Archive For The “In-Transit Issues” Category
The dramatic Mount Kidd, Canadian Rockies
ATHENS, GA — Carrier Transicold will begin offering the new-generation refrigerant R-452A as an alternative for use in its truck and trailer refrigeration systems, following the July 21 announcement that the Environmental Protection Agency has approved the refrigerant for transport refrigeration applications.
Developed by the refrigerant manufacturing industry to reduce environmental impact, R-452A has a global warming potential (GWP) that is almost half that of R 404A, the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant used in most land-based transport refrigeration applications. Carrier Transicold will offer the new refrigerant as an option to R-404A later this year.
“As a near drop-in substitute, R-452A offers similar levels of refrigeration performance, fuel efficiency, reliability and refrigerant charge in new equipment as R 404A, and we are pleased to be able to make it available to refrigerated transport operators seeking a lower GWP option to advance environmental sustainability,” said David Brondum, director, product management and sustainability, North America Truck, Trailer, Rail, Carrier Transicold.
R-452A is a refrigerant blend with a low-GWP hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) as one of its key components.
“Carrier Transicold has extensive experience with R-452A, having first offered it in 2015 to help Europe’s transport refrigeration industry respond to the European Union F Gas Regulation, which is driving down Europe’s use of traditional HFC refrigerants with higher GWPs,” Brondum explained. Extensive work has been done by Carrier Transicold in preparation for a similar transition in the U.S.
Brondum noted that the EPA has not banned R-404A for transport refrigeration applications, enabling refrigerated haulers to choose the option best suited for their operations. This allows for considerations of price and availability, fleet size and maintenance budgets.
“Going forward, fleets may want to consult with their Carrier Transicold dealers to determine which refrigerant solution is appropriate,” Brondum said.
While Carrier Transicold will continue to offer R-404A, it will also provide R-452A as an option for new model Vector™ and X4™ Series trailer refrigeration units, Supra® truck units and direct-drive truck units that currently use R 404A. The new refrigerant can also be used as a drop-in replacement for Carrier Transicold units already in service, although certain older models may require component retrofits or software updates, which can be accommodated through Carrier Transicold’s network of authorized dealers.
“Carrier Transicold’s larger goal of reducing the GWP of its transport refrigeration equipment goes well beyond the benefits of R-452A,” Brondum noted. “We are committed to pursuing the commercialization of HFC-free refrigerants in road transportation refrigeration by building upon our expertise with CO2 refrigerant, also known as R-744.”
CO2 refrigerant has a GWP of only 1, roughly 2,000 times better than R 452A and 4,000 times better than R-404A. It is also nonflammable, non-ozone-depleting, globally available and cost effective. Carrier has successfully applied CO2 refrigerant in CO2OLtec® stationary commercial refrigeration systems widely used throughout Europe, in NaturaLINE® container refrigeration systems used by major container shipping lines in support of global commerce, and prototype trailer refrigeration trials with two major European supermarket chains.
For more information about R-452A for transport refrigeration applications, turn to the experts within Carrier Transicold’s North America dealer network.
About Carrier Transicold
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping of temperature controlled cargoes with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 45 years, Carrier Transicold has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with advanced, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable container refrigeration systems and generator sets, direct-drive and diesel truck units, and trailer refrigeration systems. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. For more information, visit www.transicold.carrier.com. Follow Carrier on Twitter: @SmartColdChain.
By Robinson Fresh
Do you ship human food? What about perishable animal food? If so, the Sanitary Transportation of Food Rule, which is a part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), will take effect on April 1 and impact many in our industry.
We have received a variety of questions around this ruling and what shippers and carriers need to do to prepare. In this blog post, Chris McLoughlin, risk manager at C.H. Robinson, and I will cover what you need to know.
Three key takeaways:
- Which products are subject to the rule? The rule applies to items that are shipped open to the air, temperature controlled for safety, or shipped in bulk trailers or tankers via truck or rail. The emphasis here is on food shipped for safety, not quality. Many people think produce is covered under the temperature controlled rule, but most produce is not—with a few exceptions, it’s more commonly only subject to the open container portion of the rule. This distinction is important, as the purpose is not to create undue burden or throw away product which is safe for human or animal consumption.
