Refrigerated Vehicle And Vans

Refrigerated vehicles and especially refrigerated vans are available in all different shapes and sizes, with a whole array of bespoke accessories available, in order to perform all its daily requirements and to suit everybody’s need when it comes to dealing with frozen or chilled food.

These bespoke accessories are fitted depending on the type of business the refrigerated vans would be used for obviously.

Butchers for example, may require a meat rail hanging system, to allow the transporting of the carcasses back to their shop prior to cutting of the meat.

Wholesale delivery companies on the other hand may require a shelving system secured to the internal loading space, to allow for the stacking of boxes for ease of unloading on delivery.

More apparent is the requirement for an overnight standby facility. Available in both three-phase and single-phase, this allows the refrigeration system to work independently of the engine, which in turn allows for the loading of the vehicle of an evening, ready for that early morning start!

For food companies operating within the Central London Congestion Charge Zone (CLCCZ) an important factor to be considered when purchasing a refrigerated vehicle is the option of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). The current daily charge for petrol and diesel vehicles up to 3500kg GVW (gross vehicle weight) entering the CLCCZ is £8. If the vehicle is being driven in to the centre of London on a daily basis, this can soon become very expensive! If the vehicle is powered by LPG however, there is no daily charge. As a consequence, manufacturers offer “off the shelve” LPG vehicles. If the manufacturer does not offer this from new, an option is to have the petrol vehicle retro fitted with an LPG system.

The UK see’s a handful of leading refrigeration manufacturers such as Hubbard, GAH and Thermo King. Companies such as these offers a wide range of direct drive, alternator drive, Diesel drives and stands alone electrical units for panel vans and box body vehicles. Each system has different models within its range to incorporate the bespoke requirements of its user; frozen / chilled temperatures, standby facility, temperature printout (proof of consistent temperature during transit), slim line evaporators (to allow more internal space for the carriage of products), twin evaporators (allowing the transport of frozen and chilled goods simultaneously!)

With the large growth rate in all sectors of the UK’s food industry refrigerated vehicles like freezer vans are, and will continue to be, an invaluable tool for all manufacturers, wholesale, catering and delivery companies throughout the country.