va-Q-tec launches PCM-based Thermal Coat
Solution enables improved autonomous performance and a buffer time of up to 24 hours.
Ravi Prakash Mathur, VP, Global Supply Chain, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (right) and Christopher Storch, Global Head of Sales, va-q-tec at the launch of Thermal Coat at air cargo India 2024. (Photo: Mahindar Sharma)
va-Q-tec, an expert in thermal energy efficiency and temperature-controlled supply chains, launched Thermal Coat - a new solution for the transport of temperature-sensitive goods in pharmaceutical air and sea freight.
The Thermal Coat was launched at air cargo India 2024 held at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.
Thermal Coat is equipped with innovative va-Q-gel technology, and solves challenges with its ability to coat temperature-sensitive goods directly and in a space-saving manner, says an official release. "The va-Q-gel consists of gelled phase change material (PCM), which is particularly leak-proof due to its composition. It can be individually pre-conditioned for the ranges +2 °C to +8 °C or +15 °C to +25 °C and then requires no further external energy supply. With a qualified performance of up to 24 hours, the Thermal Coat outperforms conventional solutions. This improves autonomous performance and buffer times during transportation and therefore the safety of the goods being transported."
In air freight applications, the va-Q-tec solution significantly improves the performance of conventional thermal covers by providing a qualified buffer time of seven hours for extreme ambient temperatures and direct sunlight on the tarmac, the release added. "Another advantage is the gelled form of the phase-change material, which makes the use of liquid substances obsolete. This makes it particularly light and leak-proof."
When used in temperature-controlled sea freight containers (reefers), the Thermal Coat offers a qualified temperature integrity of 24 hours even if the active cooling unit fails or if there is a lack of energy supply from the reefer, e.g., during loading or unloading of the cargo ship, the release added.
"With the Thermal Coat, we are expanding our product portfolio to include sea freight for the first time," says Fabian Eschenbach, Global Head of TempChain, va-Q-tec. "Our partners receive a qualified solution that not only triples the time buffer in the event of power failures in sea freight reefers, but also significantly increases product safety for long transport routes on the ship."