- When does the rule go into effect? There are different implementation dates for small and large carriers and small and large shippers. However, most shippers expect all carriers and transportation providers, regardless of size, to fully comply with the rule at the earliest date of April 2017.
- How does the Sanitary Transportation of Food rule connect to FSMA? The Sanitary Transportation of Food rule is only one rule of several under FSMA. Each of the rules stands on its own. The language, definitions, and applicability of each rule varies. You should take time to understand the scope of each rule. Especially if you’re in the produce world, you may find that your product is exempt from one rule, but included in another.
I want to reiterate that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated this rule is not intended to impose significant new requirements in the industry—in fact, the industry is already completing steps within the rule. The rule is simply a restatement or formal recognition of industry best practices and the requirement to document these processes.
Impact on Produce Shipping
When it comes to the produce world, it’s important to think about the role each company plays in the movement of goods under this rule. Are you the one calling the shots for how the product is delivered? (Often, the person or organization determining needs is a retailer or wholesaler.) If you are the one tendering the load, you are considered the “shipper” under this rule and are responsible for defining specific obligations.
By Carrier Transicold
ATHENS, GA — For refrigerated haulers who require independent verification of temperatures inside trucks and trailers or immediate documentation for receivers, Carrier Transicold now offers the DataLink™ 2 recorder. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
For single-temperature or multi-temperature applications, the DataLink 2 system uses up to three independent temperature sensors, providing an added layer of verification beyond the refrigeration system’s built-in recording ability. An integral thermal printer lets drivers quickly and easily produce numerical and graphical trip reports for receivers. Additionally, data can be downloaded into a personal computer for electronic logging.
“Increasingly, haulers of pharmaceuticals, perishable and frozen foods, and other temperature-critical goods are using temperature monitoring and reporting capabilities, with temperature accountability a growing focus following the release of the transportation rules of the Food Safety Modernization Act,” said Mark Fragnito, product manager, controls, Carrier Transicold. “The DataLink 2 recorder may help food distribution operations easily track and manage this kind of information for compliance.”
Beyond its primary use as an independent temperature monitoring and reporting device, the DataLink 2 recorder provides additional advantages as a comprehensive analytical tool when connected to a Carrier Transicold refrigeration unit’s control system. Temperature data captured from its own sensors can be correlated against activities recorded by the control system, helping to identify potential sources of temperature excursions.
“Setpoint changes, defrost cycles, unit alarms, door openings and turning off the refrigeration unit can affect temperatures, and uniquely, the DataLink 2 recorder can capture and report these events alongside temperature data, providing helpful insight into temperature activity inside the truck or trailer,” Fragnito explained.
Designed for plug-and-play simplicity, the DataLink 2 recorder auto-detects which Carrier Transicold controller it is connected to, whether an APX™ or Advance® controller or the standard microprocessor. Setup is done through a “soft menu” system keyed to four buttons located just below the device’s backlit display screen. Two recorder styles are offered: body-mount models that attach to either a truck or trailer cargo area, and an in-dash DIN-mount version for more convenient driver access on straight truck applications.
For more information about the DataLink 2 recorder, turn to the experts within Carrier Transicold’s North America dealer network.
About Carrier Transicold
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping of temperature controlled cargoes with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 45 years, Carrier Transicold has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with advanced, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable container refrigeration systems and generator sets, direct-drive and diesel truck units, and trailer refrigeration systems. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. For more information, visit www.transicold.carrier.com. Follow Carrier on Twitter: @SmartColdChain.
RENO, NV – Progistix®, a technology company based out of Nevada, is excited to launch Freightflow®, the next generation of a cloud-based transportation management system (TMS), at Fresh Summit in Orlando, FL. Designed specifically for the produce industry, Freightflow gives users complete visibility to their transportation planning, execution and settlement needs without costly technology investments.
