and a 13.6 meter trailer, both dual-temperature and both bodies built by Gray and Adams.

Anybody wishing to see a full ecoFridge demonstration can do so at Gray and Adams Doncaster. To arrange this or for further information about ecoFridge telephone: +44 (0)1564 711137 or visit www.ecoFridge.com.