ChiliXpress break the mould on chilled deliveries.

Midlands-based ChiliXpress have introduced a new concept in chilled distribution, designed to overcome the inflexibility of current temperature-controlled operations.

The ChiliXpress service is designed for consignments of one to five pallets, transported through a hub-and-spoke groupage operation, offering guaranteed deliveries within 24, 48 and 72 hours. ChiliXpress rents out specially-designed insulated chilled XP Boxes (XPB's) with self-contained eutectic refrigeration. Producers load their own pallets in the normal way and hauliers transport the XPBs as they would any ambient pallet.

The loaded pallet is placed in the XPB by the food manufacturer under chilled conditions. The access door is then closed, and sealed, and remains unopened until arrival at the customer, guaranteeing both the temperature and load integrity of each XPB. ChiliXpress owns the boxes and rents them, charging a daily fee.

The XPBs are designed to accept a complete pallet load of goods and maintain the chill temperature between 1 and 5[variables]C. There are two sizes of XPB, both capable of a 1200 by 1000mm pallet, although differing in terms of height. Temperature maintenance is achieved by replaceable eutectic cartridges, situated on a sliding tray integrally fitted to the rear wall of the XPB. Each set of cartridges is capable of maintaining the internal box temperature for 72 hours. Ferroplast%o insulated panels have been specified by ChiliXpress, and are supplied by Schmitz Cargobull. The panels have steel exterior skins, which are especially resistant to fork-lift damage. The front door is lockable and can be customs-sealed. Each box has a 2in LCD temperature display on the outside at the rear and a removable internal temperature recorder fitted on the inside.