INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
CONTRIBUTORS
Making roads in the
cold chain with data logging
By Natalie Martin, consulting writer for Mimic Components
A few years ago a customer enquired about a data logger. He was transporting fresh fruit and
vegetables from Johannesburg bound for Mozambique.
All images by Mimic Components
It was a small, independently owned
transport company so cost was a
major factor. He wanted to be able to
manage a simple temperature data
logger, to measure the temperature
inside the containers during
transportation as a starting point to
taking corrective measures.
“Over the years we found a pattern to
our data logging enquiries,” says Edwin
Wakefield, managing director of Mimic
Components. “Transporters are looking
for cost-effective ways to monitor cargo
temperature. Most of them want an
easy-to-operate device to insert inside
containers or refrigerated truck bodies (due
to unreliable second hand parts or aging
equipment), and others want to monitor
temperature inside cold rooms,” he said.
The data loggers would give users
sufficient information to enable them to
isolate at what point during the journey
any incident occurred, how long it lasted
and how bad the effects were. There are
a variety of goods solutions at reasonable
prices for clients to this market.
One solution comes from a pocketsized
cold chain data logger with a USB
attachment. The entire device is factory
programmed and specifically designed
for limited use after which it is disposable.
A Wireless SMS alert data logger.
The logger contains a long-life battery,
a beeping sounding alarm for high/low
temperature thresholds and two LED
lights, one red flashing light indicating
a fault and a green light indicating the
device is on with no fault.
“The cold chain data loggers consists of
different models each with its own pre-set
temperature range,” confirms Wakefield.
“For example, you would need a different
temperature range for ripening goods,
chilled goods or frozen goods.”
As modern data loggers are designed
with simplicity and functionality in mind,
they are becoming increasingly popular
across many sectors. “Temperature
monitoring is customarily used for fresh and
perishable produce, but can be extended
to include other temperature sensitive
goods such as high value items like art
works, luxury items like wine and technical
devices or gadgets,” Wakefield says.
Cold chain loggers can be used
multiple times or once-off, making
this option ideal for short trips within
suburbia or as one long continuous
reading during export, where it is
dropped into refrigerated containers to
monitor temperatures throughout the
journey. Another benefit users would
find attractive is that once this logger is
switched on, it remains on and records
temperatures uninterruptedly for up to
32 600 readings or when the one year
battery life expires, whichever comes first.
This is a highly effective way to backup
the monitoring of temperatures in
addition to the transporters system. It is
also highly beneficial to recipients who
want control of temperature reports with
minimal third party interference and who
are looking for an uncomplicated way of
extracting data logging reports.
Incidentally, this cold chain logger can
be housed in a zipped waterproof plastic
bag that increases its protection rating
to IP67. Price and functionality motive
users to use the logger experimentally, for
research or as case studies at universities.
The accuracy range is decent with an
overall error of ± 0.5 °C maximum (±1°F).
Another challenge is reducing
cool air escaping from refrigerated
trucks as a result of doors being left
open for extended periods of time
during deliveries. Our solution is an SMS
alert system incorporating a wireless
temperature monitor with a high
accuracy thermistor probe. Up to three
Bluetooth devices allow data exchange without the need for direct connectivity.
mobile numbers can be included in
the setup configuration to alert users in
real-time that temperatures are being
breached. Once alerted via mobile SMS
that a temperature breach is happening,
the delivery crew can quickly rectify
the situation by checking all doors and
closing opened refrigerated body doors.
Another challenge
is reducing cool
air escaping from
refrigerated trucks as
a result of doors being
left open for extended
periods of time during
deliveries.
This type of system can also be effective
in large supermarkets and chain
stores. Although occurrences may be
occasional, when they do happen,
most likely it would be on a fairly large
scale potentially putting at risk an entire
delivery. Take for example frozen goods
like ice-cream received into a temporary
holding room at a large supermarket.
No amount of PVC strip curtains is
going to control the room temperatures
indefinitely. However, if the cold room
was monitored with real-time SMS mobile
alerts, it could salvage goods from
spoiling as warehouse management
could respond immediately.
This system can also be used
throughout the supermarket and can
be configured for 24/7 use in the event
of power outages, or failed refrigeration
to frozen foods and other temperature
regulated areas like butchery cold rooms
and meat counters. It offers historical
views of all SMS message alerts received
from the free Software downloadable
from Google Play and the Apple Store
and works off a Frequency Band Quad-
Band 2G GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz).
The unsolicited opening of vans or
truck doors during transportation appears
to be an ongoing problem. While there
are other beneficial solutions available
on the market, we suggested a battery
powered Bluetooth operating device
where the temperature measurement
is displayed in real-time to both the user
and truck driver.
What separates this unit from
other models is that it comes with
three configurable inputs that can
accommodate different types of
sensors whereas most other instruments
only have one type of sensor input.
Another benefit is the large LCD display
screen for comfortable reading. Our
solution was to install the unit on the
van or truck’s dashboard, configure
COLD LINK AFRICA • October 2020 www.coldlinkafrica.co.za 33