Lufthansa extends temperature-sensitive freight service

GERMANY's Lufthansa Cargo now offers customers greater refinement in temperature sensitive air freight by adding the latest generation of containers called "opticoolers" in Frankfurt.

Developed jointly with the cargo equipment manufacturer Dokasch, the "opticooler" combines compressor technology as opposed to dry ice with optimum reliability and constant monitoring.

The volume of "temperature-sensitive freight has grown strongly even in defiance of the global economic crisis in 2009", said Andreas Otto, Lufthansa Cargo board member for product and sales.

Speaking at a presentation of the new cooling container, Dr Otto said: "We aim to continue that growth trend and increase our market share. We have for that very reason invested in new technologies."

Transport of temperature-sensitive cargo is highly demanding. With outside temperatures at airports ranging from minus 30 to plus 40 Celsius, products need containers in which temperatures fluctuate only to avert damage to sensitive freight.

The new "opticooler" offers greater reliability, said the Lufthansa statement. Its range of applications is wider than the classical cooling container that keeps temperatures low with dry ice. The "opticooler" works with compressor technology and runs on electricity.

"So it is ideal for transporting goods that must not come into contact with carbon dioxide. Furthermore, the new container makes it easier for Lufthansa Cargo customers to compile the complete documentation required by tougher regulations. The "opticooler" records the container temperature throughout the entire transport operation and makes that information available to customers on request," said the Lufthansa statement.

Lufthansa Cargo completed testing this month. Now "opticoolers" are ready for use on all routes in the cargo carrier's global network, said the company.
(Source:www.schednet.com)