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Unbroken cold chain

The cold chain begins at the producer and ends in the fridge or freezer of the end consumer. The unbroken cold chain contributes to a food product’s sustainability.

A temperature-controlled supply chain

An unbroken cold chain for food is a temperature-controlled supply chain that contributes to the sustainability of temperature-sensitive food. In order to maintain an unbroken cold chain, it is necessary for the food to be handled in a temperature-regulated network of vehicles, terminals and warehouses for chilled and frozen goods.

Bring Frigo’s network, together with our long experience and specialist expertise within the area, enables us to provide an unbroken cold chain to your customers so that their products are kept at the correct temperature and maintain a high level of quality all the way to the recipient.

The following is an example of how Bring Frigo maintains the unbroken cold chain. But we also have many other logistics solutions for our customers with varying degrees of complexity and individual needs for innovative solutions.

We never compromise on food safety.
Our catchphrase is “Order and discipline with regard to time and temperature.”

Prior to temperature-regulated loading

The vehicle’s cargo space contains a cooling unit that works to remove heat. In order for this cooling unit to function in an optimal manner, the cargo space should always be pre-cooled prior to loading – down to the appropriate temperature, depending on whether it concerns transportation of chilled or frozen products.

Before the pre-cooling process is started, a partition or cooling blanket should always be put up at the rear of the cargo space. The doors should then be shut, after which the cooling unit can be turned on.

Upon arrival at the consignor, the driver asks the staff at the loading bay whether the consignment is ready for loading. Prior to loading it is important to perform a spot-check in order to check the temperature of the products. It takes about 3 minutes to pre-cool the sensor on the thermometer prior to measurement.

Prior to temperature-regulated loading

The vehicle’s cargo space contains a cooling unit that works to remove heat. In order for this cooling unit to function in an optimal manner, the cargo space should always be pre-cooled prior to loading – down to the appropriate temperature, depending on whether it concerns transportation of chilled or frozen products.

Before the pre-cooling process is started, a partition or cooling blanket should always be put up at the rear of the cargo space. The doors should then be shut, after which the cooling unit can be turned on.

Upon arrival at the consignor, the driver asks the staff at the loading bay whether the consignment is ready for loading. Prior to loading it is important to perform a spot-check in order to check the temperature of the products. It takes about 3 minutes to pre-cool the sensor on the thermometer prior to measurement.

Temperature reserve 

When the product is loaded, it must have the correct temperature with a certain extra margin, which is known as the temperature reserve. This means that the temperature must be at least 2 degrees lower than the temperature prescribed for the product.

The temperature reserve provides conditions for the products to be handled throughout the entire supply chain without risking that the product temperature will rise above the prescribed value.

The cooling unit is not turned off until the goods are ready for loading, at which time the rear doors are opened and the vehicle is reversed up to the loading bay. It is checked that the weather seal for the loading door is properly sealed, after which the partition or cooling blanket is removed.

Air temperature
In order to be able to guarantee the quality and safety of the products, a check is performed to ensure that the correct air temperature exists in the cargo and handling areas where the products are located.

If a discrepancy arises with regard to the air temperature, for example during transportation, the freight forwarder must be notified immediately so that necessary action can be taken.

It is therefore of the utmost importance to monitor the temperature in real time, and to have equipment that raises an alarm in the event of a discrepancy. At Bring Frigo we strive to ensure that the majority of the vehicle fleet is equipped with such equipment.

Temperature reserv

When the product is loaded, it must have the correct temperature with a certain extra margin, which is known as the temperature reserve. This means that the temperature must be at least 2 degrees lower than the temperature prescribed for the product.

The temperature reserve provides conditions for the products to be handled throughout the entire supply chain without risking that the product temperature will rise above the prescribed value.

The cooling unit is not turned off until the goods are ready for loading, at which time the rear doors are opened and the vehicle is reversed up to the loading bay. It is checked that the weather seal for the loading door is properly sealed, after which the partition or cooling blanket is removed.

Air temperature
In order to be able to guarantee the quality and safety of the products, a check is performed to ensure that the correct air temperature exists in the cargo and handling areas where the products are located.

If a discrepancy arises with regard to the air temperature, for example during transportation, the freight forwarder must be notified immediately so that necessary action can be taken.

It is therefore of the utmost importance to monitor the temperature in real time, and to have equipment that raises an alarm in the event of a discrepancy. At Bring Frigo we strive to ensure that the majority of the vehicle fleet is equipped with such equipment.

Upon receipt of the goods

The product temperature is checked by way of spot-checks or if a temperature discrepancy is suspected. With the help of a long sensor, the temperature can be measured in the middle of the pallet, to see if it is higher or lower than the temperature at the outer part of the pallet. This could indicate that a temperature increase has occurred during transportation, or that the product was not sufficiently cooled at the time of loading. The results of these checks are registered in Frigoscandia’s system in conjunction with scanning. At each transfer to the next stage in the supply chain, it is important to quickly place the goods in the right ambient temperature, so that the cold chain is not broken.

For groupage distribution it is not uncommon to load several temperature zones on the same unit. In these cases it is important to minimise the period of time during which a colder zone is exposed to warmer air.

Loading

We make sure that there is good air circulation in the cabinet when loading. We do not load higher than the maximum height line and we do not place barriers directly in front of the cooling unit’s exhaust. There shall always be space for the air to circulate at the rear doors and at the front unit’s return air intake.

A check is performed to ensure that the plastic is not covering the pallet’s fork cut-outs, as this will obstruct the circulation.

By not placing the goods hard against the partition, you prevent a transfer of temperature between the frozen and chilled goods, with temperature damage as a consequence. Forklifts and other equipment must be returned to their designated location. Last, but not least, it is important to carefully check that the correct setpoint has been set on the cooling unit for each temperature zone.

Delivery of the frozen consignment at the end customer.

By only holding the doors open for as short a period of time as possible, and by only allowing the partition to be open during the effective unloading time, we minimise the risk of too much warm air mixing with the cooled air in the cargo area, which creates condensation. This could cause the cooling unit to defrost the area instead of continuing to cool it.

In order to achieve the most accurate temperature check, this check should be performed directly adjacent to the unit or, alternatively, inside the protected goods-receipt area at the premises of the end customer.

Once the goods are inside the store, the recipient takes over the responsibility for the products and their temperature. When we, as consumers, buy products in the store, it is our responsibility to continue to maintain an unbroken cold chain.

Delivery of the frozen consignment at the end customer.

By only holding the doors open for as short a period of time as possible, and by only allowing the partition to be open during the effective unloading time, we minimise the risk of too much warm air mixing with the cooled air in the cargo area, which creates condensation. This could cause the cooling unit to defrost the area instead of continuing to cool it.

In order to achieve the most accurate temperature check, this check should be performed directly adjacent to the unit or, alternatively, inside the protected goods-receipt area at the premises of the end customer.

Once the goods are inside the store, the recipient takes over the responsibility for the products and their temperature. When we, as consumers, buy products in the store, it is our responsibility to continue to maintain an unbroken cold chain.

Food supply with the Nordic region as home market

Do you have questions about how your company’s food logistics could be optimised and better integrated into your business operations? We possess the right knowledge and have the logistics network to find the optimal solution for you. Please feel free to contact us.

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