From raw materials to production to Erika Mustermann: As the interface between trade, industry and the end consumer, logistics ensures that the goods arrive at their destination on time .Temperature-controlled logistics ensures that they arrive at the right temperature . We show how temperature-controlled transports work, which rules and regulations have to be observed, and how cold chain management succeeds.

What is temperature-controlled logistics?

60 degrees Celsius for liquid chocolate and -70 degrees Celsius for Corona vaccines: temperature-controlled logistics ensures that products remain within their specific temperature range along the entire supply chain. This applies not only to forwarding and transport, but also to storage, handling and packaging. In short, every station in the supply chain from the manufacturing company to the end consumer. It makes no difference whether the goods are transported by truck, air or sea: The main thing is that the quality of the goods remains assured along the entire supply chain.

Besides pharmaceuticals, the largest sub-sector of temperature-controlled logistics is the transport of raw materials and finished products. Most goods now travel thousands of kilometers before they reach Max and Erika Mustermann. Since the respective temperature specifications must be adhered to when transporting these goods, we also speak of so-called thermal transports. Goods that have to be transported at the correct temperature are for example

• Medicines and medical products: Most medicines must be transported in a temperature range between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius. An exception are, for example, the Corona vaccines, which require a so-called ultra-cold transport with a transport temperature of -70 degrees Celsius.
• Human organs: Human organs intended for transplantation must not be transported below zero degrees Celsius. A transport temperature of 4 degrees Celsius is ideal.
• Live plants: Most plants need one- to two-digit plus temperatures to survive transport unscathed.

Temperature-controlled food logistics

Temperature-controlled food logistics involves the transport (thermal transport) of foodstuffs at temperatures between +20 and -20 degrees Celsius. The temperature ranges to be maintained in each case are specified either by the legislator or by the manufacturer.

The transport temperature for "finished" foods (e.g. frozen fries) is specified by the manufacturer. It is usually noted on the respective packaging. The temperatures at which raw goods (e.g. raw poultry or minced meat) must be transported are prescribed by law. For example, fresh dairy products must be transported at + 6 degrees Celsius, while the vehicle must be cooled to below - 18 degrees Celsius for the transport of frozen fish.

The vehicles used in temperature-controlled logistics usually have both cooling and heating capabilities. This is the only way to ensure that every foodstuff can be transported at the prescribed temperature at any time of year.

Regulations for temperature-controlled transports

Transporting temperature-sensitive foodstuffs is a logistical masterstroke: incorrect airflow in the refrigerated truck can lead to freezing damage, there is a risk of a temperature change at every handling point, and if the cold chain is interrupted for too long, the goods become unusable in the worst case. To protect consumers, there are a number of regulations and legal requirements that must be complied with during temperature-controlled food transport. In the following, we focus on the most important European Union regulations for temperature-controlled transport:

• Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 on food hygiene: obliges all companies that have contact with food (production, transport, sale) to implement an HACCP-compliant control system.
• Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 on the hygienic handling of food of animal origin: Aims primarily to control microbiological and chemical hazards arising from food of animal origin.
• Regulation (EC) No. 37/2005 on monitoring the temperatures of frozen foods: Requires all companies that have contact with food (production, transport, sale) to carry out regular temperature checks (more information).
• Directive 89/108/EEC on the handling of quick-frozen foodstuffs: Mandatorily stipulates that the temperature of frozen food must be -18 degrees Celsius or lower along the entire supply chain.

In addition, all companies that produce, transport or market food are subject to the internationally valid "Good Manufacturing Practice"( GMP) and "Good Hygiene Practice" (GHP). Good Hygiene Practice is the basis for the so-called HACCP concept, which provides for hazard analysis and risk control along the entire supply chain.

The HACCP concept

The HACCP concept, HazardAnalysis and Critical Control Points, is a quality management system for the production and handling of food. It is based on seven principles, on the basis of which companies can develop their own control system for their operation, identify the so-calledcritical control points and carry out a corresponding hazard analysis.

The purpose of the system is to develop control mechanisms to reduce the risk for consumers to an acceptable level. Since 1998, the HACCP concept has been included in the German Food Hygiene Ordinance anchored.

