Structural floor can handle 5,000 pounds
Master-Bilt now offers a 5,000-pound structural floor option for walk-in coolers and freezers and refrigerated warehouses.
This new structural floor is designed to withstand a pallet jack or equivalent transporter with an evenly distributed load of up to 5,000 pounds over all four wheels. It also allows for maximum weight storage on internal shelving.
The floor consists of insulated panels made of non-conductive foamed-in-place structural pillars with plywood underlayment and .080 textured aluminum for maximum strength.
For more information, phone Theresa Todd at 800/647-1284, ext 4236; or e-mail [email protected].
Automatic defrost option for cold plates
Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies has developed and patented an automatic defrost option for Johnson Premier fiberglass truck bodies equipped with RouteMax and cold plate/blower systems. The daily defrost cycle keeps frost from building up on the plates, so they operate more efficiently and provide greater protection for cold products. The defrost function is 100% automatic, requires zero man-hours, no water, and is a redesign of the industry-standard defrost system.
Cold plate blower systems develop a layer of frost on the plate surface as they transfer heat from the truck body interior to the cold plates. Depending on the humidity level and temperature outdoors, frost builds up in certain geographic areas of the nation. Before auto-defrost, cold plates were manually defrosted with fresh water every few days in order to maintain the cooling efficiency of cold plates.
Now when the refrigeration system is plugged in to recharge the plates, the system automatically goes into a defrost cycle for a period of time, typically one hour. When the defrost cycle is complete it switches back to refrigeration mode to recharge the plates.
Environmentally speaking, auto-defrost is beneficial because no water is used to defrost the plates, whereas cold plate systems without auto-defrost use up to 150 gallons of fresh water to defrost plates. Because the plates are defrosted daily, run-off from natural condensation is minimal. It also takes less condensing unit operation time and energy to recharge cold plates not covered with frost build-up.
Auto-defrost is available on medium-temperature RouteMax, all-electric clean and green refrigeration and traditional cold plate/blower systems.
Access www.johnsontruckbodies.com for more details.
Thermo King remote status light displays
Thermo King is providing three new remote status light displays for reefer-equipped trailers. The displays make it easy for drivers to check on the status, temperature, and fuel level of their unit with just a glance in the rearview mirror.
New displays are available in three configurations: status, status/fuel level, and status/fuel level/temperature readout. Displays help drivers avoid out-of-fuel shutdowns and feature a solid-state design sealed against the elements with no bulbs to replace. Each display uses high-visibility LED lights and has an auto dimming feature for night driving. The displays are compatible with all Thermo King SB trailer units with SR-2 controllers (basic Status Light works with any controller).
For more information, access the Thermo King website at www.thermoking.com.
Tridako Energy debuts PowerCube APU
Tridako Energy Systems has introduced the PowerCube auxiliary power unit designed for Class 8 trucks. The PowerCube (Model HC6000) aims to be a long-term value for truck drivers and fleets looking to support health and safety in large cab environments, while reducing fuel cost and emissions.
The PowerCube has been lab-tested to meet requirements of SAE J-1503 automotive performance standards, with documented results of Btu production rates at 24,000 Btu/hr cooling and 30,000 Btu/hr heating. The Model HC6000 is currently offered with the choice of either Kubota or Caterpillar, two-cylinder engines that include a two year/24,000 mile warranty.
A range of APU accessories and options are also being developed for the units.
Access www.powercubeapu.com for more details.
JBS Swift uses PakSense to monitor temps
JBS Swift & Co, North America, has adopted the PakSense TXi Label to monitor time and temperature of product during distribution. PakSense Labels are in use on truckloads of fresh beef and pork from JBS Swift processing plants to customer locations throughout the United States.
PakSense Labels are placed on fresh beef and pork loads and then shipped to customer locations. When the truck is received, JBS Swift customers examine visual indicators on the labels to verify that acceptable temperature ranges were maintained during shipping. Labels are then pulled at customer locations and mailed back to JBS Swift's Greeley CO office as part of a temperature traceability program.
The label's small size enables it to be mailed back in the postal system, and once received, they are filed with shipping paperwork. A non-volatile memory means data is perpetually stored and can be downloaded at any point in the future.
