Posts Tagged “XtendFRESH”
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is expanding its fleet with a huge order of 5,000 refrigerated containers equipped with Carrier Transicold’s XtendFRESH atmosphere control technology.
The XtendFRESH system manages oxygen and carbon dioxide levels within refrigerated containers and removes ethylene, thus slowing the ripening of produce, according to a news release.
The XtendFRESH-equipped containers are being leased through SeaCube Containers LLC.
“By adding atmosphere control for selected perishable cargoes, we are enhancing the care we provide for the valuable commodities we ship for our customers,” Giuseppe Prudente, chief logistics officer, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, said in a news release. “XtendFRESH technology enables MSC to transport fruit and other refrigerated cargo over longer distances, creating tremendous new opportunities for exporters and importers.”
The order is the largest for the XtendFRESH option since the system was introduced in 2013. It adds to the growing trend among shipping lines to provide controlled-atmosphere technology for the benefit of their customers, Willy Yeo, director, marketing, Global Container Refrigeration, Carrier Transicold.
“MSC is just one example of the very strong demand we’ve seen for controlled-atmosphere equipment,” SeaCube CEO Robert Sappio said in the release. He said controlled atmosphere is a way for shipping lines to assure their customers that they are carrying their products more safely.
The XtendFRESH system’s patented, self-regenerating activated-carbon scrubber assembly captures carbon dioxide and ethylene, a hormone given off by ripening produce that can accelerate ripening if left unchecked. As perishable cargo consumes oxygen, on-demand fresh-air ventilation automatically maintains the optimum level inside the container.
“The innovative XtendFRESH system allows shipping lines to optimize conditions for specific commodities,” Carrier Transicold’s Yeo said. “It is the only atmosphere control solution with an integrated ethylene removal capability.”
Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp.
By Carrier Transcold
AMSTERDAM — Reflecting the growing use of controlled-atmosphere (CA) technologies to maintain quality of fruits and vegetables over extended shipping times, Hamburg SÃ has transported more than 7,000 container shipments of perishable goods using Carrier Transicold’s innovative XtendFRESH atmosphere control system. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
At Intermodal Europe, held here this week, Carrier Transicold and Hamburg SÃ, one of the leading ocean carriers in the South American segment, discussed the shipping line’s increased application of the XtendFRESH system for avocados and bananas. Hamburg SÃ’s shipments using XtendFRESH technology increased in 2017, and the shipping line expects to use it with an even broader range of perishables in 2018.
“There is a great deal of enthusiasm on the part of exporters to use controlled-atmosphere technologies to reach new regions for their perishable goods,” said Stefan Duhring, global head of logistics at Hamburg SÃ. “The number of shipments using XtendFRESH technology represents a significant and growing segment of our refrigerated shipments.”
The XtendFRESH system simultaneously controls carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) levels in multiple combinations within a refrigerated shipping container to reduce respiration and the ripening of fruits and vegetables. This enables a shipping line to transport exported perishable goods over longer times than with refrigeration alone, helping to reach new destinations. Preserving perishables is further enhanced by the XtendFRESH system’s ability to remove ethylene, a hormone released by produce that can accelerate ripening if left unchecked. The system is the only CA solution with an integral ethylene removal capability.
Hamburg SÃ, which collaborated with Carrier Transicold on system capabilities and testing during the development of the XtendFRESH system, began acquiring Carrier Transicold PrimeLINE units equipped with XtendFRESH technology in 2014.
“We’ve had success using the XtendFRESH system for avocados and bananas in many of our key refrigerated trade lanes,” said Durhring. “Our confidence in using XtendFRESH technology with higher-respiring perishables has led us to initiate plans to trial the system with shipments of South America-grown blueberries, a lower respiring fruit.”
Shipping lines appreciate that the XtendFRESH system offers a wider range of independent settings for CO2 and O2 levels than are possible with other systems.
“The wider range of settings, along with ethylene control, provide advantages for shipping lines in meeting the needs of exporters,” said Jim Taeckens, senior product manager, Carrier Transicold. “Additionally, the XtendFRESH system has no membrane filter to replace, as is common with some other systems, reducing maintenance requirements for fleets that offer it as an option for their customers.”
Responding to shipping line concerns about the learning curve with using CA technologies, Carrier Transicold provides training in the proper use of the XtendFRESH system and how to prepare a container prior to shipment. Taeckens added that to ensure optimal performance, containers must be in good condition with potential air leaks minimized through the use of a curtain wall at the door end of the container.
Helping to further boost performance, Carrier has worked with shipping lines on enhancements to the XtendFRESH system, including improved gaskets, advanced control software and a sensor to monitor operation of the ethylene and CO2 scrubber motor.
For more information about the XtendFRESH system or to conduct a trial, turn to the experts at Carrier Transicold or visit//www.carrier.com/container.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Giving produce exporters a better way to maintain the quality of perishables in transit, Hamburg Süd, one of the top refrigerated container carriers worldwide, recently added 400 refrigerated containers equipped with Carrier Transicold’s XtendFRESH™ atmosphere control system. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Building & Industrial Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).To slow ripening and help preserve produce quality, the XtendFRESH system actively manages oxygen and carbon dioxide levels within refrigerated containers and removes ethylene.
The new XtendFRESH systems have been placed into service in support of avocado exporters shipping from the west coast of South America to Asia, North America and Europe, according to Martin Schoeler, senior manager, Logistics-Technology, Hamburg Süd.
“Avocados are a significant market and initially will be the main target of utilization,” Schoeler said, adding that banana exports beyond 30 days will also be able to benefit from the XtendFRESH system’s capabilities.
