The second Cold Chain Eurasia International Conference for Unbroken Cold Chain is to be held on 19 September. The business agenda will focus on unbroken cold chain organization and operation for all categories of products requiring compliance with a certain temperature regime. We decided to consider them in detail in a dedicated series of publications. Today we offer you an overview of the types of unbroken cold chain cargo, with separate materials on each category coming soon.

Food products

Global changes in demographics and consumption patterns, coupled with intensive development of logistics routes, have driven up frozen product shipment volumes. The importance of unbroken cold chain for such products is undeniable as it has a direct impact on preserving the freshness, quality and other consumer properties of food products. Fruit and vegetables, dairy and meat products, fish and seafood all require compliance with temperature conditions that preserve product flavour and ensure their safety for the final consumer.

The cold chain covers production (catch), transportation, warehousing, sorting and further distribution of the temperature-sensitive goods. The growing demand for products, extended shelf life and geographical expansion of deliveries have led to development of specialized vehicles such as refrigerated semi-trailers, refrigerated containers, fish processing vessels, etc.

To ensure efficient transportation of food products, all logistics chain links must be integrated, from production to distribution. Streamlined organization and constant monitoring of each transport stage allows food products to be delivered quickly and without loss of quality.

Fish products

Of all food products, fish and seafood require particularly strict compliance with temperature conditions. While the growing share of deep processing has further expanded the need for refrigeration technology to be developed. A separate issue is transportation of chilled fish products, which generates higher margins for suppliers yet requires even greater attention to logistics. Nonetheless, it is impossible to resolve the problems of fish and seafood logistics unless a systematic approach is taken to organizing and applying unbroken cold chain for transporting all categories of temperature- sensitive cargo.

Non-food products

This category includes pharmaceuticals, chemicals, cosmetics, certain types of equipment and some other non-food products.

Pharmaceutical products

Many medicines, such as vaccines and insulin, lose their effectiveness if the required temperature is not maintained. For transporting medicines, vehicles with an integrated refrigerated container are commonly used, making it easy to monitor and maintain the required temperature regime. Air freight is also used to deliver perishable goods quickly over long distances. During transportation, special containers and packaging are used to maintain a stable temperature of products, thus ensuring the safety and efficacy of pharmaceuticals at all stages of the logistics chain.

Chemical substances

Transportation and storage of industrial chemicals also require low temperature conditions. Improper storage conditions can alter the chemical properties of a substance and pose a significant safety hazard. For example, some chemicals become unstable at high temperatures, resulting in undesirable reactions. So, special temperature control systems such as thermal containers and refrigerated railway wagons have been developed for such substances.

Cosmetics

Modern cosmetic products include a wide range that contain active ingredients that might lose their properties if certain temperature conditions are not met. For example, natural oils and extracts cannot withstand high temperatures. Refrigerated containers and vehicles with temperature control systems are used to transport such products, thereby preserving the quality and effectiveness of cosmetic products, while also extending their shelf life.

Equipment

Some types of high-tech equipment also require special storage and transport conditions. These include medical equipment, such as diagnostic and treatment devices. For such products, specialized containers with climate control systems are used to help avoid temperature fluctuations and ensure the safety of the equipment during transportation and storage.

Stay tuned to our website to learn more about transportation of each perishable product to be discussed at the Cold Chain Eurasia conference. 

The second Cold Chain Eurasia International Conference is to be held on 19 September at the Expoforum EC in Saint Petersburg, once again bringing together participants from all industries interested in low-temperature logistics and representatives of various unbroken cold chain links.

The conference is organized by the International Coordinating Council on Trans-Eurasian Transportation (CCTT), the Association of Food Sector organizations (ASORPS) and the Expo Solutions Group.