Minimise spoilage and wasted journey with out of temperature alarms before it is too late.

A typical logistics company runs a large fleet of temperature controlled lorries. The company delivers a wide range of products in containers from strawberries to morphine, any of which spoils very easily if the temperature is incorrect. Spoilage may be cosmetic but renders the product unsellable.

The value of a container load can be several hundred thousand Euros. It has been estimated that 2-3% of all containers on the road each day have a problem. Source Survey by CH Robinson

The Challenge

Different products require different optimum temperatures. Strawberries spoil if they get too cold and will not keep long if they get too warm. Spoilage here is visible to the human eye.  Frozen food or pharmaceutical products, on the other hand, can become unsuitable for human consumption if they get too warm but there is no visible indication.

Both the logistics company and their customer want to have proof that the goods were held at the correct temperature throughout the delivery.

Two of the most common reasons for fatal temperature variation to occur are the refrigeration unit running out of fuel or the driver unthinkingly turning off the refrigeration unit (often because of the noise it makes). Both these occurrences need to be alarmed. However, if the container goes into planned defrost mode alarms are not required.

In summary the requirement is

1. Accurate temperature audit trail (farm to fork).
2. Measure temperature. If a problem occurs - let the driver know .
3. Low communication costs.
4. Measure temperature. If a problem occurs - let HQ know. Also let HQ know the position of the goods.
5. Recognize defrost situation.

How we can help

Within each container there is a need to monitor two or three different areas to ensure there are no warm spots. This is done utilising the System5 SCOUTs. A System5 SCOUTPlus with door sensor monitors the defrost flapand senses if it is open. A BASE Unit collects the data and transmits any alarms to both the driver and HQ via a modem.

On return to the depot the data collected by all SCOUTs is automatically downloaded to the transport company’s computer network via the radiolink to a BASE. This data is then available to all authorized personnel in a simple to view format.

For real-time data for goods in transit a user requires a System5 BASEPlus in the cab, displaying the data transmitted from the SCOUTs in the container and alerting the driver to any alarms. At the depot a Bridge based Mobile system will collect the data for long-term storage.. The BASE within the container needs an optional GSM modem to send alarms to HQ. Please click on these option below:-

Transport - Realtime