Shipping Containers Blog

Archive for the ‘Refrigerated Containers’ Category

Like most shipping containers, refrigerated containers are available for hire.   Christmas time with many suppliers needing additional storage is the most popular time period for refrigerated container hire.   Perhaps this is not surprising given all the traditional goodies from turkeys to cheese, smoked salmon to luxury icecreams that we eat during the holiday period.   Supermarkets and small producers in keeping up with this demand, hire the refrigerated containers between October to January just to fill orders.

Refrigerated containers are ideal as they are easily transportable and can be set at any temperature between -20C to +20C.   Most require 3 phase electricity although they can be run off diesel fuelled generators or “gen-sets”.  The most common sizes are 20ft and 40ft containers.

For those who have never hired a refrigerated container before there are a few important points to remember.  

• The length of the hire has an impact on the weekly rental cost of the container itself - normally there is a minimum hire period of at least 4 weeks - with the longer the period of hire being the most economic.   This is partly due to the fact that the refrigerated container itself needs a pre-trip inspection (PTI) by a refrigeration engineer which ensures that the container itself will be in good running condition prior to being delivered.
• Haulage.  Most hires require that the cost of the haulage from the depot to the delivery site as well as the cost of the haulage back from the delivery site to the depot is paid in advance.   This acts as a guarantee that should the customer default on payment the container can be collected.
• Breakdown.   In case of the unit failing, breakdown cover should be provided as part of the hire contract.   The speed of this is important as you don’t want to be left with a whole load of frozen turkeys defrosting at the beginning of December.

For those of you considering hiring a refrigerated container for Christmas it would be a good idea to start looking for a company to supply this now if you have not done so already.   Many companies have already hired out most of their containers and may therefore be unable to help.

Second hand 10ft refrigerated container

If you are considering buying a 10ft refrigerated container the following facts may be useful:-

INTERIOR

    Length        245cm    Width         224cm    Height        222cm

    Cubic Capacity 13 cu m

    Door opening width 224cm      Door opening height 218cm

    Tare weight 1500kgs     Max gross weight 15000kgs

    Pallet capacity 5 to 6 depending on type

 EXTERIOR

    Length  300cm      Width  243cm      Height 259cm

The downside of 10ft containers is that they are normally more expensive than the more widely available 20ft and 40ft containers as they are not built in such numbers and do not have such a demand in the commercial marketplace.

Most refrigerated containers (reefers) sometimes known as ambient temperature containers, need a 3 phase power supply to run effectively.   This is often found on farms, industrial estates as standard but not in normally in a domestic setting.    Most suppliers of refrigerated containers will have the capability of  commissioning the container on the customer’s site.   However, sometimes, a  engineer known to the customer personally might be called in.  

It is important to be able to give the following information:-

• The power requirements for 3 phase are 380/440VAc with a current rating of 32 amp. 
• The circuit should be protected by an RCD (Residual Current Device) with a leakage trip level of 30mA
• The socket should suit a  5 Pin Ceeform 32A  conforming to BS4343
• A minimum of 8m of cable should be supplied for a 20ft unit and 10m of cable for a 40ft unit

New Refrigerated Containers

Often customers ask for single phase powered refrigerated containers.   The most common size found for this is 10ft.   However it is important to note that the 10ft refrigerated containers are often more expensive than a 20ft or even a 40ft.   This is because it is not a size commonly used in shipping and any 10ft  containers are normally purposely built for the domestic market.  

Whilst 10ft refrigerated containers can chill and freeze using a single phase supply, 20ft and 40ft refrigerated containers often struggle to freeze successfully.   This is because in order to become single phase the 3 phase refrigeration units are often taken out and replaced with single phase ones that often do not have the capacity to freeze the cubic meterage of a 20ft or 40ft container.   As a result the single phase 20ft or 40ft units are often just referred to as chiller containers.

If a 3 phase supply is not (or even no electricity supply at all) available on site but a freezing capacity is still required clip on generators can often offer a solution.  In a future post we will discuss the basic facts of clip on generators and what to look for when purchasing.

How on earth can a shipping container be of use at any of the many festivals going on in the UK this Summer?  Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is the fact that shipping containers are so easily transportable and adaptable, which has meant that they have been used in a variety of different ways from Glastonbury to the Game Fair.

Perhaps the most obvious way in which they are used is in the form of refrigerated shipping containers.   The fact that goods, such as drinks or food can be kept in the temperature controlled environment of a refrigerated container which can be run either from a generator or connected to an electricity supply means that they are in great demand.   They are available for hire or for purchase.

