To maximise pallet space on busy routes, Carmarthenshire-based food wholesaler Castell Howell is adding its first double-deck trailer, complete with a Carrier Transicold Vector® 1950 multi-temperature (MT) refrigeration unit, to its fleet. This specification for the new tri-axle trailer is just one part of an order that includes 21 new Carrier Transicold systems. Carrier Transicold, which operates in the UK as Carrier Transicold (UK) Limited, is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
The Vector 1950 MT is Carrier Transicold’s most powerful refrigeration system, creating stable cooling across larger trailer volumes, with high airflow levels and unparalleled pull-down speeds providing high refrigeration capacity and precise temperature control throughout each trailer compartment.
Castell Howell has operated Carrier Transicold equipment for more than 30 years, but the 13.6-metre Gray & Adams double-deck trailer will be the largest internal load space Carrier Transicold has ever cooled for the food wholesaler.
“The service levels and uptime we get from Carrier Transicold are excellent,” said Martin Jones, director of transport operations, Castell Howell. “When it came to specifying the double-deck, we found the Vector 1950 MT ticked all of the right boxes – particularly impressing with its rapid pull-down speeds and excellent refrigerant containment.”
The new double-deck trailer offers a significant increase in load space, helping to maximise fleet efficiency and reduce vehicle journeys, with the ability to maintain up to three different set points across both decks at the same time. The new trailer is finished in a striking black livery and joins the company’s existing six-strong trailer fleet.
In addition, because of the Vector 1950 MT’s patented E-Drive™ all-electric technology, the unit helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by lowering refrigerant leak rates by as much as 55 per cent over conventional belt-driven systems. Along with the environmental impact, this brings down maintenance costs as well.
The breadth of Carrier Transicold’s commercial vehicle product range and long-time, close working relationship with Castell Howell were key to securing the order. The full agreement includes five direct-drive Xarios® 600 MTs and 15 Supra® truck-mounted systems spread across three models – the Supra 550, 850 MT and 1250 MT. The Xarios and Supra units are mounted to 20 new rigid trucks with gross vehicle weights between 7.5 and 18 tonnes – all part of the company’s 140-strong commercial vehicle fleet.
Castell Howell was founded in 1988 and has since established itself as Wales’ largest independent wholesaler, culminating with the completion of a £4.2 million reinvestment to its main warehousing and distribution facility this year. Its fleet transports a range of ambient, chilled and frozen products across Wales and the south west of England.
For more information on Carrier Transicold and its products and services, visit www.carriertransicold.co.uk. Follow Carrier Transicold on Twitter: @SmartColdChain.
About Carrier Transicold
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping of temperature controlled cargoes with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 45 years, Carrier Transicold has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with advanced, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable container refrigeration systems and generator sets, direct-drive and diesel truck units, and trailer refrigeration systems. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. For more information, visit www.carriertransicold.co.uk. Follow Carrier on Twitter: @SmartColdChain.