UNIT45 launches Europe’s first intermodal 45ft reefer

Although the Agreement Transports Périssables (ATP) for the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs was drawn up in 1970-71, to date no company has offered a container design capable of meeting ATP standards. Consequently, this market has been dominated by road trailers.

Interestingly, neither fresh fruit and vegetables nor maritime containers need ATP certification when transporting perishable products where the door-to-door movement includes a sea voyage of over 150km.

“With increasing numbers of reefers being moved by rail over long distances, our customers have been pushing us to develop a container that can achieve the ATP’s FRC classification which requires a high level of insulation and enables goods to be transported within a temperature range of -20oC to +20oC,” said Jan Koolen, UNIT45’s managing director.