Engineering business Tharsus has helped to commercialise Biofresh’s smart pallet.
Biofresh, a Newcastle University spin-out business, approached Tharsus to improve and manufacture its smart pallet; an innovative product that extends the storage life of perishable foodstuffs throughout the supply chain by using non-harmful ozone.
Biofresh asked Tharsus to develop a more robust, professional looking product that was designed with easy manufacture and serviceability in mind, and also to provide a full ‘white label’ product fulfilment solution.
A more rugged design was required due to damage caused in transit in ports around the world and the high costs of repairing the pallets.
Tharsus redesigned the pallet using modular construction principals so that they can be easily reconfigured and components can be quickly replaced if necessary. Plastic was incorporated with the more traditional steel construction, which is not only more robust but aesthetically had a more modern look.
Tharsus CEO Brian Palmer said: “We were really excited to work with biofresh on developing their smart pallet design. It is a technically excellent product, but required a design review process to make it more commercially viable.
“Spoilage costs the food industry billions every year so to be able to improve a product that combats this problem on a worldwide scale, was a great project for our engineering team.
“We maintained the dimensions of the pallet so the product still fitted in physically with the current logistical journey, but subdivided the system into modules, to simplify the replacement of damaged parts; reducing the cost of ownership.
“Because of our unique facilities at Tharsus we were able to manage the entire project right through from initial concept work, detail design using CAD, prototyping and supply chain to completion of the final assembly and shipping processes.
“Our team is very proud of the finished biofresh smart pallet which is now ready to enter mass manufacture.”
Biofresh director Jonathan Caisley said:“The new design also allows for customisable battery life, dependant on the length of journey. The batteries are housed in a separate compartment as part of Tharsus’ modular construction, making adjustments quick and simple.”
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