Underfloor fridges
Page 19
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
FIFTEEN new refrigerated semi-trailers equipped with fridge gear mounted below the trailer chassis have entered service with Birds Eye Walls on frozen food distribution.
The tandem axle units were designed by the company's distribution engineering department in conjunction with Concargo and Transfrig, and are similar to trailers currently operated by Unispeed.
They are based on M&G chassis. The 12.49m (41ft)-long trailers are equipped with Transfrig diesel-driven fridge units fitted with plug-in mains facility, together with eutectic tubes and forced-air circulation in the cargo compartment.
In addition to providing stable temperatures inside the insulated body, the underfloor refrigeration unit offers reduced noise levels, improved trailer weight distribution and lower kingpin loads. It is mounted 600mm (2ft) in front of the rear bogie.
Concargo Permocold Panels, consisting of pressure injected rigid urethane foam sandwiched between impact resistant grp skins are used on the insulated body. Concargo has also designed the roof panel to hold the four banks of eutectic tubes.
The trailers can carry up to 22 metric pallets, and were assembled by Birds Eye Walls's vehicle engineering services division at Gloucester.