“Ethylene removal is a unique feature of the XtendFRESH system that differentiates it from other systems and is definitely much desired by our customers,” said Michaela Steineker, global reefer manager, Sales & Marketing, Hamburg Süd, explaining that in collaborating with Carrier Transicold on operational tests, the shipping line stressed the importance of this capability in an atmosphere control system.
Prior to purchase, Hamburg Süd commissioned independent testing on the XtendFRESH system by Eurofins, using bananas in stationary trials and shipped from Latin America to Scandinavia, which verified the system’s ability to help preserve the quality of perishable items. The produce was analyzed for appearance, freshness, water content and other attributes.
The 400 new XtendFRESH systems were factory-installed on PrimeLINE® refrigeration units equipped with Carrier Transicold’s energy-saving EDGE technology package, all of which were mounted to 40-foot high-cube containers. EDGE stands for Enhanced Digital for Greater Efficiency and includes a set of design enhancements that improve upon the PrimeLINE unit’s successful track record of energy efficiency. The EDGE option significantly reduces energy consumption for refrigeration beyond the low levels for which standard PrimeLINE units are known, helping Hamburg Süd achieve its sustainability goals.
“We are pleased to provide Hamburg Süd with innovative technology that enables them to expand their service offerings to customers,” said David Appel, president, Carrier Transicold & Refrigeration Systems. “By helping to prevent premature ripening, the XtendFRESH system aids in maintaining optimum quality and shelf life of delivered produce while reducing the potential for food waste from spoilage.”
The XtendFRESH system’s ability to remove ethylene, while precisely managing oxygen and CO2, is key to its performance and distinguishes it from other products for container atmosphere control. Ethylene is a hormone given off by ripening produce that accelerates ripening if left unchecked. A patented, self-regenerating activated-carbon scrubber assembly captures ethylene and controls CO2 levels. As oxygen is consumed by ripening produce, automated, on-demand fresh-air ventilation helps maintain the optimum level for the cargo inside.
With long experience in the transport of perishable cargo, Hamburg Süd ranks among the largest container carriers serving South America.
Carrier Transicold’s new XtendFRESH™ container atmosphere control system uses innovative technologies to help maintain the quality of shipped produce, while extending shipping distances to enable growers reach new customers. Carrier Transicold helps improve global transport and shipping temperature control with a complete line of equipment for refrigerated trucks, trailers and containers, and is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
Considering its many benefits, the XtendFRESH system is designed to be more affordable than Carrier’s prior atmosphere control solutions and relatively easy to install on existing equipment.
“The XtendFRESH system will expand opportunities for the global trade of perishable commodities,” said David Appel, president, Carrier Transicold. “It will enable Carrier Transicold’s shipping line customers to help exporters extend their reach into new markets.”
The XtendFRESH system actively controls oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and removes ethylene, a hormone given off by ripening produce that will accelerate ripening if left unchecked. O2 and CO2 levels can be independently set at levels that produce optimum results for a given commodity. The system’s ability to remove ethylene, while managing O2 and CO2, is key to its performance and distinguishes it from other products for container atmosphere control.
Kartik Kumar, director, Marketing & Strategic Planning, Global Container Refrigeration, Carrier Transicold, said, “By helping prevent premature ripening, the XtendFRESH system will aid in maintaining optimum quality of delivered produce, which can also result in less spoilage per shipment.”
By slowing ripening, XtendFRESH significantly lengthens the amount of time produce can spend in refrigerated transit – by more than double in some cases. For example, bananas can be shipped for up to eight weeks rather than four, and beans for up to four weeks rather 10 days.
“The XtendFRESH system will give the shipping industry a new, more economical way to implement container atmosphere control and, in turn, grow market opportunities,” Kumar said.
The innovative XtendFRESH system has a patented self-regenerating activated carbon scrubber assembly that removes ethylene and CO2 created by the ripening processes occurring inside the container. As O2 is consumed by ripening produce, automated, on-demand fresh-air ventilation helps maintain the optimum O2 level for the specific cargo inside. No other product integral to the container actively manages CO2 and O2 and removes ethylene.
“We’re enthusiastic about the prospects of the XtendFRESH system for our banana operations,” said Juan Carlos Hernandez, Global Equipment and M&R Manager, Chiquita Brands International, Inc., which worked with Carrier in demonstration projects and sea trials. “The XtendFRESH system is a practical, complete controlled-atmosphere alternative for refrigerated containers that has shown potential for maintaining improved produce quality in long-duration shipments.”
O2, will typically be managed to a range of between 3 to 21 percent, and CO2, will typically be managed within a range of zero to 19 percent.
Modular by design, the XtendFRESH system can be easily added to existing Carrier container refrigeration units equipped with the Micro-Link® 3 (ML3) controller. Key components include the scrubber assembly, a ventilation panel with integral blower, control software and sensors for monitoring O2 and CO2. Adding a humidity sensor provides additional atmosphere control, enabling humidity to be reduced to as low as 50 percent, as needed for cargo protection.
The XtendFRESH system will be available as an option with new equipment purchases, and a special XtendFRESH provision will also be available for new units, making it easier to upgrade them with the XtendFRESH system at a later date.
The XtendFRESH system is currently completing trials and Carrier Transicold anticipates availability later this year. For more information about the XtendFRESH container atmosphere control system, visit www.carrier.com/container.
About Carrier Transicold
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping temperature control with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 40 years, Carrier Transicold has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with the most 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. Visit www.transicold.carrier.com for more information.