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Aug 6, 2020 at 7:04 AMThe Hoyer Group is expanding its fleet with 50 smart ISO reefer tank containers of the latest generation. These are designed for the transport of liquid food products. The core of the ISO reefer tank container is the telematics system integrated into the reefer control. In total, Hoyer now owns 100 of these units.
(Hamburg) The HOYER Group has one of the largest food tank container fleets in the industry. Experts within the company continuously develop container technologies and logistics solutions, setting new standards. 50 new ISO reefers, including 25 with integrated agitators, will be added to the fleet. The tank containers feature a newly developed cooling system and the latest smart technologies, which are linked to the Smart Portal – enhancing product safety, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability.
“The HOYER Group has specialized in demanding intermodal transport in the overseas food sector. We have established a strong reputation in the market with tailored logistics solutions. This has significantly increased the demand for transport services and prompted us to take further strategic steps,” explains Brian Woudsma, Global Food Director of the HOYER Group, regarding the company’s decision to invest in 50 new ISO reefer tank containers. This will double the logistics provider’s reefer fleet to 100 units.
State-of-the-Art Technology
Two key features of the new units are the reefer system attached to the tank container with the latest control technology and the integrated agitators. Through this system, the HOYER Group guarantees the uniform maintenance of the required temperature throughout the tank during the entire transport duration – from loading to unloading. The parameters are defined according to the respective product. The quality of sensitive liquid food products such as fruit juices, alcoholic beverages, liquid yeast, and many other products is ensured even during longer transports. For certain products, a heating system can be used for the complete emptying of the tank container.
A central advantage over bulk containers is the reduced product risk, which can arise from frequent pumping into different containers. Another benefit of the ISO reefer container is its usability for storage purposes as well. This increases the flexible planning and execution of transports. CIP systems for cleaning are also part of the standard equipment and meet high hygiene standards.
Core Telematics System
The core of the ISO reefer tank container is the telematics system integrated into the reefer control. As part of the digitalization initiative, the HOYER Group is gradually equipping all tank containers with telematics, which measures parameters such as location, temperature, pressure, and fill level. More than half are already smart, and by the end of 2021, the entire tank container fleet of currently 40,800 units is to be equipped as Smart Tanks.
In conjunction with an information and warning system that collects all sensor data and displays it in a dedicated online portal almost in real-time, optimal load control and proactive analysis measures are possible. The manual creation and maintenance of complex overview tables is no longer necessary. At a glance, it is clear where a tank container is located, whether temperature, fill level, and pressure are within predefined limits, or if action is needed. “In food transport, continuous temperature monitoring is particularly important. If temperature deviations occur, the system immediately triggers an alarm,” says Brian Woudsma. A correction can either be made via the Smart Portal or directly at the tank container.
Safer, More Cost-Effective, and Environmentally Friendly Thanks to New Technology
Logistics is not only becoming safer thanks to Smart Tank and Smart Portal, but also more cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Ongoing technical optimizations of tank containers are also being implemented. The HOYER Group has its own experts for this purpose. Chemists, engineers, salespeople, and digitalization experts work hand in hand to drive developments forward. “Having this know-how in-house as a logistics company is a significant competitive advantage and quality factor,” says Hans Demarest, Director of Engineering at the HOYER Group. “Due to interdisciplinary collaboration, we are able to find the best solution for every requirement.” Additionally, the team continuously works on payload optimization of the ISO reefer tank containers to conduct even more efficient transports.
In addition to the ISO reefer tank containers, the HOYER Group also safely delivers food in other transport containers: The product portfolio includes a variety of different food tank containers as well as Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) for products in smaller quantities.
Photo: © Hoyer Group
