Reefer monitoring push

NEW CONTRACTS, COLLABORATIONS, DEVELOPMENTS AND SOLUTIONS
ArrowSpot Systems: ZIM Shipping Lines has announced the extension of its contract with ArrowSpot Systems Ltd, solidifying the latter’s operation of its 24/7 control centre as an integral part of ZIM’s ZIMonitor service. ZIMonitor offers its customers proactive remote tracking, monitoring, and control for reefer containers carrying sensitive, high-value cargo. Powered by the ArroWatch 24/7 monitoring service, ZIMonitor is claimed to significantly reduce sensitive cargo damage, loss, or waste. The renewed contract is slated to span an additional five years. ArroWatch 24/7, one of ArrowSpot’s portfolio of cargo tracking solutions, leverages a combination of intelligent decision-support technology and experienced officers, who respond to acute events in real time. ArrowSpot’s advanced algorithms classify and prioritise alerts, such as temperature deviations within a reefer, enabling its staff to make data-driven decisions and resolve problems quickly and efficiently. Anat Ayal, Head of Global Reefers & Special, Cargo Unit / Global Sales, ZIM, states: “…ArrowSpot enables us to offer proactive 24/7 service to our customers as issues are resolved before any cargo damage occurs. This plays a key factor in our customers’ satisfaction with the service.” Israel-headquartered ArrowSpot Systems is a provider of end-to-end cargo monitoring solutions for the logistics industry, whose solutions encompass tracking devices and command and control centres.

Carrier Transicold: The US headquartered company has launched its BluEdge Partner Program – a new global reseller partner channel providing distribution of its refrigerated container telematics products and services. Through the reseller channel, Carrier Transicold will establish a global network of BluEdge Partners, expanding its capacity and distribution reach. The channel is authorised to sell, install and commission its latest telematics technologies, including Carrier’s Lynx™ digital platform, which offers end-to-end supply chain visibility, real-time monitoring, actionable insights and analytics, and improved sustainability for the refrigerated container segment. BluEdge Partners will be appointed to service customers and potential prospects from terminal operators and shipping lines with Carrier’s telematics solutions. “The launch of our BluEdge Partner Program represents a key milestone in Carrier Transicold’s foray into the refrigerated container aftermarket telematics space,” said Tan Bor Yow, Senior Channel Manager, BluEdge, Global Container Refrigeration, Carrier Transicold. “Every touchpoint along the cold chain will benefit from Carrier’s telematics offerings, as they will have immediate operational expenditure reductions, enhanced asset visibility and improved safety operating environments.” Carrier Transicold helps improve transport of temperature-controlled cargoes with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. It is part of Carrier Global Corporation, a global provider of cold chain solutions.

Copeland: Copeland and reefer container manufacturing company Maersk Container Industry (MCI) announced in December last year that they are collaborating to integrate Copeland’s REFCON 6 BLE reefer monitoring system with MCI’s Star Cool reefer containers fitted with Sekstant gateways. A statement explains that this collaboration helps “aggregate multiple IoT provider datasets to improve cold chain visibility in the marine shipping industry”. Anders Gamborg Holm, Director Global Sales & Service, MCI, said: “Copeland’s advanced onboard container monitoring technology communicating via Sekstant gateways will help minimise potential downtime and improve refrigerated cargo protection throughout the ocean voyage.” US-headquartered Copeland’s REFCON 6 automatically monitors an entire vessel or container terminal. Two-way communication between an operator and every reefer container can take place 24/7, and all data is logged for event history and documentation purposes.

Identec Solutions: Last year Identec Solutions launched Reefer Runner 5G, to remove the need for local infrastructure by using cellular 5G band network with an SAAS cloud portal. “We are targeting small depots or container terminals with very low volumes of reefers that won’t justify the investment to install infrastructure, but which still need occasional reefer monitoring,” explains Jordi Asensio, Reefer Runner Product Manager, Identec Solutions. The company is also targeting mobile reefers in trucks, barges and trains. The 5G devices are already being used in Netherlands-headquartered C sense’s 24/7 reefer monitoring platform and a regular Reefer Runner 5G service with Danser Switzerland has started operating on the River Rhine from Basel to Antwerp/Rotterdam and back. Identec Solutions has also signed a purchase order with a German container terminal for its 5G solution for one of its depots where reefers are considered as hazardous cargo and have special requirements for monitoring. Looking ahead, Identec Solutions plans to improve its energy monitoring algorithms to be able to enable more energy savings and management for terminal and vessels. While the company is still in its initial development phase in this regard, it is pitching to some potential customers and expects to launch something by the end of this year or early in 2025. Mr Asensio explains that the idea is to incorporate a ‘smart switch’ in its outlet that will provide energy measurements and accurate consumption estimates, as well as to detect when energy consumption patterns are different to what is expected so that predictive maintenance can be applied. Identec is additionally researching whether it is possible to deploy peak shaving by using algorithms to decide when to switch energy on and off. Mr Asensio says: “We have extensive data as we have had our energy monitoring algorithm for a few years and now we are applying data science to get results.” The company’s core reefer monitoring solution Reefer Runner is a scalable monitoring and management system.

Orbcomm: In the last few years Orbcomm has launched a number of new developments, including a dry container tracking sensor last year, and previously, a next generation IoT solution for refrigerated container operations. Its CT 3500 IoT telematics device features enhanced functionality, analytics capabilities, connectivity options and interoperability with third-party telematics devices. Orbcomm’s solution provides customers with remote, two-way control of reefers to monitor critical parameters and take any corrective action needed. Customers can set customisable alerts that notify excursions to specified reefer temperature, humidity and controlled atmosphere levels, equipment malfunctions, route deviations and unauthorised door opening, helping to ensure cargo quality and compliance and mitigate costly claims. The device integrates with Orbcomm’s ReeferConnect and VesselConnect platforms to show real-time reefer location, status, alerts and other critical data insights through a single view. Orbcomm said that it can be installed quickly, either permanently or temporarily to monitor guest reefers and single trips at a port, yard or vessel. In addition, customers have access to an app to simplify installation, troubleshooting and provisioning of the device and additional sensors. US headquartered Orbcomm offers a wide range of asset monitoring and control solutions.

Refrigerated Transport Electronics (RTE): US headquartered RTE has introduced BEACON, which it calls an “entirely new approach to automated work order processing”. Unveiled this year, the solution delivers greater efficiency in managing the plugging and unplugging processes of reefers. On-site personnel can observe and respond to updated reefer conditions anywhere in the yard through a colour-coded visual alert system that helps mitigate potential risks and issues associated with plug-in and unplug processes. These include delayed connections to electrical power; reefers being moved while still connected and lagging response times to active reefer alarms. BEACON translates TOS-generated lists into visual cues at each reefer point, providing comparisons between the expected reefer connection status and its actual state. RTE automates the managing of the plugging and unplugging of reefer containers, manages manual inspections, improves efficiency and expected outcomes and provides a secondary means for identifying reefer alarms, ensuring faster response times. BEACON is accessed through RTE’s GRASP centralised portal, which holds all reefer activities and functions.