Trailers go to new lengths for TCS&D
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• This year's Temperature, Controlled Storage and Distribution Exhibition was dominated by longer-length trailers, capable of carrying up to 26 metric or 13 Euro pallets. The most stylish reefer trailer was Lamberet's 13.6m chassisless Cargofrigo, but both York and Gray and Adams exhibited semis with smartly faired-in pallet and storage compartments below the trailer floor-line.
G&A's new-length reefer uses Carrier's latest Eurostar with radiussed edges and a modified evaporator for maximum forward internal clearance. The rear doors have stand-in panels to direct the return air flow and help maintain
a 200mm loading tolerance, while door locks and hinges are recessed into the stainlesssteel frame.
York's 13.6m Thermostar reefer with room for up to 33 Euro pallets was one of its lightest, weighing in at 7,700kg complete with nose-mounted Frigoblock condenser and underslung gen-set.
York also showed its new Koolkit off-the-shelf, fully insulated panel-van body kit. It is devised to meet ATP class A approval and new draft regulations being drawn up by the Department of Health. Southfield's first Coolstar insulated curtainsider is due to begin thermal test chamber trials after the show. It is built with one-piece 140mm GRP/ polyurethane foam-sandwich panels for the roof and floor sections, and uses composite layered insulated curtains. Tracking for the loadrestraining straps is bonded into the roof panels. Coolstar trailers will be available up to 13.6m.
Fruehauf showed its commitment to the rigid reefer sector with a Cargo 1721-mounted 6.6m fridge body, with body panels from its West German associate Ackermann Fruehauf.
Don Bur has added an expanding rear pillar to its latest Spacemaster II reefer for Thomtons, which tensions the plug-type sliding doors when closed up. For operating in restricted areas, GRP Massey has engineered a 13.5m tri-axle chassis, with lifting front and steered rear axle. The frame I-beams are set at 1,200mm centres, narrowing to 800mm over the rear of the SAF-axled bogie to allow a 25° angle on the Ackermann-steered rear axle. The Hosta (BV) dualcircuit power steering system is hydraulically-controlled from the fifth wheel.