Supermarket chain Aldi has taken delivery of 25 Vector™ 1950 multi-temperature (MT) units from Carrier Transicold , as part of a multi-site fleet upgrade. Carrier Transicold, which operates in the UK as Carrier Transicold (UK) Limited, is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
The Vector 1950 MT systems are mounted to 13.6-metre Gray & Adams refrigerated trailers, and the 25-strong order will be split between three Aldi regional distribution centres, in Bathgate, Swindon and at the company’s 29-acre UK headquarters in Atherstone, Warwickshire.
“We operate a 140-strong all-Carrier fleet from Atherstone, and Carrier remains our leading supplier due to its reliability, and first class customer service,” said a spokesperson for Aldi. “The Vector 1950 MT systems give us the power we need to consolidate deliveries, making our fleet more efficient, and able to cope well with frequent door openings. We also opted for the low noise specification to reduce unit sound emissions, given most deliveries take place in urban areas.”
The upgrade is part of Aldi’s transition to multi-temperature refrigeration systems, which provide the flexibility to transport a mix of ambient, chilled and frozen goods in one consignment.
The Atherstone-based trailers will be in service year-round, delivering chilled, ambient and frozen produce to Aldi stores within a 35-mile radius on an 11-hour, two-driver shift basis. Aldi plans to keep the trailers in service for 10 years and expects them to cover more than 90,000 miles annually, making an average of five deliveries per day.
Vector 1950 MT units offer a high refrigeration capacity of up to 18,200 watts, which ensures precise temperature control within each of the trailers’ compartments. A 5,700 m3/h airflow protects the load with even air distribution and an unparalleled pull-down time – making it ideal for intensive distribution cycles with multiple door openings.
The patented E-Drive™ technology built into the units uses electricity to simultaneously heat and cool the load space, ensuring maximum performance across several compartments. The technology also removes 17 serviceable parts from the unit, which increases reliability and trailer uptime.
Aldi is the UK’s sixth largest supermarket with more than 620 stores and 28,000 employees.
For more information on Carrier Transicold and its products and services, visit www.carriertransicold.co.uk. Follow Carrier Transicold on Twitter: @SmartColdChain .