These units will transport ambient, chilled and frozen products simultaneously as part of the customer’s wholesale association with food retail chain SPAR. The new systems are expected to significantly reduce fuel consumption and lower James Hall & Co.’s carbon footprint.
The Vector HE 19 MT units are mounted on new Gray & Adams urban double-deck trailers, replacing older competitor diesel systems in the customer’s 40-strong trailer fleet. With this upgrade, more than half of the fleet is now Carrier Transicold-cooled.
“We were looking to improve our carbon credentials while finding a way to reduce operating costs,” said Ian Farnworth, fleet Manager at James Hall & Co. “To put it simply, at the time there was nothing commercially available and fully supported on the market able to meet our specific needs, so we turned to Carrier to develop a solution.
"The autonomy levels of these new units have exceeded our expectations, often returning to the depot with battery charge remaining, helping us to take a step forward in our long-term sustainability strategy.”
The Vector HE 19 MT units utilise Carrier Transicold’s electric E-Drive technology, which is central to all Vector refrigeration systems.
The battery packs, which can be quickly recharged at the customer’s depot using a standard five-pin, three-phase standby plug connected to the main grid, have been installed on special sliding mounting brackets designed by Gray & Adams ensuring easy access for maintenance and minimising labour costs.
The system allows the Vector HE 19 MT units to maintain three separate compartments due to the addition of two evaporators to support triple-temperature operation.
The Vector HE 19 MT unit’s optimised hermetic scroll compressor and economiser boost refrigeration capacity during pull-down by 40%, while also helping to provide unparalleled levels of refrigerant gas containment. Additionally, when operating in electric mode, whether at base or on the road, noise levels are reduced to below the 60 db(A) PIEK limit, helping to minimise potential noise disturbances.
“It’s been a pleasure to extend our relationship with James Hall & Co. while supporting their sustainability goals,” said Geoff Fearnley-Hill, national key account manager, Carrier Transicold UK. “This delivery clearly illustrates how Carrier Transicold’s low-emission and alternative power solutions enable customers to maintain optimal refrigeration performance without disrupting their operations.”
In addition to the new trailers, James Hall & Co. has recently taken delivery of four 18-tonne Volvo FE trucks, equipped with engineless Carrier Transicold Iceland MT units. These units utilise the company’s Eco-Drive system to derive refrigeration power from the truck’s own engine, thereby reducing fuel consumption and emissions across its rigid fleet.
Combined with the trailers, the total order supports Carrier’s goal of helping customers avoid more than one gigaton of GHG emissions by 2030.
All of the new units are supported by Carrier Transicold’s comprehensive BluEdge fixed-cost full-service maintenance package. This package includes annual temperature control testing and certification, full regulatory checks and access to the company’s oneCALL 24/7 incident management system.
James Hall & Co. is a 5th-generation family business that operates as the primary retailer, wholesaler and distributor for SPAR convenience stores across the North of England. Expected to cover 100,000 kilometres annually, its new trailers will serve a network of independent and company-owned SPAR stores six days a week from its Preston base.
