Unclassified
September 14, 2016
But first, what is a reefer?
The refrigerated container or Reefer
A refrigerated container, also called a reefer, is a container capable of maintaining a certain temperature regardless of external conditions. It is a thermally insulated maritime container equipped with a motor called a “Cold Unit”, it works on the same principle as a refrigerator.
The interior temperature can vary between -70°C and +60°C for certain specific containers (FREEZER+) but in the vast majority, the temperature can be adjusted between – 30° and + 30°C.
They also make it possible to maintain the desired humidity in order to maintain a constant atmosphere.
They are designed to transport food or non-food products over long distances and for long periods of time at a specific temperature regardless of external conditions.
When used on a container carrier, their control is ensured by transmitting their parameters to the ship's bridge (control and navigation station). Once out of the maritime circuit, the control console and the screen (display) are used to control it.
For what purpose?
Common use:
Reefers are used for different activities such as for the storage and transport of fruits and vegetables, flowers, dairy products, meat, cooked products, seafood, pharmaceutical products, chemicals, cosmetics or aeronautics… in fact for any activity that requires a precise temperature, whether in a positive or negative cold room.
A reefer is a real mobile cold room.
The refrigerated air is distributed from the ground to have a uniform air flow over the entire load in order to maintain the correct temperature throughout the container for the entire duration necessary (transport or storage).
They are available in different standard or High Cube sizes to best meet different uses:
10 feet and 10 feet High-Cube,
20 feet and 20 feet High-Cube,
45 feet Pallet Wide* High-Cube
All reefers are mass-produced and standardized to meet the specific standards of maritime transport as well as rail and road transport, because maritime containers are required to travel regularly by barge, train and truck as well.
Robust, very resistant to extreme conditions and easy to handle (thanks to both their forklift passage and their ISO corners), they are the ideal means of transporting products under temperature constraints and thus make it possible to optimize conservation or even the ripening of certain products.
Specific use:
Depending on the need, a refrigerated container can be modified for certain uses:
– replacement of the doors with a cold room door,
– installation of an electrical pack. (interior lighting with sockets and electrical panel adapted to negative temperatures),
– installation of PVC strip curtains,
– installation of a standardized visual and audible “person locked” security alarm,
– installation of a flat perforated floor facilitating access to handling equipment while allowing air circulation under the floor,
– addition of accessories such as an access ramp…
It is also possible to modify or adapt custom containers, particularly for certain laboratories which need to test the resistance of materials or parts to certain temperatures or specific conditions.
Reefer feeding
The reefers must be connected to an electrical source but it is also possible to equip them with a Genset (a generator) which allows them to operate autonomously and independently.
Easily and quickly implemented, the reefer is also a quick, economical and reliable solution for a temporary need for additional refrigerated space to store products, for events, whether for professionals or individuals.
To guarantee the best storage conditions, reefers are subject to PTI (Pre-Trip Inspection) certification carried out by experts, attesting to the proper functioning of the container and its suitability for sailing.
Secure your reefer
Please note, a refrigerated container (just like a dry container) is not initially 100% secure. ! Designed to travel at sea stacked on top of each other on container ships, you must keep in mind that there is no public on the boats, so they are not designed with a key locking system.
Their door opening system using cremones is sufficient for their initial use.
As with dry containers, there are specific padlocks to secure reefers such as the Barlock reefer and thus protect their contents.
Care and maintenance
A refrigerated container requires maintenance to ensure a long lifespan. Once a year, your refrigeration unit must be checked by an approved professional to ensure maintenance of the unit, control the outlet temperature of the evaporators, check the quantity of refrigerant and carry out all maintenance operations.
The Cold Group
The 2 main brands of chillers for reefers are Carrier and Thermoking.
The different categories of reefers
Regarding the condition, just like a dry container, a reefer has – at least – made a trip with cargo on board from China (where all shipping containers are manufactured), this is what the condition is. we call a container “1st voyage” and these are containers which visually offer a very clean and almost (but not) new exterior, but there are also “Last voyage” maritime containers and these are often those which we call second-hand and they offer an exterior that reflects what they experienced: traces of corrosion, wear, repair but also handling. Of course the price of containers depends on their age: a first trip container will generally have a higher cost than a final trip.
In order to best meet the needs of our customers, we have developed a new range of reefers, called Advanced, exclusive to Icecubner.
Assembling a Second Trip body and a new Refrigeration Unit, it offers an alternative to the first and last trip reefer by offering the customer 60 months warranty on the Cold Unit.
To find out more about this new product, you can watch our video by clicking on this link.
Finally, it is important to point out that the new generations of reefers are more economical (up to 3 times less consumption) and more ecological (more respectful gas).
We advise you to contact our teams who will be able to support you best throughout your reefer project.
*Pallet Wide = L: 13,72m – w: 2,55m – h: 2,89m. Slightly wider container allowing the loading of 2 pallets abreast.
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