Freightflow is the result of a shared vision between two logistics and produce veterans, Butch Peri and Bud Floyd. After spending decades in industries rooted in repetitive tasks and incompatible business systems, their goal was simple: to develop the next generation of an easy-to-use TMS solution that levels the playing field and allows small and medium businesses to compete in today’s complex transportation industry.
Turning vision into reality, Peri and Floyd assembled a team of software experts to develop an affordable, scalable system built using the newest cloud-based technology. Freightflow’s overarching platform integrates ERP business software with transportation tools to provide complete supply chain visibility from a single platform.
* Load Management— Centralized dashboard to prioritize, book, track and trace and post shipments to external load boards
* Customer Billing— Connectivity to key produce industry ERP business systems to manage billing, invoices and claims
* Document Storage— Convenient document storage allows users to quickly and easily retrieve and review documents associated with each load
* Analytics— Robust, easy-to-use reporting and analytics to make informed decisions
“Freightflow combines critical business components and key capabilities into a unified, easy-to-use platform that ensures reliability, security and scalability,” remarked Kyle Jaster, chief technology officer at Freightflow. “We believe the tools and data we’re offering can help any business succeed— without any start up investments.”
According to Jaster, a recent partnership with Truckstop.com will provide customers direct access to carrier contact and policy information, certificates of insurance, limits and expiration dates, along with DOT safety ratings and authority data on more than 200,000 carriers. “Combining the power of Freightflow with Truckstop.com will make it even easier to add qualified carriers to your preferred providers.”
Freightflow experts will be on hand at Fresh Summit to provide demos and discuss the benefits of this cloud-based solution to those interested in managing their complex, dynamic logistics and trade operation. For an appointment, contact Bud Floyd at 1-845-TMS-2345 or bud@freightflow.co.
Questions about this release can be directed Bud Floyd or Kyle Jaster at info@freightflow.co or 1-845-TMS-2345.
#####
Freightflow is a cloud-based order-to-settlement transportation management system designed to transform how freight moves around the world by creating efficiencies and eliminating costs in the transportation industry. From a single platform, Freightflow provides companies the ability to manage the entire transportation lifecycle including: rating, routing, tendering, tracking, tracing and settlement for shippers, carriers and logistics companies. Freightflow co-founders include industry veterans Butch Peri and Bud Floyd. As President/CEO of Peri & Sons, Peri led the growth of the world’s largest grower/shipper of fresh-market onion operations over 30 years. Floyd spent over 14 years as Vice President, Sales and Marketing for C.H. Robinson, a Fortune 300 transportation and logistics company. Freightflow is a product of Progistix Worldwide. ©2016.
Valley of Fire. State Park. USA. This image is processed from 16-BIT RAW and professionally edited for best quality and usage.Similar images from same location:
ATHENS, Ga., Aug. 4, 2016 — Carrier Transicold today announced it will offer a customized telematics solution that will deliver advanced capabilities for its transport refrigeration units (TRUs). The new telematics solution will help fleets manage their refrigerated assets by enabling remote refrigeration unit monitoring, control and diagnostics, data management and other value-added capabilities.
“We are excited about the opportunity to provide an advanced two-way wireless communications system, uniquely qualified for truck and trailer units and backed by our comprehensive dealer support network,” said David Appel, president, Carrier Transicold & Refrigeration Systems. “Adoption of telematics by the transport industry has evolved rapidly and is now an important tool for fleet management.”
ORBCOMM Inc., a global provider of machine-to-machine and internet of things solutions, was selected to develop the system according to design and qualification requirements specified by the Georgia based company.
“We launched this initiative in response to customer demand for an original equipment manufacturer-provided system for TRUs,” Appel said. “The system can be factory-installed and will be supported by our authorized dealer network. ORBCOMM’s experience with remote monitoring and control solutions for mobile assets complements our expertise in transport refrigeration systems. Its expansive satellite and cellular capabilities provide the scale needed to support Carrier Transicold TRUs.”
“We are pleased to have been chosen to support global refrigerated transport leader Carrier Transicold,” said Marc Eisenberg, CEO, ORBCOMM. “ORBCOMM’s
technologies and knowledge will provide Carrier Transicold’s customers with tools to better track and monitor their shipments.”
