Logistics is a constantly changing business, requiring planning and adaptation to circumstances, with seasons being a fixed factor everyone must accommodate. With the arrival of summer in the northern hemisphere, cold chain logistics take on extra importance, especially for more vulnerable types of freight such as pharmaceuticals and certain foods and beverages like chocolate or wine.
While cold chain logistics often protect these more delicate types of cargo with active temperature control systems, such as refrigerated cargo containers, a passive pallet cover is an essential form of secondary protection, especially against unexpected delays or LTL shipping scenarios.
Be Prepared For The Unexpected
In an ideal situation, the shipping of heat-sensitive cargo like medication or chocolate will never face any risk because this freight will quickly be transferred from one refrigerated container system to another within minutes, thus precluding any exposure.
However, this reliance on perfect coordination is never 100% guaranteed. A “link” in the logistics chain, such as an aircraft with a refrigeration unit, may be grounded due to poor weather conditions, just as cargo has been transferred onto the tarmac to await loading. Depending on the weather, such as a hot summer afternoon, this exposure can rapidly change the temperature of the unprotected cargo.
The same is true for LTL or “less than truckload” shipments, where your cargo may not justify an entire truck all for itself and is packed with other cargo into a container or trailer that may not have a refrigeration unit. In these instances, a passive pallet cover preserves the viability of freight.
Radiant Repulsion
The SureTemp Premium S passive pallet cover combines metalized film and a layer of polyethylene-trapped air. It works by reflecting the radiant heat that normally “bleeds in” to cargo while the air provides a layer of insulation, preserving the original storage temperature. In tests that simulated bottles of water exposed to a 40-degree temperature difference, such as waiting on a tarmac, the temperature change over the course of approximately six hours was only in the neighborhood of five degrees.
This is a sustainable and cost-effective solution to temperature preservation even when the unexpected occurs. It is also if properly cared for, a reusable solution. When deployed for situations where the temperature variance isn’t so extreme, it’s possible to store temperature-sensitive goods at their optimal level for days without the added expense of needing an aggressive refrigeration unit for the environment.
If you’d like to ensure your business shipping goes smoothly and enjoy more efficient temperature-controlled shipping, we can help. Contact Protek Cargo with your questions and get a quote for our SureTemp Premium S passive pallet covers.
