How Does Cold Transport Work?

In the not so distant past, shippingpackages while keeping their contents cold, but newer
temperature-sensitive and perishable products overcold transport technologies have eliminated some of
long distances relied on the use of real ice and itsthe drawbacks involved with shipping dry ice.
obvious limitations. Today, advancements in coldPackages shipped with dry ice require compliance with
shipping technology combined with rapid deliverystringent packaging protocols and must be marked
options from shipping companies have made it possiblewith a hazard class 9 label, UN 1845. While dry ice is
to reliably ship perishable items much longer distances.still widely used for shipping temperature sensitive
Products such as meat, fish, produce, chocolate,products, innovations in cold shipping technologies have
pharmaceuticals and other perishable goods can nowmade cold shipping safer and eliminated the need for
be shipped across the country or across the worldthe hazardous material designation.
without compromising their integrity.Water-based gel refrigerants such as the Ice
The use for cold transport technology is vast. TheBrick(TM) Shipping Pack from Nortech Labs have
medical industry relies heavily on cold shippingemerged as the next generation in cold transport.
technology to transport medicine, vaccines and otherThese water based refrigerants are designed to
biological materials. Perishable foods such as meat,provide a safer, non-toxic alternative to dry ice that
produce and chocolate are exported and shipped alldoes not require the hazard class 9 label. The
over the world using the same or similar technologies.versatility of cold shipping packs makes them ideal for
The specialized supply chain involved with transportingdiverse applications, from complex cold chain activities
temperature sensitive products is called the cold chain.to shipping chocolates to your mom. With many
The cold chain refers to an approach to logistics incountries across the world relying on cold transport
which the temperatures of goods are controlledtechnology to export billions of dollars in perishable
throughout all phases of transportation including loading,goods, manufacturers will undoubtedly continue to
shipping, unloading and storage.advance this logistically critical technology.
Dry ice makes it possible to ship refrigerated