Cold Chain Transport
Are you familiar with what is involved in a cold chain? Cold chains are an important part of the supply chain management process. How do you understand this process? A cold chain is simply a description of a system that controls how different elements in the supply chain are distributed throughout the manufacturing and assembly process. Most people are familiar with the word supply chain.
Cold chain logistics is a variation on the traditional supply chain, which flows through different stages of the production and assembly process. This type of system controls the temperature of raw materials as they are transported to the facilities where they are used in the manufacturing process.
A Cold Chain Transport takes temperature, conditions, and other factors into consideration when moving raw materials between locations. There are several types of cold chain transportation, including gas, pipeline, rail, water, air, and electrical.
When a company needs to transportation a large amount of a liquid or a gas across the country, a cold chain distribution and logistics service are required. An example of a cold chain transportation is when a company has to ship cement, aggregates, metal coil, and other raw materials between plants for construction purposes.
If the temperature is too cold at the shipping facility, the materials must be heated on-site so that the project can continue. Most often, the logistics company that provides this type of transportation service uses truck mounted gel packs to protect the materials during transportation.
Cold cargo transportation needs two types of temperature control. The first is active systems such as hydronic and mechanical controls. The second is passive systems, such as non-hydrostatic control and environmental control. These passive systems help protect materials during transportation at certain temperatures by keeping the temperature constant and fluctuations to the outside temperature minimal. Click here to know more.
How do you manage a cold transportation using a cold truck gel pack? This is an important question to ask, especially if the transportation is of a sensitive nature. Transporting liquids, gels, and other materials at very low temperatures poses unique challenges to logistics and manufacturing companies. For instance, in dry ice transportation, temperatures as low as -400 degrees Fahrenheit are common. Using a truck-mounted gel pack on the contrary, ensures that the temperature stays within a safe range.
How do you manage a cold chain with refrigerated trucks? In this case, a different type of transportation is needed. Most often, cold storage and transportation trucks are used for this purpose. These vehicles have been outfitted with facilities for refrigeration, such as large cabinets with cold storage, large cold rooms, and other mechanisms for maintaining the temperature. There are also other features to consider, such as climate control, humidity controls, and air ventilation.
How do you manage a cold chain logistics with a variety of vehicles? This is possible as long as one or more vehicles are fitted with an integrated coolant or dehumidifier. This device draws moisture from the air, and transfers it into the various fluids, such as the refrigerant.
The cooled fluids then discharge themselves into their holding vats and are stored. The major advantage of this is that temperature variations are kept to a bare minimum. Some other vehicles, however, are capable of maintaining consistent temperatures temperature for extended durations.
How do you manage a Cold Chain Packaging and transportation using two or more active systems? Cold storage and transportation trucks are fitted with dehumidifiers and other active cooling systems. These active cooling systems make use of water to absorb heat from the atmosphere.
This prevents the formation of condensation on the vehicle’s surface, which allows the truck’s interior to remain dry. In addition to the use of active cooling systems, some trucks are fitted with air conditioners, although these are not as common.
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