UK - Fraserburgh-based Gray & Adams, a supplier of temperature-controlled semi-trailers and rigid vehicle bodywork, has designed an automated loading pod, built inside an extra-long 15.6m refrigerated body, which can hold up to 60 pallets at temperatures as low as -22 degrees C. This innovation, coupled with a 44-pallet capacity double deck trailer, can be loaded in under seven minutes, automatically – a first for the UK.

Despite this process having been used in manufacturing for many years, it is a completely new concept for the food industry. Tom Cassells, Logistics Advisor at NewCold said he had been impressed with loading automation innovations in Germany and wanted to bring this to the UK for use with double decks. However, most loading bays lack the space required to facilitate auto-loading equipment. The, often lengthy, process of loading and unloading refrigerated vehicles is costly and can also affect the quality of refrigerated produce which can deteriorate if exposed to higher temperatures. The challenge to Gray & Adams was to engineer a solution to facilitate auto-loading operations in a temperature-controlled environment to ensure best quality produce and optimised efficiency with reduced loading times.