Tower Cold Chain upgrades containers for airline and rail use

Reading, UK: Tower Cold Chain now has onboard catering containers, capable of maintaining fresh and frozen temperatures without using dry ice.

Tower’s passive Advanced Insulated Boxes allow transport and storage of perishable food at refrigerated and/or frozen temperatures. The AIB range meets food safety standards and sustains temperatures at 5°C and below 0°C for up to 24 hours.

This upgrade gives airlines and rail operators the ability to serve ice on return flights or long train routes without the need to restock. The design means a single trolley can hold consumables needing two different temperatures.

The Advanced Insulated Box fills a gap in the onboard insulated container market, eliminating the need for dry ice, electricity, or human intervention during transit, Tower says. This is achieved through using a combination of VIP insulating materials and phase change materials.

“Dry ice is considered a hazardous material when transported and therefore requires strict compliance and regulatory training,” said Suzanne Hagley, business development manager airlines/cargo, Tower Cold Chain.

“Tower’s passive, on-board catering containers eliminate the need for such complexities, enabling airlines and train operators to carry food without compromising safety standards or creating dedicated supply chain networks at each station.”

Innovation is also achieved through the AIB’s modular design, made of a robust and long- life monocoque hard shell outer and inner, and top-grade VIP sustainable panels that allow the container to withstand years of manual handling and repeated cleaning in catering tunnel washing. This double layered protection helps to maintain the temperature of the contents and ensures the container is reusable for 5+ years, whilst its airtight seals and locking mechanisms ensure that the contents stay fresh and secure during transport, to reduce spillage and waste.

In addition, the AIB’s optimum size and shape means it can fit into standard Atlas airline and rail catering boxes and carts, making it easy to integrate into users existing galley space or cargo holds, so that crew members can easily serve passengers their in-transit meals and snacks.