UNIT45's boxes prove to be big hit in Europe

UNIT45, the Dutch company specialising in the supply of 45 ft containers to the European intermodal industry, has experienced a boom in demand for its refrigerated units over the last 12 months.

These containers have an internal capacity of 83.1 cu m and are able to carry up to 33 Europallets ( 1,200 mm × 800 mm) or 26 ISO pallets ( 1,200 × 1,000 m), making them highly competitive with road trailer alternatives.

Managing director Jan Koolen says that both its all-electric and diesel-electric reefer units are selling well but highlights the advances being made with  the diesel-electric version. “Our new diesel-electric design is enabling customers to switch cargo from road to rail over longer distances,” he says. “Instead of using road trailers for door-to-door movements, they can reduce road miles, and costs, by using 45 ft containers.

On routes between the Benelux countries and Eastern Europe, including Romania, Hungary, Turkey and Greece, Unit 45 says it is possible to reduce both costs and the carbon footprint by using rail for the trunk haul and road just for local collections/deliveries, for example.

Until recently, it was difficult to move reefer units on Europe’s rail network as rail operators cannot provide an electrical supply for the containers. However, the new design incorporates a diesel-electric cooling unit and a 200 litre fuel tank capable of powering the reefer for between five and eight days, with the precise time depending on the required temperature level.

Since the summer of 2006, Unit 45 has sold 150 diesel-electric containers while it also maintains an 80-strong rental fleet. Mr. Koolen reveals that a further 70 units, now being manufactured in China, will be added tot the rental fleet very soon.

Despite the success of the diesel-electric unit, Mr. Koolen explains that the popularity of the all-electric refrigerated container had not been affected.

“Really, they are serving different markets. If rail is not an issue, then you do not need to transport a diesel generator and fuel,” he says. “This increases payload by around 900 kg and reduces the cost of the container.”

Recently, Spain has proven a particularly strong market for all-electric 45 ft reefer boxes. Several companies serving the Canary Islands and Balearics have purchased pallet-wide containers to replace trailers and older 20 ft/40 ft reefer containers, for instance.