Mini cold store cuts chilled bills
December 1st 2008 There is an alternative to the obvious
use of refrigerated vehicles for
temperature sensitive goods:
portable, insulated
and/or refrigerated
containers. Thus the
actual vehicles can have
normal dry-freight
bodywork without the
need for costly
refrigeration systems
(both to buy and
operate). There is a
saving in energy and
reduced running costs as
a result of lower unladen
weight without
refrigeration and less
energy is consumed in
the manufacture of a
non-insulated body. It is also possible to
reduce the actual vehicle fleet as both
ambient and temperature-controlled goods
can be carried in the same vehicle.
As the goods are delivered in their own
mini cold stores there is no need for
refrigerated stores at the delivery point. It is
also not necessary to have temperaturecontrolled
assembly areas or loading banks.
An added benefit is that the refrigeration
systems used by Olivo containers (eutectic
plates or injected CO2) are totally silent –
useful for out of hours deliveries.
As Olivo containers have a very long life,
further energy requirements are not needed
to regularly replace old and worn out
equipment. By using eutectic plates for
refrigeration these can be frozen in the
freezing plant at the factory without the
need for additional equipment. The Siber
System of injected CO2 uses gas that is
predominantly obtained from chemical
processes in industry. This gas is usually just
vented to atmosphere if not used.
The Carbon Trust, which exists to help
companies to understand systematically the
known risks and opportunities associated
with climate change, found that last
summer alone poor energy efficiency cost
the UK's food and drink businesses at least
£26 million. By simply adopting a forwardthinking
approach to carbon emissions and
looking closely at their supply chain with
such simple solutions as annotated above,
companies have the potential to realise
significant carbon savings and develop new
profit opportunities in the drive towards a
low-carbon economy. More articles from Olivo UK Ltd: | 
