Week 36/2024 - RTIS – NewsBulletin

A service to provide instant news and information from current journals received by the CRT library.

ACR JOURNAL August 2024

Trans-Bridge adds Vector eCool to fleet. A report that pharmaceutical and healthcare distributor Trans-Bridge Freight Services has taken delivery of its first Carrier Transicold Vector eCool unit. They say that the Vector eCool is mounted to a 13.6-metre Gray & Adams trailer with a Carrier Transicold Vector HE 19 refrigeration unit which allows Trans-Bridge Freight Services to predominantly power the system using electricity harnessed from the kinetic energy generated by the trailer axle and brakes, with the option to use the unit’s diesel engine in case of emergency.

ACR NEWS August 2024

CCF and BFFF join coalition to explore raising temperatures of frozen food to slash emissions. A report on the move by the Cold Chain Federation (CCF) and the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) to join: The Move to -15°C coalition; campaigning for the temperature at which frozen food is stored and transported to be increased from -18 to -15 degrees Celsius.

COLD CHAIN NEWS AUGUST / September 2024

Budget could raise fuel duty by up 10p per litre warn campaigners. A report on concerns raised by industry bodies that fuel duty will be raised in the UK's October budget by as much as 10p a litre.
Fresh Produce Consortium issues warning ahead of January’s border checks. A report on concerns expressed by the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC about the potential cost implications of the new UK border checks, due to be introduced in January 2025, on imported goods from the EU. They say the fresh produce sector, which includes fruit, vegetables, cut flowers, and plants, could see price rises unless the government takes action to delay or revise the checks.
Sunswap gets investment funding boost. A report that Sunswap has obtained £17.3m from a funding round led by investment company, BGF. They say that the £17.3m invested by Shell Ventures, Dutch venture capital fund, Move Energy, and existing backers Barclays and Clean Growth Fund, will accelerate the further development and production of Sunswap’s zero- emission truck refrigeraton.
Thermo King’s E-Zone at IAA 2024. A note that Thermo King will be showing its latest electric and sustainable refrigeration systems compatible with any van, truck or tractor drive technology at the IAA Transport show in Hannover, Germany, from the 17th to the 22nd of September. This will include a new electric portfolio of refrigeration units for heavy commercial vehicles. Hands-on demo of Addvolt and Hultsteins equipment. A report that
Hultsteins and Addvolt are hosting a powerpack demo day on Wednesday the
25th September 2024, at Hultsteins’ premises in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. They say guests can expect to see products from Addvolt and Hultsteins.

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For example, by combining an Addvolt powerpack with a Hultsteins’ Ecogen2 hydraulic generator, they say refrigerated transport operators can get 100% electrically-powered refrigeration for both urban multi-drop and long-distance deliveries.

CONTAINER MANAGEMENT August 2024

Maersk opens largest logistics park at Jeddah Islamic Port. A report on the opening by A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk) and the General Ports Authority of Saudi Arabia (Mawani) of Maersk’s largest logistics park in the Middle East at Jeddah Islamic Port. They say the Maersk Logistics Park extends over an area of 225,000 sq m and provides for truly integrated solutions under one roof, representing an investment of US$250m.
Carrier Transicold expands BluEdge partner offerings with remote cargo monitoring. A report that Carrier Transicold has enhanced its BluEdge Partner Program with a platform that complements Carrier’s Lynx Fleet telematics for real-time remote monitoring of container refrigeration units and other connected assets onboard ships.
Container explodes at Ningbo Zhoushan Port. A report on the explosion of a dangerous goods container onboard a cargo ship docked at Ningbo Zhoushan Port. News outlets reported that the box contained a type of
organic peroxide and was rated with a hazard class of 5.2 which meant that it must be kept refrigerated or risk combustion. Also according to the reports the cargo was not plugged in during the transhipment process, although it was loaded at a constant temperature. Recent hot weather in Ningbo has been considered as a potential contributing factor, however the cause has yet to be investigated.