Shipping Container Conversions such as those use to house cashpoints are also extremely popular.  As well as containers converted into stands or bars.  The coffee shop here is taken round the various festivals in Italy, although there are plans to build some in the UK.

Shipping container coffee shop closed

But of course, the most common use is as storage containers.   Keeping stock secure yet easily accessible  is vital both when travelling or when the stand at the festival is set up when the container becomes a store room.

These are just some of the ways in which you might see a shipping container used should you visit a Festival this year.   Let us know if you see any more - and send us a photograph!

So, carrying on from the questions we answered yesterday on refrigerated containers, we have the more technical aspect here.  A big thanks to Kev for getting these through to us in a way that we had a chance of understanding.

What power does a refrigerated container require?
Most marine units run on 3 phase electricity.   The actual requirements depend on the type of machine i.e. Carrier, Thermoking, Daikin, Misubishi, Zanotti etc., the ambient temperature, set point of the machine and the product placed inside.  But to give an idea based on a Carrier machine set to chill in this country it would require 40/60 amps per phase on start up and on running will pull between 10/15 amps.
I don’t have a 3 phase electricity supply; can I still run my refrigerated container?
Some refrigerated shipping containers have been adapted to run from the single phase domestic electricity supply.  These are normally more expensive than the 3 phase models due to the additional work involved in converting them.  Alternatively, all refrigerated containers can be run off diesel powered gen-sets which clip onto the front of the machine.

What length is a cable on a refrigerated container?
On average the length of cable is 18 metres but this varies depending on the type of machine.

How often should I service my refrigerated container?

Every 6 months is recommended although this does depend on where the refrigerated shipping container is sited.  In a very dirty or dusty environment if not cleaned out regularly it will affect the operation of the unit and so a much more frequent servicing programme is recommended.

Hope you now know everything you need to know about refrigerated units - and I suspect many of you will know much more than you ever thought possible - so that tomorrow we can return to less technical stuff!

We mostly think of refrigerated containers as being purely commercial and of no interest to us cooking at home.   It is true, of course, that most of us will not have a 20ft or 40ft refrigerated shipping container sitting in our garden waiting for us to put our shopping in!   But in all likelihood many of the fresh ingredients that we buy have probably been in a refrigerated container before we ever get them home.

It isn’t fashionable now to admit that your ingredients have not all been sourced locally or been grown in your allotment or back garden.  Truth is most of the food we eat has travelled from various parts of the country or, indeed, various parts of the world.   Whether our lamb comes from our local farmer, or from Wales or New Zealand the truth is it has still probably been transported at some point in a refrigerated container.

These industrial containers  that we call refrigerated containers, work by keeping their contents at a different temperature than the surrounding environment.  Sometimes this involves the temperature being set at higher than that outside -which, if you think about it, means that calling them “refrigerated containers” could be inappropriate!    In fact the range that these so called refrigerated containers can be set at is between -20C and +20C.    This gives the opportunity to store a whole range of different products.   After all, different food stuffs will require different temperatures for storage.    Icecream, for example is going to need to be kept at a much lower temperature than lettuces!  Indeed the temperature controlled environment of the refrigerated shipping container means that everything can be kept fresh at the optimum temperature. 

So how is all this relevant to you at home and the stuff that you cook with everyday?   Shipping containers have bought the price of food down, and have made it possible for it to be transported from all over the world.   The majority of our food travels at some point by sea, road or train.   The standard size of a shipping container is 20ft or 40ft and it is these very sizes of  shipping containers, refrigerated or otherwise, which has brought down the price of transportation considerably.   The fact that standard shipping containers are either 20ft or 40ft  means that handling of all the containers could be done simply rather than using a variety of different machinery and lots of man power thus saving money.

So next time you are on the road travelling to the shops and pass a lorry taking food to the supermarket or to your local greengrocer you know exactly why that refrigerated container you have just overtaken has helped you with the meals you are planning to prepare.

Refrigerated Containers, sometimes known as reefer containers, are shipping containers designed to hold goods in a temperature controlled environment. This can be set anywhere between -20C to +20C. As such a refrigerated container is suitable for a variety of goods ranging from fresh produce (chill controlled), ice cream (hard frozen) to explosives and chemicals (temperature controlled). All controllers on refrigerated containers have a display that will show the set point and running temperature.

It is important to site a refrigerated container on level hard standing. The weight of the container’s insulated doors mean that unless the unit is sited correctly the doors are likely to be hard to open and may even get a build up of ice behind the door seals, effectively freezing them shut.

A refrigerated shipping container is designed to maintain the temperature of the goods placed inside rather than to blast freeze them. For maximum efficiency the products should be stacked a foot away from the front panel (which is the end opposite the doors!) and be a foot below the ceiling for maximum efficiency. This allows the airflow to pass under the product (through the t-bar flooring) and up by the doors, before passing over the top and back down again. Refrigerated containers are designed to maintain the temperature of the goods placed inside rather than to blast freeze them.