With field trials nearing completion, the company anticipates the full release of its telematics solution in North America in 2017, followed by rollouts in Europe and other regions around the world.
About Carrier Transicold
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping of temperature controlled cargoes with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 45 years, the company has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with advanced, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable container refrigeration systems and generator sets, directdrive and diesel truck units, and trailer refrigeration systems. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. For more information, visit www.transicold.carrier.com.
With Rich Macleod’s pending departure from TransFresh Corporation June 30th, he leaves a legacy of being one of the most important individuals making immense contributions to in-transit perishable hauling since refrigerated truck transportation was invented following WWII.
It was 40 years ago that Rich joined TransFresh based in Salinas, CA, a company barely 10 years old focusing on perishables transportation.
Having known Rich much of this time and before that having covered a number of presentations by one of his mentors Dr. Bob Kasmire, Rich has always had a “soft spot” for produce trucking and the drivers of the big rigs delivering fresh fruits and vegetables.
“One thing that is critically important to anyone working in this trade is to respect every single level of those people that are feeding the retail chains and the consumers,” Rich says. “A lot of respect for the drivers comes from hanging out on these docks taking pulp temperatures, or atmosphere readings, or doing these studies on what’s going inside these trucks from a temperature standpoint.”
During this time Rich often spent a lot of time talking with truckers.
“They are a good group of professionals for the most part,” Rich says.
He also believes over the years produce shippers have started showing more respect for the men and women hauling those perishables. He also sees fewer incidents of lumpers at unloading docks “messing” with drivers.
Likewise, he is observing more receivers following the Costco model. In other words, if the truck arrives on time, it will be unloaded on time. By no means does he see a perfect world in this regard as there are still claims and “monkey wrenches” thrown into situations.
“But for the most part there has been a gradual improvement in the attitudes towards the drivers,” Rich states. “I don’t know how you run a business without making sure the transportation piece is being well taken care of.”
Rich adds one doesn’t get to where they are in a career without a number of mentors. A very important influence was Dr. Kasmire. He worked very closely with Dr. Kasmire as a research assistant at the University of California, Davis on transit issues. When Rich left for a career at TransFresh the two continued to working on projects together.
“A number of things in his publications are actually ideas that he and I generated together,” Rich recalls. “That’s why I have a soft spot for transportation. It is clearly generated by what Bob Kasmire taught me and what we’ve done together over the years. It’s really some of his passion coming through in my career.”
Rich still sees opportunities for progress that can be made with equipment and with drivers for the safety of our food. At the same time, it can’t be done by cutting corners.
“The reality is the drivers know when people are cutting corners. They know when they stuff (over load) a trailer there is a risk. They know when the buyer puts things on the truck that’s a risk. These guys know and they keep their mouths shut because that’s where they are on the job. They could actually be efficiency experts,” Rich says.
Meanwhile, nearly 30 years after Rich created the Fresh Produce Mixer & Loading Guide, he still receives probably 100 requests a year for it. The ground breaking in-transit research on berries at TransFresh will continue.
Rich seems very comfortable with the fact Michael Parachini, whose been with TransFresh 27 years, will continue his work. He describes Michael as his “right hand arm” for the past 20-plus years, working with the shipper base, Techrol process and equipment that plays a key in longer shelf life for fruit. He also names Reilly P. Rhodes, who has been with company over 20 years, saying he will have expanded roles that include marketing. Rich says Reilly has been instrumental in developing storage solutions for blueberries.
While retiring as the director of the TransFresh Pallet Division, Rich isn’t one to be complacent in a rocking chair. He will devote more time to helping the family with his aging parents, being more a part of the family grape and wine business, Macleod Family Vineyard in Sonoma County, CA, plus playing music in a local band. Rich also hasn’t ruled out sharing his vast knowledge through consulting.
By Cargo Data
The Food and Drug Administration has released final rules for “Sanitary Transportation” of food products that will be used for human and animal food.
