Arla Foods has taken delivery of 35 new trailers fitted with Carrier Transicold’s Vector 1850 refrigeration systems.
The 13.6m tri-axle trailers have been redesigned to provide improved refrigerant containment, with 50 per cent fewer joints on the refrigerant circuit, and a semi-hermetic compressor to help reduce leaks.
They also feature all-electric technology, cutting out the need for 17 serviceable parts, such as belts, clutch and shaft seal, to enable longer life and improved reliability. 94 per cent of the parts used in a Vector 1850 unit can be recycled at the end of its operating life.
Gordon Irvine, group fleet director at Arla Foods, said: “With the arrival of the refrigeration system we are expecting an improvement in fuel consumption when operating on a continuous chilled application, in comparison to our previous generation Vector 1800 units. Coupled with reduced engine emissions, this will help support our own environmental targets.”
The trailers have been built to a bespoke specification for Arla, incorporating a low noise kit. They also feature an out-of-range warning lamp on the front bulkhead, which alerts the driver if the temperature is out of range.
The trailers will join Arla’s fleet of 600 trailers and 400 trucks, and will operate from three of the company’s dairies in Ashby de la Zouch, Hatfield Peverel and Oakthorpe.
