“Reefer shipping” is when products that are temperature sensitive are transported in refrigerated containers, or “reefers,” which maintain the ideal temperature for the food, beverages, or even pharmaceutical products that require a specific temperature to remain effective. However, shipping temperature-sensitive products using a reefer is not always an option. There are a few alternatives, like thermal protection, but how effective are they at shipping temperature-sensitive products safely to their destination?
Gel
This mechanism is the same as what residents may find at home to treat headaches or sore muscles. Gel packs contain a chemical that retains the temperature it is exposed to for long periods. This can mean heating a gel pack in a microwave to keep it warm or putting it in a freezer to keep it cool. In either case, the goal is to maintain that established temperature.
On their own, however, gel packs only maintain their temperature for about six hours. At that point, melting occurs, and this can lead to condensation. If the contents of a shipment are vulnerable to moisture, this can be a serious problem.
Dry Ice
The other alternative is dry ice, which is carbon dioxide that has been lowered enough in temperature to liquefy, and then dropped further into a solid state. Dry ice last much longer than a gel pack and is suitable for longer journeys. In addition, as its temperature is raised, it converts back to its gaseous state and doesn’t leave any water behind.
However, dry ice is also a much lower temperature than gel packs and so is more suited to cargo that should be frozen. Anything that freezing could compromise, such as wine or certain medications, is not a good fit for dry ice.
Boosting Effectiveness With Thermal Protection
In the case of both gel packs and dry ice, the best way to use them for shipping temperature-sensitive products is to combine them with additional tools, like insulated packaging or passive thermal protection, like pallet covers. These added precautions are designed to maintain the initial shipping temperature passively.
This means that even if a package of chocolate or medication is not placed in a “reefer” or refrigeration unit with an electrically powered environmental temperature system, the gel or dry ice maintains the shipping temperature for far longer because of the insulation. Insulated packaging repels outside temperatures, and prevents the internal temperature from seeping out, thus keeping the initial packaging temperature for hours or even days, depending on how extensive the protection is.
If you’d like to know more, contact Protek Cargo with your questions and get a quote.
