Carrier Transicold introduces new reefer technology

   Carrier Transicold said it has introduced a new container atmosphere control technology that helps maintain quality of produce so it can be shipped over longer distances.
   The company said its XtendFRESH system actively manages oxygen and carbon dioxide levels inside the shipping container, while simultaneously removing ethylene. Carrier also said the system is designed to be more affordable than its earlier atmosphere control solutions and relatively easy to install on existing equipment.
   David Appel, Carrier’s president, said the system “will enable Carrier Transicold’s shipping line customers to help exporters extend their reach into new markets.”
   XtendFRESH controls oxygen and carbon dioxide levels and removes ethylene, a hormone given off produce that accelerates ripening if left unchecked.
   Kartik Kumar, director of marketing and strategic planning for global container refrigeration at Carrier, said “by helping prevent premature ripening, the XtendFRESH system will aid in maintaining optimum quality of delivered produce, which can also result in less spoilage per shipment.”
   The company said slowed ripening lengthens the amount of time produce can spend in refrigerated transit – by more than double in some cases. For example, bananas can be shipped for up to eight weeks rather than four, and beans for up to four weeks rather than 10 days.
   “The XtendFRESH system will give the shipping industry a new, more economical way to implement container atmosphere control and, in turn, grow market opportunities,” Kumar said.
   “We’re enthusiastic about the prospects of the XtendFRESH system for our banana operations,” said Juan Carlos Hernandez, global equipment and M&R manager, Chiquita Brands International, which worked with Carrier in demonstration projects and sea trials.