The “cold chain” is a vital part of supply chain logistics. Two sectors in particular are food distribution and the pharmaceutical industry. If you work in either arena, transporting/storing goods that require temperature control, are a part of your daily operation. It is imperative that products stay at their prescribed temperature the entire time they are in your custody.

Whether you are new to cold chain logistics or you want to tighten up your practices, it is important that you take stock of your cold storage procedures. This will ensure that you’re doing everything you can for your operation to run as smoothly as possible.

**What Should You Do to Maintain a Refrigerated Shipping Container? **

You might own a singlerefrigerated shipping container or an entire fleet. In either case, there are some essential factors you should consider to ensure the equipment is good working order. This will go a long way in protecting the quality of your temperature-sensitive cargo, your customers’ investments, and your brand reputation.

Let’s look at some crucial considerations to keep your refrigeration equipment functioning optimally and consistently.

1. Specific Maintenance Items to Track for Your Refrigerated Container

Compared to standard cargo containers used for shipping or storage, there are several maintenance factors to keep in mind regarding refrigerated shipping containers. Here are some special maintenance items to monitor regularly.

Power - The power that you have on-site is of upmost importance. Since these units are equipped with an “all-electric” cooling system, your facility’s power must be up to snuff to handle the required output. The cooling systems run natively on 460V 3-phase power (via a dedicated 30-amp service). However, the cooling system can be equipped with a unit specific transformer (or converter) as well. This makes your units dual capable, allowing them to operate at 230V 3-phase power (on a dedicated 60-amp circuit).

Compressors, Condensers and Evaporators - Any time you add refrigeration to the mix, you need to find ways to deal with ambient factors like gas, water, and ice formation/management. Much of this area consists of machinery, like fans and coils that need regular attention.

Structural Factors – It is also important to monitor the physical condition of your cold storage containers. As you open/close the doors and move product in/out with pallet jacks/forklifts, physical wear & tear is unavoidable. You need to ensure that your refrigerated containers remain in good structural condition. This includes everything from the cargo doors (in particular the door gaskets), to the flooring, to the interior/exterior walls. Maintaining the structural integrity of your unit, protects cargo from the elements and makes sure temperature factors remain consistent.

**2. Maintenance Issues You Can Handle In-House **

Depending on the expertise of your maintenance technicians, you can attend to some maintenance matters on-site. If you employ qualified electricians and experts in refrigeration, you can easily conduct regular equipment check-ups/perform preventative maintenance.

**3. When Do You Need to Call a Technician? **

Due to the temperature sensitivity of your product and the complexities of these cooling systems, you may prefer to rely on more qualified service technicians. They will be equipped with knowledge your staff may not have. Contact your trusted customer service rep, as they can assist in pointing you in the right direction when it comes to a local service center/refrigeration technician.

Contact our team to learn how we can assist you in finding the right cold storage solution for your business, as well as keeping your units operating at their peak performance level.