Ingersoll Rand's refrigerated transport specialists, Thermo King and Frigoblock, has introduced various truck and trailer innovations that harness the power of electricity, data and clean technology at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show.
“The biggest challenges and opportunities lie in cities particularly with increasing urbanisation and changing regulations,” said Pauli Johannesen, Vice President and General Manager for Truck, Trailer and Bus at Thermo King in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). “The Thermo King and Frigoblock offering is designed to ‘future-proof’ transport companies’ investments by addressing regulatory requirements, optimising fleet operations and ultimately improving the total cost of ownership.”
Thermo King and Frigoblock presented Thermotopia, its vision of a city of the future where the transport refrigeration industry ensures the safety of transported foods and goods for rising populations while eliminating smog, congestion and excessive noise. Thermotopia is where technologies help transport companies stay ahead of the regulations and grow their businesses with increasingly cost effective and environmentally sustainable solutions.
The entire host of solutions on display are proven technologies ranging from hybrid units, CryoTech, electric alternator driven Frigoblock units also working with CNG or LNG engines to fully electric independent units for small and large vans for last mile delivery.
These technologies introduced by Thermo King and Frigoblock that lead with electricity, connectivity and sustainability to revolutionise the way transport companies operate include:
The new E-200, full-electric refrigeration unit for both electric and engine-powered vans and trucks below 3.5 tonnes, providing constant capacity and performance independently of the vehicle’s operation.
The E-200 features a controller that can adapt the capacity based on the actual need, available power and manage different available power sources at the same time.
The modernised SLXi trailer refrigeration units now feature the upgraded, lower emission and quieter GreenTech engine certified according to the upcoming Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) Stage V regulation.
The latest self-powered T-560R refrigeration unit enhances the widest range in the truck refrigeration industry. With added capacity and better pull down it allows customers to do more deliveries with more cargo and more door openings. Compared with its predecessor, the T-560R units reportedly come with a 20 per cent increase in both fresh and frozen capacity and 5 per cent reduction in fuel consumption to address the flexibility and sustainability of fleet operations.
The new Prisma S-4.2 low height dual discharge evaporator for T-Series and SLXi multi-temperature truck and trailer refrigeration units maximises the volume available for the payload and facilitates access during loading/unloading operations. The new Prisma compact monobloc evaporator can replace two evaporators without compromise on refrigeration performance due to a lower profile and improved zone flexibility.
Thermo King also continues to incorporate connectivity and telematics capabilities into its refrigeration units. TK Fleet Assist, TK Service Assist and TK Notify are part of the TracKing services portfolio, enabling customers and the Thermo King dealer service network to leverage digitalisation to increase uptime, operational efficiency and to manage proactive maintenance.
New 24V Thermo King ThermoLite solar panels complement the ThermoLite family of 40W and 110W solar panels. The new solar solutions were reportedly designed to support the main prime mover batteries in meeting the increased power needs due to driver comfort demands.
In terms of Ingersoll Rans's climate commitment, environmental sustainability is a critical element of Thermotopia. All new and enhanced solutions introduced and showcased at the IAA were designed to improve the quality of life in the cities with low noise and low emission operations and reduce the refrigerated transport’s environmental footprint.
In 2014, Ingersoll Rand publicly committed to increase its energy efficiency and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) related to its operations and products.