Temperature Control vs. Temperature Protection – What’s the difference?

• Typically,Thermal Insulation Container Liner etc. do not ‘hold’ temperature between limits. This is in contrast to Temperature Controlled Packaging that utilises insulating and phase change materials to hold temperature for a validated duration (e.g. 72hrs). For this reason, thermal covers would be considered as ‘temperature protection’ rather than ‘temperature control’ packaging.

Do Thermal Insulation Container Liner work the same in cold weather?

• They will certainly slow down the temperature exchange in cold weather, often better than in hot conditions. In chamber testing and live trails, we see that it takes longer for the freight temperature to come down than it did to rise!

Are Thermal Insulation Container Liner easy to fit and remove?

• Yes, they usually come preformed and fit over the pallet like a hat, then sealed into place using tape. This should take no more than a few minutes. Removal should be just as quick.The only exception to this may be the rolls of silver backed bubble often used. This can take two people up to 20 minutes if not using the preformed solution.

Will adding a second cover double the performance?

• No, but it will improve performance quite considerably by an estimated 40-60% depending on various conditions.
• A third cover would only add around 5-15% performance. 

Will using gel packs or phase change materials help performance?

• Potentially yes, live testing would provide an indication of how much. The main considerations would be practicality, operational and cost. A layer of gel packs could be placed on top of the product, under the cover, therefore providing an additional barrier to direct sunlight.
• If using reusable thermal blankets, pockets can be stitched in to hold the gel packs on the side panels.

When is the best time to fit thermal covers during the shipping process?

• Covers should be fitted at the point where the freight is at the correct temperature. The covers should also be at the same temperature.
• Fitting warm covers outside of the controlled temperature area will have the effect of warming up the freight (like a coat), so should be avoided.