Giant Temperature Controlled Zone from SMI

Giant Temperature Controlled Zone from SM protects flowers at Schiphol Airport

To protect chilled goods at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport Seymour Manufacturing International (SMI) has recently installed a giant Temperature Controlled Zone (TCZ) 9m long, 6m wide and 5.8m high which is performing to the complete satisfaction of the operators, Rockwood Airfreight B.V.

The protection and preservation of flowers before shipment had long been a problem for exporters of these delicate products whose condition could not be guaranteed previously as they were liable to deterioration from heat or extreme cold.  Blooms are now being shipped in prime condition and commanding top market prices.

At Schiphol the TCZ curtains are simply pulled out into their operating position on a special SMI extruded track within an area already controlled to 9ºC to provide a separate 300 cubic metre zone. The evaporator/condenser is switched on some fifteen minutes before the flowers arrive to produce a constant temperature of 2ºC for their safe storage.

After the product is dispatched, the evaporator is turned off and the curtains drawn back into their parking position.  This allows this very expensive area of real estate to be used for another storage task or airport function.

TCZ's, Temperature Controlled Zones, (Hang up a cold room) have proved a very successful and versatile SMI product offering instant chill protection over just about any area and height for numerous products.  Energy to run the evaporator is only used when required and therefore is only a fraction of the operating cost of a conventional cold room.

Products protected include seed potatoes, pre-assembly of chilled goods before merchandising into store retail cabinets, food processing areas, food packaging areas, bakery zones for chocolate and cream application, temperature sensitive chemicals, munitions, multi temperature rooms, cash and carry display rooms, beer cellars and a host of other applications where the separation of temperature sensitive products and services is important.

Once a TCZ is installed, areas to suit all of these applications can be created in minutes at a very low capital cost and only use power when needed.

SMI’s Temperature Controlled Zone (TCZ) at Schiphol for  flower storage at 2ºC is 9m long, 6m wide and 5.8m high