Trailer-based gensets maintain cold chain

With the perishables season now in full swing, under-slung gensets are proving to be one of the most effective ways of maintaining the cold chain over medium and long distances, says Syd Munsamy of Durban-based Sydtrans. The gensets power the cooling units on plug-in integral containers, ensuring that they maintain temperature. His company is one of the first in the country to install the self-powered gensets on its own trailers, which have been designed by Munsamy specially for the perishables industry. Sydtrans carries cheese, vaccines, medicines, citrus and other produce. Munsamy is particularly concerned about meeting the needs of the citrus industry. His 18 years of experience in the perishables industry, as well as 14 years as a long-distance truck driver, have given him a practical understanding of the needs of citrus exporters. The trailers are specially designed to take 27 tons of cargo in high-cubed containers, meeting both the maximum height and axle weight regulations. A pneumatic system allows the driver to lower the trailer to go under low bridges, power lines and other obstacles. The same system operates as a dock leveller when loading on farms. Munsamy says he invested in the 26 under-slung gensets in order to help his clients reduce losses due to temperature fluctuations. The contents of the container start heating up if the refrigeration plant is switched off for more than an hour, he says. Having the right equipment is not enough, as the load has to be constantly monitored. Sydtrans staff are trained to meet all the requirements spelled out in the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) manual, and load temperature is monitored on an hourly basis. Reefer technicians appointed by the shipping lines, and specialist technicians based in the container depots are called on to make repairs whenever a problem is identified. Sydtrans carries insurance for those times when all fails. Munsamy would like to see perishable exporters take more control of their products once they leave the farm or packhouse by ensuring that their transporter is capable of maintaining the fruit at the right temperature for the entire journey. “For anything over 150 kilometres to the next plug-in point, there definitely has to be on-board power for the reefer,” he says. However, even on shorter distances, containers standing in the sun while the vehicle is delayed by traffic or port congestion or a breakdown could also see the quality of the produce suffer, he warns.