Utility Trailer, Cargobull reveal reefer innovation
NASHVILLE–Utility Trailer and Cargobull North America introduced two new innovations at the American Trucking Associations’ Technology and Maintenance Council Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exposition in Nashville, both designed to increase efficiency for refrigerated delivery.
The company said their newly designed transport refrigeration unit (TRU) with microchannel condenser will make hauling refrigerated goods in high outdoor temperatures more reliable, while the introduction of the Load-Dividing Bulkhead as a new option allows for more flexible temperature management.
The former will come standard on Utility Trailer’s 3000R reefers, with the bulkhead as an optional add-on.
Microchannel condenser
The company’s new microchannel condenser is set to further boost overall performance of the Cargobull 625 and 655MT Hybrid TRUs, both of which are California Air Resources Board (CARB) certified as ULETRU (ultra-low-emissions TRU) Evergreen units and available exclusively on Utility’s 3000R reefer.
“Our microchannel condenser offers better thermal efficiency, ensuring optimal cooling capacity even in elevated ambient temperatures,” stated Andreas Schmitz, president and CEO of Schmitz Cargobull, emphasizing that the condenser maintains performance even at high outside temperatures.
The new design also decreases refrigerant requirements by about 3 lbs., an upgrade that enhances sustainability and lowers both upfront and replacement costs, according to Schmitz.
Load-dividing bulkhead
The second new innovation, a load-dividing bulkhead or “separation wall” for Utility’s 3000R multi-temp reefer, provides fleet customers a strong and reliable divider solution that seals completely, significantly reducing air flow and thermal transfer between compartments. According to the company, this optimizes thermal efficiency for partial loads.
This means that the trailer can be separated for refrigerated goods on one side and dry goods on the other, explained Jeff Bennett, president and CEO of Utility Trailers.
“You've got all kinds of versatility,” he explained, “plus you can reconfigure the center wall to be bigger or smaller, and you can actually take the center wall completely out if you have a single temp haul.”
Here are some additional features of the bulkhead:
- Track-mounted and moveable, allowing for flexible temperature management
- Easy to operate, with no shrinking during up and down movement
- Automatic pressure equalization through the retraction of side and bottom seals when opening
- Operated by a central locking lever
- Angle-dependent brake for one-hand operation
- Automatically locks in the parking position