This paper highlights passages from the FSMA text which shippers, carriers, and receivers will need to study as they formulate their SOPs, specifically with regard to in-transit temperature monitoring procedures when transporting perishable food products covered by the Sanitary Transportation subsections. The focus here is on the movement between the shipping point of the finished product to the distribution center or point of sale.
Primary responsibility for determining appropriate transportation operations now rests with the shipper, who may rely on contractual agreements to assign some of these responsibilities to other parties. Shippers must develop and implement written procedures to ensure that equipment and vehicles are in appropriate sanitary condition. Shippers of food transported in bulk must develop and implement written procedures to ensure that a previous cargo does not make food unsafe.
And shippers of food that require temperature control for safety must also develop and implement written procedures to ensure that food is transported under adequate temperature control. If a covered person or company at any point in the transportation chain becomes aware of a possible failure of temperature control or any other condition that may render a food unsafe, that food must not be sold or distributed until a determination of safety is made.
The shipper and carrier can agree to a temperature monitoring mechanism for foods that require temperature control for safety.
The original proposal specified that a compartment must be equipped with a thermometer, temperature measuring device, or temperature recording device. The agency agreed with commenters that there are a number of effective ways for ensuring temperature control that parties subject to this rule should be able to use. The agency also agreed with commenters that carriers need to demonstrate they maintained requested temperature conditions only upon request, rather than as a requirement for every shipment, as previously proposed.
Key Take-Aways:
1. The Shipper (or shipper’s representative) now assumes formal responsibility to ensure the conveyance (trailer, truck, container, etc.) meets the suitability requirements for the Sanitary Transportation of food products as defined by the Act.
2. These guidelines also expressly promote necessary cooperation between the Shipper, Carrier, and Receiver (customer) to ensure and confirm effective temperature control throughout the loading, transportation, and receiving/acceptance of subject perishable food products.
3. Expensive “real-time” temperature monitoring technology is NOT required.
4. Electronic temperature monitoring and/or recording devices are acceptable.
5. Carrier must provide, upon request, proof that requested temperature conditions were maintained during transit.
Cargo Data Corporation recommends shippers, carriers, and receivers each study the FSMA text to determine their responsibilities as mandated by the Act. Clearly, accurate temperature records, ease of use, cost effectiveness, transparency, and easy data archiving features will be important aspects of any in-transit temperature monitoring program.
Cargo Data’s Lightning NFC temperature monitoring system is designed specifically to be a Turn-Key system to meet the needs of most shippers, carriers, and Receivers to achieve FSMA compliance for in-transit temperature monitoring.
Visit the website (LightningNFC.com) to view a brief video presentation highlighting Lightning NFC operations, features, and benefits.
For the Shipper:
Lightning NFC instruments are easy to activate and place. Shipping clerk simply notes (or scans) the instrument serial number for inclusion in shipping documents, order passing, and BOL. Cargo Data also recommends the shipping clerk write the shipment’s PO number and other shipping details on the instrument label as a backup in the event the instrument becomes separated from its intended shipment.
For the Carrier:
No action is required by carrier beyond confirmation that Lightning NFC instrument has been placed in the shipment and the instrument’s serial number is listed on shipment BOL/Manifest.
For the Receiver:
Lightning NFC temperature monitoring instruments are provided in a high-visibility moisture resistant pouch which simplifies locating the instrument within the shipment. Lightning NFC is also available with a free optional locating beeper which sounds intermittently to provide location assistance (not recommended for export shipments).
Lightning NFC instruments use NFC wireless technology to transfer all temperature data to a smart phone or tablet. The Receiver/Inspector can instantly view the temperature data, make arrival quality notes, document internal (pulp) temperature, and even add photographs of the shipment to the temperature record. All temperature data, notes, and photos are automatically sent to Cargo Data’s UpLink cloud server for permanent archiving.
UpLink Online Temperature Data Review:
Shippers, Carriers, and Receivers can view the shipment’s temperature data online as soon as the Receiver transfers data from the instrument to the smartphone or tablet. Simply navigate to LightningNFC.com or cargodatacorp.com and enter the instrument serial number into the UpLink data retrieval field on the homepage. A free and fully detailed temperature report is available for viewing, printing, and/or downloading.
