EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
New trailer for refrigerated
goods raises the bar
Eqstra Flexi Fleet has partnered with New Way, Ice Cold Bodies, and Javgro Transport Refrigeration
Solutions to unveil a cold trailer featuring brand new, game changing trailer design and refrigeration
technology to power the refrigeration units.
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T
his technology has been designed and
engineered in South Africa to meet the
challenges of rough terrain, long
distances, and high ambient temperatures
encountered in the SADC region.
Unveiling the new technology at
Automechanika on 27 September 2017 at
Nasrec in Johannesburg, Jacqui Carr, CEO
of Eqstra Fleet Management and Logistics,
said it is part of the company’s strategy to
keep ahead of current technology to offer
customers the most sophisticated and
up-to-date systems to ensure increased
efficiencies and subsequent cost savings
in the day to day operation of their
extensive fleets.
“Going ‘green’, increased efficiencies,
and cost savings are the drivers most fleet
operators are looking for in today’s world,”
she said.
The trailer was conceptualised by Eqstra
Flexi Fleet to support a green initiative. New
design elements include a fully curved roof
— the first of its kind in South Africa — that
increases the strength of the body and
The rear door opening of the trailer is 2.27m
high for ease of pallet loading (standard
pallet height is 1.8m).
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improves the aerodynamics of the trailer,
fuel consumption, and air circulation within
the trailer. Side skirts help channel airflow
away from the wheels to reduce turbulence.
The rear door opening of the trailer
is 2.27m high for ease of pallet loading
(standard pallet height is 1.8m).
“Another design first is that the aluminium
extrusion floor is bonded to the floor structure
during the vacuum process. This bonding
process greatly enhances durability and
strength, as do the 3mm stainless steel kick
plates,” said Burt Gildenhuys, managing
director at Ice Cold Bodies. “In addition,
a newly designed lightweight aluminium
bulkhead has been fitted to prevent
damage to the front wall, while a stainless
steel fridge protector has been installed on
the outside to protect the cooling unit.”
Eqstra selected Goodyear 385/65 R22.5
tyres for the trailer due to their green
characteristics. The tyres offer lower rolling
resistance than the average tyre of that
size at 4.8N per kN (one newton of rolling
resistance for every 21.23kg of mass), which
significantly improves fuel consumption.
Other features include low noise levels
(70dB) and solid road handling in all
weather conditions.
New refrigeration technology has been
designed to power the refrigeration unit on
the trailer.
“Truck engines today are designed
to meet more stringent emission laws
and are significantly more efficient than
the diesel engines within the cooling
units. It was incumbent on us to develop
technology that draws on this sophisticated
engineering to make our cooling units more
efficient and environmentally friendly,” said
Johnnie Marais, general manager at Eqstra
Flexi Fleet.
In essence, this technology eliminates the
need for the inefficient diesel engine that
currently powers the refrigeration unit, by
using the engine power of the truck pulling
the refrigerated trailer.
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1. New design elements include a fully curved roof — the first of its kind in South Africa —
that increases the strength of the body and improves the aerodynamics of the trailer, fuel
consumption, and air circulation within the trailer.
2. Another design first is that the aluminium extrusion floor is bonded to the floor structure
during the vacuum process.
3. Tests on fuel efficiencies were carried out using the Mitsubishi TFV2000D-E cooling unit.
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
COLD LINK AFRICA • November | December 2017