Most reefer containers normally have a Partlow to record the temperature that the unit is running at. Some controllers even have the facility to download information via a laptop equipped with the appropriate software programme. It is also possible to attach a system which, should the unit drop below the set temperature, a call is generated to a phone (mobile or land line) by way of warning so an engineer can be called out promptly to fix the problem.

In order to keep the reefer container running efficiently it is a good idea to defrost (remembering that this defrosts the machinery and not the product stored inside) once or twice a day. A service is recommended every 6 months but this does depend on where the unit is sited as dirt/dust will affect the operation of the unit if not cleaned out regularly. For example, if you are putting the refrigerated container in a dusty environment you may need to service your container more regularly in order to stop it from becoming clogged. The servicing interval can also be dependent on the temperature the unit is running at - chill is less work for the machine than freezing for example.

Refrigerated Containers can be adapted in a variety of ways. Lights, internal alarms, emergency stop buttons, butchers or caterers doors are all commonly installed conversions. Solid checker plate flooring is also popular - particularly when the products are going to be store at temperatures above +0C.

T-bar floors are often thought to be less desirable than checker plate in a refrigerated container. They are considered difficult to walk on and to keep clean and there advantages overlooked. It is important to remember that these containers were designed as shipping containers that could keep cargo in a temperature controlled environment whilst in transit. The original containers came with t-bar floors and there are a number of good reasons for that.

refrigerated container with t-bar floor

Truth is t-bar floors have lots of different advantages as far as keeping the contents of the reefer containers chilled or frozen. The main one is how the t-bar floors design helps air flow. The profile of the floor allows for the chilled/frozen air to travel around the container from the refrigeration unit underneath the contents. This means that the unit works to maximum efficiency in terms of economy and effectiveness. Providing the contents are packed so that there is space to the sides and top of the container the air flow can continue to travel round unimpeded.

One criticism that is often levelled at t-bar flooring is that it is difficult to load pallets using anything with wheels! A very simple and cheap solution can be taken by following the example of supermarkets. They lay a piece of plywood onto the floor for the wheels to travel over. It is simply removed when the reefer container is loaded.

Like all containers used for food storage it is important that refrigerated containers can be kept clean. The steel sides and the t-bar floor are the original features and respond well to being jet washed. Unlike checker plate flooring it is difficult for food to stick to a t-bar floor.

Obviously, there are times when a t-bar floor is not going to be the answer. It would not be the best choice for a food preparation area for example. But for the original purpose of a refrigerated container - to keep food chilled or frozen - it is hard to beat.

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… C: wait… SD: wait…

We have been discussing refrigerated containers on this week’s blog and quite a few of you have rung the office with questions which I thought would be a good idea to answer here.

How is the temperature recorded on a refrigerated shipping container?

On marine units the controller will have a display that will show the set point and the running temperature.  If particularly required some units have displays which can also be “downloaded” - whereby you can see a set of parameters over a set period of time although you will need additional equipment in the form of a laptop,  specialised software etc.  Other units have a Partlowchart (like the taco graph that some lorries have) although it is important should you wish to use them you specify this to your supplier at point of order.

How should a refrigerated shipping container be loaded for maximum efficiency?

The products inside te container should be stacked at least a foot away from the front panel (which is the end opposite the doors!) and at least a foot away from the ceiling. This allows air to flow under the product (through the t-bar flooring) and up by the doors before going over the top of the goods and back down again.

Can I use a refrigerated container to bring things down to temperature?

A refrigerated container is designed  to maintain the temperature of the goods placed inside rather than bring the goods down/up to the set point temperature like a blast freezer.

Tomorrow we will deal with some of the more challenging technical questions to do with electricity supply and servicing that some of you seem so keen to know about - our electrician has been relentlessly quizzed and come up with some understandable answers to your questions.

Refrigerated Shipping Containers are available in a variety of different sizes and I have been asked to list the dimensions of them so that readers can get a clear idea of what they need.

POWER SUPPLY: 3 Phase, 415-460 volts. 32 Amp per phase, motor rated supply
POWER CONSUMPTION: 5.5kw @ -18C Frozen, 7.2kw @ +2C Chill
All used Reefer Containers sold in Wind & Watertight condition.

All refrigerated containers vary slightly in their actual dimensions but the above table gives a good general guide to base your calculations on.

Popular models of refrigerated shipping containers include carrier, thermoking, daikin and mitsibushi. Parts for these are readily available in the UK.