Cargo Data Corporation’s Lightning NFC temperature monitoring program is a simple turn-key program which brings easy FSMA in-transit temperature monitoring compliance for shippers, carriers, and receivers. Contact Cargo Data Corporation at 800-338-8134 or information@cargodatacorp.com for more information.
Pleasanton, Calif., — DeltaTrak® announces the release of two new FlashLink Mini PDF In-Transit Loggers . Available in either °F or °C models, these compact, single-use temperature recorders provide accurate, reliable monitoring of conditions during transport, storage and handling of any perishable product.
One unit works for all modes of transportation: air, truck, rail or sea. “This simplifies logger inventory management for shippers,” according to Frederick Wu, President and CEO of DeltaTrak. “Since recorded data is automatically scaled to fit a graph as a one page PDF report, they don’t need to stock multiple models with various logging durations.” This means a shorter logging period will be shown with high resolution as a full graph.
Plug-and-play features of the FlashLink Mini PDF Loggers make them ideal for import/export operations. A built-in USB connector and on-board software allow quick, easy access to trip data without using special reading devices like cradles or adapters, and no need to download or install software on a PC. Receivers can retrieve data as soon as a shipment arrives, and make quick accept/reject decisions on the dock.
The logger can plug into a PC or tablet, or print reports directly to a printer with a USB port – no computer needed! PDF files can be emailed to suppliers and transportation companies, or to insurance adjustors in the event of a claim situation.
Each unit comes mounted on a bright green shipping card, making it easy to locate when a load arrives. A peel-away barcode label with the logger serial number can be attached to shipping documents and scanned into an ERP system for complete traceability.
The FlashLink Mini PDF Logger provides verification and documentation that products have been kept within proper temperature range for FSMA, HACCP, and global food safety regulations. They ensure delivery of high quality products with longer shelf life, and ultimately support consumer safety.
About DeltaTrak®
DeltaTrak® is a leading innovator of cold chain management, environmental monitoring and food safety solutions for the food, produce, pharmaceutical, life science, and chemical industries. Contact DeltaTrak® by phone at 1-800-962-6776 or by email at marketing@deltatrak.com. Additional information can be found at www.deltatrak.com .
By IFCO
Tampa, Florida – IFCO, the leading global provider of reusable packaging solutions, has announced the company’s new, innovative Wood Grain Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs) have entered the produce supply chain and the first of an anticipated 30 million Wood Grain Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs) have been shipped to fresh produce growers as partial fulfillment of an agreement reached between IFCO and Walmart. Kings River Packaging of Sanger, California, was the first Walmart supplier to receive IFCO Wood Grain RPCs.
“We were delighted to be the first Walmart supplier to receive Wood Grain RPCs,” said David Hines, President of Kings River. “These RPCs represent everything we’ve come to know and appreciate about IFCO RPC quality. The IFCO Wood Grain RPC features of additional vertical ribbing and enhanced latching are first-rate, and detailed wood grain texture really looks great. We think the retail customer will love it once in store.”
Last October, IFCO and Walmart announced IFCO will supply the world’s largest retailer with newly designed Wood Grain RPCs for its wet and dry produce, initially including apples, potatoes, onions and citrus items.
“Walmart customers deserve the very best shopping experience,” said Dorn Wenninger, Vice President of Produce for Walmart U.S. “That means the best possible quality at the lowest possible price. Wood Grain RPCs are one of many changes we’re making to improve our overall fresh produce customer experience.”
IFCO has invested millions of dollars in the development of its Wood Grain RPCs. They have undergone extensive, months-long real world and laboratory testing to verify their functionality and product protection capabilities. They were designed to Walmart specifications and incorporated feedback received from the grower community. IFCO’s Wood Grain RPCs are the product of decades of manufacturing expertise and superior industrial design, brought to market in record time.
“IFCO has designed an innovative and unique fresh produce packaging solution that benefits growers, retailers and ultimately consumers,” said Daniel Walsh, President of IFCO North America. “Wood Grain RPCs have all the benefits of traditional RPCs with aesthetic appeal that helps them transition seamlessly from transportation and storage to in-store display.”
