For operators considering any equipment purchase, one of the most important considerations is the level of after sales support available nationally. This is especially critical when looking at a product that is new to the market.

To help support potential adopters of its “tried and tested” diesel-free transport refrigeration units (TRUs), which only debuted in the United Kingdom in 2019, Hultsteins recently appointed Kent-based Longhurst Refrigeration as its UK national aftersales service partner to provide repair and maintenance services.

Started in 2014 by Denise and Jason Longhurst, the company offers 24-hour provision to operators across the south of England, and was recognized as Transport Refrigeration Service Provider of the Year at the TCS&D Awards, which is the UK’s only cold chain awards event, in 2016 and 2018.

“As a fully independent company, this is potentially a gamechanger for us,” said operations director Fred Allen. As well as providing hands-on service to Hultsteins customers in their usual catchment area, Longhurst also will have responsibility for coordinating all repair and maintenance work carried out on Hultsteins’ behalf, nationwide.

“For customers further afield, we will take responsibility for vetting all third-party providers, ensuring they are trained and competent to the same level as our own engineers,” Allen said. “We will also look after all invoicing and technical enquiries, keeping everything clean, tidy and efficient. This means operators will only need to deal with one trusted point of contact, no matter when or where they might need us.”

Hultsteins offers two main products, both of which enable a TRU to be powered by the truck’s engine via a PTO. For rigid-bodied vehicles up to 26 tonnes (28.6 tons), the Ecofridge Slimline is a fully hydraulic solution, replacing the traditional top-mounted unit with a slimmer, lighter version that also allows vehicle height to be kept to a minimum.

For tractor units and trailers, there is the Ecogen, an easily accessible bridging technology. Ecogen uses the same technology to generate the 400 volts of electricity needed to run an existing diesel TRU using its integral stand-by electrical motor.

“There's real potential here for operators to see a big improvement in their carbon footprint, compared to a traditional diesel fridge,” Allen said. “Meanwhile, for Longhurst Refrigeration, the aim is to develop alongside Hultsteins, helping to build confidence in their environmentally friendly products from the very beginning.”