In this issue of Business & Industry Today, we are delighted to showcase Hultsteins UK as our Diesel-Free Refrigeration Manufacturing Company of the Month.
The UK transport sector has been under pressure to decarbonise fleets, with are responsible for 27% of this country’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with all new petrol or diesel powered HGV’s weighing up to 26 tonnes due to be banned in 2035, followed by heavier new petrol or diesel HGVs in 2040.
Whilst the whole industry is grappling to get its head around the financial implications of transition, as part of a wider discussion on alternative fuel infrastructure, Hultsteins have already been building diesel-free refrigeration units for decades.
Spotlight on Hultsteins
Filip Hultstein started the Swedish company back in 1944 and launched the industry’s first hydraulic refrigeration unit in 1962. In 2014, the Holtback Group acquired Hultsteins, followed by the acquisition of UK Company Cold Connect in 2019 to form Hultsteins UK.
Based in Biggleswade in Bedfordshire – the UK subsidiary benefits from nearby transport links such as the major intersecting A1 – connecting London to Edinburgh. This leading hydraulic transport refrigeration manufacturer offers market-leading solutions for reducing carbon, diesel particulate matter, noise and NOx emissions through its Ecofridge and Ecogen hydraulic drive units.
Renowned for low-operation and maintenance costs, exceptional reliability and a long working life, these systems and generators are the ‘products of choice’ for transport operators across the country.
Case study: Reynolds
Reynolds have fitted on-board Ecogen generators for the last 3 years to reduce carbon diesel usage from their temperature-controlled trailer fleet. This was motivated by the company’s commitment to reducing their impact upon the environment. Steve White, Head of National fleet for Reynolds says we have been significantly reducing carbon and diesel through implementing the Ecogen hydraulically driven Ecogen system within our fleet of tractor units.
Powerful benefits
The statistics speak for themselves: the Ecogen and Ecofridge products are estimated to offer a 70-80% saving on diesel costs, 70-80% carbon saving, 98% diesel particulate matter emissions saving, two and a half times saving on nitrogen oxides (NOx), reduced noise pollution, handy retrofitting to all Scania, Volvo and Renault tractors and reduced service costs, with only one service needed per year.
“One diesel-powered fridge unit can emit the same DPM (diesel particulate matter) as around 1,000 Euro 6 cars, which given the WHO’s concern about carcinogenic diesel fumes is a call to arms. We have been at the forefront of diesel-free refrigeration units for decades, with a concerted focus on reducing carbon, cost, noise and improving air quality.”
“We have recently partnered with Addvolt and Courage Technologies to enhance our green energy solutions. We now have a smorgasbord of products that can help operators meet their sustainability goals.”
“Addvolt based in Portugal, design and manufacture an extensive range of Powerpacks and Power Units (ePTO) to fridge operators, helping vehicles become more sustainable by reducing diesel usage, carbon, particulate emissions and noise levels. This is a dream partnership for cold chain transporters: Hultsteins’ systems can now be combined with a cutting-edge Addvolt PIEK-compliant plug-in hybrid powerpack for 100% electrically powered refrigeration units for long-distance deliveries.”
“Courage Technologies based in Spain, design and manufacture a wide range of self-sufficient zero emission fully electric fridges. Courage electric fridges are quiet when running and can be fitted to BEV (battery electric vehicles) or ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles up to 32M3 in body size. They are ideally suited for BEV as they do not diminish the range of the vehicle’s battery because they use their own lithium batteries. This maximises the vehicle’s operating range.”
“Any interested parties can see demonstrations in Biggleswade of a Courage CT5 MT dual temperature fridge with its own 20.5kW battery built inside the fridge unit. Along with an Addvolt powerpack running a trailer fridge.”
“Looking to the future, we are planning on expanding our sustainable E-Hot Box partnership with Marvtech: manufacturers of standard and customised hot boxes for tippers, towable, demountable and static applications.” outlined Graham Usher, Managing Director: Hultsteins UK.