A new truck design developed by E A Sween Company is improving fuel economy by nearly 50% while increasing fleet sustainability, productivity, and cost-effectiveness for the family-owned foodservice company.
The new, lighter-weight diesel truck design emits 700 fewer pounds of carbon per month than a conventional truck, according to a sustainability study conducted by Automotive Resources International (ARI). Based on these results, E A Sween Co leaders anticipate the trucks will emit 4.2 tons less carbon dioxide annually.
Thermo King will honor E A Sween Co by presenting the company with the Energy Efficiency Leader Award on June 27 at E A Sween Co headquarters in Eden Prairie MN.
Founded in 1955, E A Sween Co has more than 900 employees and manufactures and supplies hot and cold sandwiches. It sells more than 75 million Deli Express sandwiches every year in more than 26,000 convenience stores, grocery stores, drug stores, and other food outlets nationwide.
E A Sween Co pursued the more sustainable fleet option by deciding to expand from a traditionally all-frozen transportation fleet with cold-plate technology to one with multi-temperature capabilities. The updated system reflects the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship through fleet sustainability.
The team that developed the improvements with E A Sween Co included Thermo King, which supplied the refrigeration unit; Isuzu, which provided the diesel chassis; Johnson Truck Bodies, which produced the lightweight shell; and ARI, which calculated the design’s impact on cost and efficiency.
This newly designed truck features a heating system that allows specialized thawing applications to occur on the truck rather than in a warehouse. Before this, frozen sandwiches needed to be moved to a thawing area each night and then loaded onto trucks in the morning prior to distribution. The multi-temperature system eliminates the middle step, providing a leaner operation before deliveries begin.
The refrigeration unit selected for the redesigned truck features a slim-profile, roof- mounted condenser that provides required refrigeration capacity while presenting an aerodynamic profile. It can maintain precise temperature control through hot and cold climates.
This refrigeration system also features electric standby to reduce fuel consumption and corresponding emissions. Use of electric standby also enables rolling warehouse applications where the product is stored on the truck for later sale. The unit uses a low amount of refrigerant.
For more details, visit ingersollrand.com, thermoking.com, or deliexpress.com.
