Keeping the Milk Cool
Page 28
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MAYBE this year's hot summer has aroused interest in and accentuated the development of refrigerating semi-trailers for carrying and storing milk, various types of which have been described in these pages from time to time.
Factors in favour °Lithe employment of such units are that the handling of milk is reduced and permanent buildings for extra cold stores need not be erected, thereby avoiding expense. As against these, it has been argued that the normal insulated van will maintain a load of milk at a cold temperature for as long as is necessary in normal circumstances.
It seems therefore that the second reason for the use of refrigerating trailers—as storage— would be the stronger. However, the outlay of about £5,000 for a tractor and refrigerating trailer may not be deemed justifiable by some operators in view of the fact that the period in a year when such an outfit would have a decided advantage over normal insulated types is usually short here.
It has been said that the use of refrigerating units is uneconomic, as apart from the quantity of milk that has to be cooled there is also the mass of iron and glass in the crates and bottles which has to be kept at a low temperature, involving the consumption of extra current by the cooling plant in the case of those types driven by mains supply. This, however, would surely be the case with a normal cold room?
It is reported that one Northern dairyman was keen to have a refrigerating unit so that he could keep his supplies of milk at the low temperature of 30 degrees F. It was tactfully pointed out to him that the market for frozen milk is limited at the present time!
Whatever may be the merits of refrigerating outfits in this country, there is an undoubted demand in tropical lands. One large dairy company has run such vehicles in India for many years.