Chiquita Brands has increased its investment in Carrier Transicold PrimeLINE container refrigeration units nearly fivefold, based on the solid performance track record and energy-savings of the PrimeLINE units, demonstrated through research.
Within the last year, Chiquita has added 4,700 PrimeLINE units equipped with the QUEST power-saving mode to the 1,250 previously acquired for its banana fleet, according to a press release from Carrier Transicold.
The group said Chiquita’s investment came on the heels of side-by-side tests it ran comparing power consumption and pulldown performance of the PrimeLINE unit and other manufacturers’ units.
“Pulldown performance is critical to assuring the highest quality product,” said Juan Carlos Hernandez, Chiquita’s manager of maintenance and repair, who supervised the testing.
“In addition, energy conservation is vital to Chiquita’s green transportation initiatives, and we were pleased that it not only reduces fuel consumption related to shipboard power generation but also reduces emissions proportionately, helping us to shrink our carbon footprint.”
Carrier Transicold president David Appel said his firm applauds the “wisdom” of Chiquita in conducting its own analysis to verify capabilities of container refrigeration systems before expanding its investment.
“Over the period of ownership, the energy efficiency of PrimeLINE units will result in a substantial savings in terms of total lifecycle costs,” Mr Appel explained.
The PrimeLINE units are used on Chiquita’s routes from Central America, 95 per cent of which are destined for North American ports.
Carrier Transicold is a unit of Carrier Corporation, the world’s leader in high technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions, improving the world around us through engineered innovation and environmental stewardship.
Carrier Corp. is a business unit of United Technologies Corp.
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