In today’s society where there is an increase in the demand for catering, we have to know how refrigerated transport has been pivotal in the hospitality industry. Frozen courier companies deliver, even on the same day, temperature-critical goods which allow restaurants to serve their customers better than ever before. What was once a luxury for high-end restaurants is now a necessity as not every restaurant can afford its own refrigerated truck. We explore how refrigerated transport is important for hospitality and catering industries, centring on its development over the years and how it is used today to transport temperature critical goods from place to place.

What is refrigerated transport?

Refrigerated transport is any form of transportation that transports temperature-critical goods from place to place. Over time, thanks to the hard work of catering engineers anglesey refrigeration have progressed from using ice and salt to create cold air, to using hydrocarbons such as ammonia, which led to ammonia absorption cooling systems or transport refrigeration units. Recently, technological advancements have seen transport refrigeration units use liquid cryogenics such as liquid nitrogen or propane gas.

Why is refrigerated transport so important to the hospitality and catering industries?

Refrigerated transport ensures that goods reach their destination with their essential qualities intact. The temperature control of these refrigerated vehicles, as well as their ability to keep perishable products fresh for extended periods of time, is necessary to maintain food quality standards in preparation areas. In addition, there are safety benefits to be gained from transporting goods by refrigerated vehicle rather than open truck, such as decreased theft and reduced risk of spoilage. This protects producers’ profit margins and minimizes waste on all sides.

The development of refrigerated transport over the years

It was not until after World War II that refrigerated transport became an industry standard. Before then, to keep food fresh, most goods would be transported on dry ice blocks. This meant that trucks had to stop at predetermined intervals to add more ice. However, in 1947 Electrolux engineers developed what we now know as an air conditioner or refrigerator truck. The invention of air conditioning meant that goods could be shipped without the need for periodic stops to refreeze them, which drastically cut back on travel time.

How does refrigerated transport work today?

Refrigerated transport works in many different ways, using air suspension to move items. It has also been advanced by design, with adjustments in order to minimize how much energy it takes to power them. These design changes have helped make transportation more efficient, such as refrigerators that operate on natural gas instead of diesel fuel. Advanced refrigeration systems are also common features of these new designs, along with improved insulation and insulation techniques to keep items at their desired temperature without wasting too much electricity while keeping them cold.

Which kinds of products are transported using refrigerated transport?

Products such as food, vaccines, medicines, cosmetics and much more need to be transported using refrigerated transport in order to maintain their stability. Otherwise, they could spoil or expire due to changes in temperatures.

For these products to maintain quality throughout their entire journey they are often placed inside insulated boxes that are designed specifically for transporting these items of temperature-sensitive goods. The storage compartments on trucks which have been specially designed for carrying frozen goods come with insulation that blocks heat from entering into them whilst also enabling them to escape during periods of high temperatures when cold air needs to be circulated.

Are there any precautions that need to be taken when transporting temperature-critical goods using refrigerated transport?

As with any industry, it’s vital to have precautions in place to avoid contamination of temperature-critical goods. It’s recommended that these goods should be stored on an open pallet or shelving unit, which can be air-dried without damage to other products and where they are easily visible. The load needs to be tightly secured on both sides with straps or clamps so it cannot move around in transit. It’s also worth noting that high volume transport will need double-lockable doors on containers as well as externally fitted couplings, all of which are designed to keep your goods at optimum temperatures throughout transport.

Clare Louise