Transport news Specialist food service distributor invests in Hubbard ‘efficient cold’ transport fleet

Now reputed to be the 3rd largest specialist distributor in England, Express Foodservice supplies over five million kilos of product per annum. As well as delivering to large parts of the country its locations include Europe, Channel Islands and the Falkland Islands. Employing over 50 staff from their Rustington base, the company offers their range of frozen and chilled catering products to businesses and everyday private customers.

The new vehicles supplement their existing Hubbard Products cooled distribution fleet. As a long-standing customer of Hubbard Products, Express Foodservice is familiar with the performance and efficiency of the 720 range of twin evaporator units, having specified them on previous occasions.

The Hubbard 720 AELT-24-3 in use with Express Foodservice operate at – 21°C for the freezer compartment and 1°C for the chilled compartment. Fast pull down was a prime requirement for Express Foodservice, with delivery drops ranging from between 10 and 25 drops per route with door openings sometimes as long as one hour.

With electric standby, the 720 Alpha twin evaporator is a split system designed to provide optimum performance in medium-sized box bodies that are insulated for fresh or frozen produce transport.

The system comprises a condenser with two 20 series 2-fan evaporators, with or without electric standby, a compressor and in-cab digital controller that is fully programmable provides constant temperature readout.

The system features automatic defrost but manual defrost can be initiated by push button control.

The refrigeration system is driven using a compressor that is mounted within the engine compartment and belt driven from the vehicle engine crankshaft. When the vehicle’s engine is running and the thermostat calls for cooling, an electro-magnetic clutch on the compressor is engaged enabling the unit to provide refrigeration. A semi-hermetic compressor powers the refrigeration system on mains standby.

The system has VCA EMC Certification Approval (No. E11-10R-048576) and offers high capacity for greater efficiency. The split unit is bulkhead-mounted with three-phase electric standby ensuring the unit has low noise levels.

Jed Sherwood, Hubbard Products Regional Sales Manager explains; “With the trend in casual dining moving towards premium flavours, tastes and experiences, delivering product in optimum condition, quickly and efficiently i.e. cost-effectively, is a major concern for companies like Express Foodservice. Hubbard’s approach to transport refrigeration is summed up in our motto ‘Efficient-cold, Clean-cold’ reflecting our belief that innovation is as much about understanding our customers’ businesses as it is about producing credible and reliable refrigeration equipment. The 720 system with electric standby as specified by Express Foodservice has proven itself to be quiet, efficient and reliable and we are pleased to be associated with customers who are ‘going-places’.”

Neil Holman of Express Foodservice comments “In September 2014 we relocated to a larger and more efficient distribution depot, as a result of that move our daily delivery requirement has increased with significant consequence for our vehicles and their refrigeration systems. Hubbard Products’ maintenance and support have been exemplary, Hubbard’s engineer Nick Carter, has worked with us for over a decade and has helped us develop our business with his knowledge of transport refrigeration from both a

maintenance and an operational viewpoint. This input has given us significant faith in Hubbard Products service and support, so much so that over 80% of our fleet is specified with their products.”

The DAF LF 45 vehicles were supplied by Barnes DAF, with insulated box body conversion by Solomon Commercials.

For further information on Express Foodservice see www.express-foodservice.co.uk