In our blog article. HACCP concept & guidelines for refrigeration we look in detail at the HACCP guidelines and explain what they mean for the storage and transport of temperature-sensitive foods.

Cold Chain Management

The basic prerequisite for temperature-controlled transport is compliance with the cold chain. We define the cold chain as the continuous cooling of foodstuffs and other products during transport between the manufacturer or producer, wholesaler and supermarket/retailer or up to the end consumer ("last mile").

Depending on the size of the load and the length of the transport route, tankers (e.g. for transporting drinking water or milk), refrigerated trailers with different refrigeration zones and/or thermal transporters with permanently installed refrigeration units are used. Freight ships are also frequently used for international transport over very long distances. In this case, the food is stored in refrigerated containers with particularly powerful power supply units, so-called GenSets.

Regardless of how the food is transported, the following principles apply in temperature-controlled logistics so as not to jeopardize the quality of the cargo:

• Temperature checks: Regular checks must be made to ensure that the cooling temperature complies with the relevant regulations.
• Product checks: Temperature checks must be made on the product during loading and unloading. These must be recorded.
• Separate storage: Unpackaged and raw food must be stored separately.
• Ground contact: Unpackaged goods that have touched the ground must not be consumed.

In order to ensure cooling and to be able to transport temperature-controlled products in accordance with regulations, companies have the choice between two different systems: active cooling and passive cooling.

Active cooling in thermal transport

We speak of active refrigeration when the transport vehicles or the refrigerated warehouses are equipped with refrigeration technology that actively cools the cargo space or the storage areas. In temperature-controlled transport, refrigerated trucks or refrigerated containers with a permanently installed power-supplied refrigeration unit are generally used. The cold air is actively directed to ensure uniform cooling. In actively cooled thermal transport, there is often continuous recording of temperature and humidity data, which can be read on a display.

Temperature controlled logistics & environmental impact

Active cooling of temperature-sensitive food and products is effective and is the only alternative for long transport distances. However, it also has disadvantages. Retail and logistics companies that transport foodstuffs exclusively with refrigerated vehicles notice this above all financially: refrigerated vehicles with permanently installed units are costly to manufacture and expensive to purchase. In addition, even the slightest maneuvering damage can result in costly repairs due to the installed refrigeration technology, and the vehicles must be serviced regularly to rule out damage.

In addition to the relatively high acquisition, repair and maintenance costs, temperature-controlled logistics has another problem: it is not sustainable. For example, actively refrigerated food transports can only be carried out with environmentally friendly electric vehicles to a very limited extent because supplying the power unit via the traction battery significantly reduces the vehicle's range.

In addition, actively refrigerated food transport causes higher_{CO2 emissions} than the transport of non-refrigerated goods. This is because the vehicle battery supplies power to the unit, which significantly increases fuel consumption per kilometer traveled. In the blog article _{CO2 emissions} in food transport we take a closer look at this problem and offer possible solutions.

Passive cooling in food transport

The environmentally friendly(r) counterpart to active cooling is passive cooling. At passively cooled transport of foodstuffs, there is no need for an actively cooled hold because the temperature is kept within the prescribed range by the use of insulating packaging. Passive cooling solutions have been around for a long time.

In temperature-controlled logistics, however, they are currently mainly used for transport to the end consumer, the so-called "last mile". This is because conventional passive cooling solutions can only guarantee constant cooling for a few hours. Furthermore, most systems involve the additional use of dry ice, which is not ideal from an environmental point of view (more information).

As an expert in commercial refrigeration solutions temprify solves the problems of conventional passive cooling systems with technical innovation! We transform cooling logistics challenges into sustainable, scalable products:

• Cooling accumulators instead of dry ice: All cooling systems developed by temprify are based on an pre-cooling infrastructure and use high-performance cooling accumulators that are maintenance-free and theoretically unlimited in use.
• Reusable instead of packaging waste: Our passive coolers can be reused indefinitely and guarantee HACCP-compliant cooling for up to 96 hours.
• Maximum range with electric vehicles: Since our cooling solutions do not require a power-driven unit, cooling transports with temprify can easily be carried out in electric vehicles.

To the one-stop store for sustainable, cost-effective cooling solutions!