IFCO’s RPCs are more efficient, protect and cool product better and are more environmentally sustainable than one-way packaging.
IFCO has a strong commitment to supporting local economies, local companies and local workers in the marketplaces where it does business whenever possible. In the United States, IFCO’s Wood Grain RPCs are 100% sourced and manufactured in America and meet the Federal Trade Commission’s standard for its “Made in the USA” country of origin label. In addition, IFCO Wood Grain RPCs are cleaned and sanitized at one of six US service centers throughout their life cycle.
After 40 years of dedicated service, continuous innovation and unparalleled customer service, Rich Macleod, director of the TransFresh Corporation North America Pallet Division, will retire effective June 30, 2016, it was announced today by Ken Diveley, president and CEO, TransFresh.
Macleod will be succeeded by long-time TransFresh veteran Michael Parachini and will remain available to Parachini, the Tectrol Service Network and TransFresh customers for a period of time to ensure a smooth transition.
“For many years, Rich has been the guiding force behind the success of the TransFresh Pallet Division and a wide range of pioneering services and operational innovations that have enhanced the efficiency and efficacy of the Tectrol Modified Atmosphere Packaging System, offering growers and shippers a system for increased marketability of their fresh berry products and retailers a potential for greater returns on their investment,” Diveley said. “Although we will miss Rich and wish him a rewarding retirement, I am confident that the experienced TransFresh Tectrol Service Network, under Michael’s leadership, will carry on Rich’s legacy of exceptional technical know-how and commitment to customer service without missing a beat,” Diveley said.
Macleod earned his Master of Science degree in Postharvest Plant Physiology from the University of California, Davis, and worked as a research assistant in the UC Davis vegetable crops division. In 1976, he joined TransFresh Corporation as a lab assistant and rapidly became involved in evaluating the commercial relevance of Tectrol Technologies across a wide range of commodities, ultimately helping to develop a range of new applications utilizing controlled and modified atmosphere packaging.
During his 40-year tenure, Macleod secured several key patents, led critical internal R&D initiatives, spearheaded proprietary research and partnered with prominent universities, federal agencies and produce trade organizations to study and quantify the economic efficacy of Tectrol Modified Atmospheres and cold chain control leading to improved retail shelf quality. Throughout the years, MacLeod has consistently maintained that any technology developed by TransFresh or the trade must have a measurable economic impact on the retail front end.
Macleod served in increasingly senior positions at TransFresh until he was ultimately appointed as head of the Pallet Division in 1990. Most recently, Macleod championed his team’s successful development of the new TransFresh Tectrol Storage Solutions for Blueberries. The Storage Solution marries the Tectrol Technology with a unique zipper-sealed pallet closure system and a precision application of Apio’s patented BreatheWay® Technology to balance package permeability, resulting in stable atmospheres that are maintained over longer periods of time.
“I am grateful to have had a truly rewarding career in an industry that I love,” said Macleod, “and I am confident I am leaving behind a strong team that, with Michael at the helm, will continue to service our customers and the fresh produce industry with sound technical capabilities and dedicated effort. I look forward to seeing their many achievements in the months and years to come.”
Parachini, who will shortly celebrate his 27th anniversary with TransFresh, brings to his new position an illustrious history with the company. From operational and technical services management to R&D initiatives and from critical process improvements in support of customer needs to advanced equipment design and implementation, he has been deeply involved in the delivery and expansion of TransFresh and Tectrol Technologies throughout North America. A third-generation Californian, Parachini received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Management from California Polytechnic State University.
About TransFresh
TransFresh is a pioneering and established global entity with 50 years of experience in perishables transport – recently recognized as a milestone achievement by America’s fresh produce hub, the City of Salinas, California. Tectrol® is the trademarked brand name for the TransFresh family of proprietary modified and controlled atmosphere systems and processes developed and owned by TransFresh. The Tectrol Service Network™ services, markets and supports the Tectrol® pallet and storage systems operations and technologies. Since inception, TransFresh’s innovations in packaging, equipment and sealing processes have established Tectrol® as the industry standard.