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FEATURE | CARGO ULDs
COOL TECHNOLOGY
New developments have also been introduced for temperature-controlled
containers. In 2005, Envirotainer introduced generator compressor cooling
technology, which it calls the second generation of temperature-controlled
ULDs. “It works like a fridge, comprising a liquid system, compressor,
evaporator and condenser,” explains Nicholas Martin, director
of research and development and quality assurance.
“This technology has a wider temperature range than dry ice. Dry ice
is totally dependent on the outside temperature. The new container can
maintain the internal temperature at a constant level, even if that means
heating the ULD. If, for example, cargo must be kept at 15-25 degrees
and the ULD is on the ramp at Heathrow for two hours in late December,
the temperature of a dry ice container would drop below 15 degrees; the
newer unit wouldn’t.
“Alternatively, if a product needs to be kept at 20 degrees, it can be
hard to achieve that without a temperature-controlled hold, or a suitable
ULD.”
Envirotainer provides two compressor-technology ULDs, the palletsized
RKNe1 and the RAPt2, which can take up to five Europallets. Demand
for these units is increasing by at least 5-10 percent a year, but this
demand comes almost solely from the pharmaceutical sector. Compressor
technology is a lot more expensive than dry ice.
Lufthansa is going for a similar market with its Opticooler ULD,
launched two years ago using similar technology. Developed for the
airline by Dokasch, Opticooler ULDs record the internal temperature
of the cargo throughout the entire transport operation, making it easier
for Lufthansa to help its customers comply with increasingly strict
regulation.
Skycooler, another temperature-controlled ULD supplier, still relies
on dry ice. “We made the decision not to go into the electrical ULD market
because it would require a huge investment and because dry ice allows
users to carry a variety of cargoes – meat and fish, fruit and vegetables,
plants and flowers – as well as pharmaceuticals,” says CEO Jorgen
Veslov.
“Our containers are made for us by the Dutch manufacturer VRR.
They weigh a little more, but we designed them with a single door, rather
than two, which helps prevent leakage. A built-in computer records
the temperature for up to 96 hours and stores the data on board for up
to one year.”
CHEP ULDs on the apron before a Brussels
Airlines aircraft (above)
Ludwig Bertsch of CHEP (top)
Skycooler, like Envirotainer, only leases its containers. Ambient ULDs
are leased or purchased by the airline, or obtained from a pool. “Two
years ago, we saw more leasing customers,” notes Maurice van Tarheijden,
director EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) at ACL Airshop,
which supplies ULDs on a lease or sale basis. “We think leasing will
increase further as airlines don’t want to invest in containers.”
Jettainer calls itself a service company for ULD management outsourcing,
although it also offers short-term leasing. “Most customers
lease from us,” explains Martin Kraemer, head of marketing and PR.
“ULD management is very niche for the cargo department, but has a
huge impact. It is not the airline’s core business, but it is ours: we have
experienced, dedicated staff only concerned with ULD management and
an IT system developed in-house to help ensure we remain extremely
efficient.”
28 AIRSIDE INTERNATIONAL | OCTOBER 2012 WWW.AIRSIDEINT.COM