COOLING POST August 2024

$26m US award for refrigerant research. A report that the University of Kansas has been awarded $26m to establish a technology hub for the creation of a sustainable and circular refrigerant economy. The award from
the US National Science Foundation (NSF), an independent agency of the US government, will support the establishment of the Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH) which will serve as the national refrigerant research centre with the intention to lower emissions, reduce GWP and increase energy efficiency by developing sustainable refrigerants to address climate change. It will bring together 80 institutions and researchers from a wide array of disciplines.
Daikin signs Turkish supply deal for R407H. A note that Istanbul-based refrigerant supplier Derkim Kimya has been appointed as a sales agent for Daikin’s R407H replacement for R404A.
Hong Kong developers boost elastocaloric efficiency. A report that researchers in Hong Kong claim to have developed an elastocaloric cooling device capable of achieving a record-breaking temperature lift of 75K. They say solid-state elastocaloric refrigeration based on latent heat in the cyclic phase transition of shape memory alloys (SMAs) could provide an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional vapour compression refrigeration technology. They now plan to further develop high-performance shape memory alloys and devices for sub-zero elastocaloric cooling and high- temperature heat pump applications.

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Italian customs seize over 40 tonnes of illegal refrigerant. A report that customs authorities have intercepted over 40 tonnes of illegal HFC refrigerant at the port of Gioia Tauro, Italy. During a routine verification check, customs officers found that a shipment declared as dichloromethane (aka methylene chloride) was in fact fluorinated gas.
Nissan trials cool paint technology. A report that car manufacturer Nissan has been trialing an innovative paint aimed at helping lower a vehicle’s ambient cabin temperature in summer and reduce the energy usage of the air conditioning system. . Parked side-by-side under the sun with a vehicle featuring traditional automotive paint, the vehicle treated in Nissan’s cool
paint is said to have recorded up to a 12ºC reduction in exterior surface temperatures and up to 5ºC cooler interior.
Polish car industry fears threat from illegal R134a. A report that the automotive industry in Poland is calling for more decisive action from its government in the fight against a rise in illegal R134a refrigerant, warning of the dangers of contaminated R134a of unknown origin.

FRESH PLAZA August 2024

A banana variety resistant to the Fusarium Race 4 fungus arrives in Peru. A report on GAL, a promising banana variety developed by the Israeli company Raham Meristem, resistant to the Fusarium race 4 fungus. This variety began being developed in 2018 and has proved effective against the fungus. The first seeds of this variety arrived in Piura on August the 20th and were immediately sown in the greenhouses of Agronegocios Los Angeles, Raham Meristem's local partner. Expectations are that, after field tests, by mid-2025 or early 2026, the best GAL clone can be chosen for cultivation in Peru.

FRUITNET August 2024

Copeland launches Go Real-Time 4G/5G NA Tracker. A report that Copeland has announced the release of its new Go real-time 4G/5G-NA tracker for shipping products within the cold chain. They say Go real-time
4G/5G-NA trackers can monitor in-transit conditions such as temperature within 15 metres (49.2 feet) of positioning accuracy for up to 20 days. They say users can view current maps, graphs and charts of key shipments, including temperature, security and location details.

RAC News August 2024

Governments urged to prioritise clean cooling in policy overhaul. A short note on a report from the Clean Cooling Network organisation:The Hot
Reality: Living in a +50deg C World. The organisation said the report, which includes contributions from policy and industry experts, backs a significant rethink of global policy to ensure that the provision of clean cooling is treated as a critical infrastructure issue.

REFRIGERATION INDUSTRY August 2024

Korea Institute of Energy Research Unveils Eco-Friendly Air-Based Refrigeration Technology. A report that the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) has developed a groundbreaking refrigeration and freezing technology that uses air as a refrigerant.

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KlER's researchers say they have successfully developed an integrated ultra­ high-speed compander system. This advanced system combines a compressor and an expander, utilising cutting-edge design technology to achieve temperatures as low as -100 degrees Celsius.