Reefer Air Flow Technologies Services the Agricultural Sector
Food sustainability is a worldwide issue, and the precious fresh produce that is exported plays a huge role in feeding the world. Our RAFT Kit will enhance the below industries and ensure that the supply chain has a constant flow of quality products, satisfied customers and will minimise the spoilage of precious food.
The RAFT Kit helps protect your profits throughout the value chain.
Fresh Produce Sectors That Will Benefit From The RAFT Kit:
- Farming/Agriculture – Ensure profits by delivering quality fresh produce to final destinations
- Packhouses – Offer additional value to customers and be paid for it
- Shipping lines – Benefit significantly from lower energy requirements and reduced spoilage claims
- Retailers/Wholesalers – See improved freshness, longer shelf lives and less waste
Reefer Air Flow Technologies is a very inexpensive but effective method of improving the outturn quality of fresh produce in refrigerated containers. The innovative yet simple solution offers enhanced freshness, improved product quality, and cost and energy savings by addressing the challenges of poor air flow and temperature fluctuations.
How Does a RAFT Kit Work?
The RAFT Kit is made of 100% recyclable materials and is quickly installed before and during the loading of a container, adding no significant time to the process.
The installation of the RAFT Kit does not affect the loading time of the container as it is installed in conjunction with the loading of pallets. It only requires five minutes of preparation before loading and does not impede the loading process at all.
- The direction of air flow is changed from mostly vertical to mostly horizontal using patented corrugated paperboard baffles and a floor liner.
- The woven polypropylene liner is laid down on the containers’ T-Bar floor and clipped in place. This liner directs all the chilled air to the rear of the container.
- The woven polypropylene liner is laid down on the containers’ T-Bar floor and clipped in place. This liner directs all the chilled air to the rear of the container.
- Three corrugated paperboard baffles are placed in strategically pre-determined positions on top of the palletised produce during loading. These baffles block the air from merely flowing over the top of the produce and forces it through the cartons.
- Three corrugated paperboard baffles are placed in strategically pre-determined positions on top of the palletised produce during loading. These baffles block the air from merely flowing over the top of the produce and forces it through the cartons.
- Corrugated paperboard Pallet Blockers are also strategically positioned against some of the pallets to assist air flow direction.
- Two specially designed paperboard blocks are positioned between the first two pallets and the front bulkhead of the reefer, creating a negative pressure area to assist with the return air flow. These blocks are hooked onto the pallet strapping of the first two pallets prior to loading.
- Corrugated paperboard Pallet Blockers are also strategically positioned against some of the pallets to assist air flow direction.
RAFT Kit Efficacy:
The results of a recent Cold Steri shipment of Citrus from South Africa to China are shown below:
Controlled Atmosphere (CA), Modified Atmosphere (MA) and Ozone Generation systems are all much more expensive interventions. However, they all still do not address the temperature differentials in reefers. Therefore, the RAFT Kit is not a competitor to these systems, but in many cases, it can be an enhancement when used in conjunction with them.
RAFT Kits are most appropriate for high-respiratory fresh produce, such as:
- Stone fruit (plums, peaches, nectarines, cherries, apricots, mangoes, raspberries, blackberries, and some hybrids)
- Blueberries
- Kiwifruit
- Avocados
- Grapes
- Citrus (specifically soft citrus and for Cold Steri Protocol)
- Bananas
- Pears
- Papaya and Melons
- Lychees
- Cut flowers