Satellite tracks Gasa's flowers
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• Danish horticultural haulier Gasa Odense has launched "Europe's most sophisticated flower transport vehicle" (CM 27 September-3 October).
The Scania R113 MV 6x2 drawbar unit uses a Thermo King satellite tracking device which, as well as telling Gasa where the vehicle is, monitors the load temperature and gives the driver a continuous reading. The information can then be sent to Gasa's headquarters. This takes the burden of checking the container out of the hands of the driver and allows him to concentrate on the road, says Thermo King's business development manager Joe Grealy.
The vehicle uses Thermo King's new RD ii 50 cooling unit, which Grealy says can deliver 7,000 watts at freezing point and 4,500 watts at —18°C.
The flower unit is being launched at the Paris Show this week. A prototype of the tracking system was first seen at last year's Transport and Distribution Services Show.
Managing temperatures precisely is vital if plants are to avoid "stress", says Gasa, which has a fleet of 37 vehicles. "The environment inside the cooling container must come as close to the natural environment of the plants as possible."
The vehicle has an electric fan in the middle of the floor, which helps air to reach plants at the centre of the load.
The trailer, which has been built by Danish builder GMF/ SAWO, has a computercontrolled pneumatic suspension and ABS brakes.
The chassis is 850mm high, which Gasa says gives an extra 100mm of loading height. The prime mover body is 7m long and the drawbar is 8m long. Both are 2.9m high inside. It has been supplied by dealer Bak & Hansen, which arranged the specifications for Gasa's transport department. The vehicle is also fitted with sideskirts and spoilers, and a Kienzle flowmeter.