Transport refrigeration points to clean technology for a safe future
Hubbard Products, one the UK’s leading designers and manufacturers of transport refrigeration systems, is turning its attention to ‘clean technology’ for the future. The company, part of the Worldwide Zanotti Group, which produces in excess of 10,000 transport refrigeration units per annum feels that not enough is being done to harness the power of clean technology.
Alessandro Evangelisti, Executive Director of Hubbard Products says: "At a time when the worldwide economy faces unprecedented challenges from high energy prices, shrinking natural resources, unpredictable sources of fossil fuels and environmental challenges, it is important that manufacturers like Hubbard act quickly with focus and determination to create practical solutions. We have the choice of gripping the opportunity and leading from the front to progress the technology as early as possible or simply sitting back and waiting for others to step up to the mark first. We have chosen the former option!
"Working in collaboration with our clients we expect to be able to start sharing our developments with the world of transport refrigeration in the very near future".
He continues: "After much consultation with our customers from around the world it is clear that clean technology can be the only real answer to the commercial challenges the world as a whole faces. By Clean Technology we mean products that deliver value using limited or zero nonrenewable resources and which create significantly less waste than conventional offerings. This could be anything from solar power to hybrid electric solutions, from cryogenics to revisiting older concepts in refrigeration. But, it is much more than just utilising renewable materials and energy sources it is also about reducing our reliance on natural resources by using them more efficiently and productively, not only cutting or eliminating pollution and wastes but delivering superior performance compared with traditional solutions. As a manufacturer this makes real sense, waste is nothing but zero return on investment.
"Hubbard has already embarked on a programme of development in collaboration with other European suppliers and is in discussions with UK high street retailers about the future of refrigeration transport in general. We have set ourselves strenuous targets that we have to meet by 2012, which is a significant date as our strive for clean technology has much in common with the London Olympics. As with Olympic athletes, we have to put in the hard work before we can even think about stepping up onto the winners podium and we believe that what we achieve now will have a significant legacy not only for Hubbard, but for our industry in general.
"There are many technical challenges that not only manufacturers have to overcome; our customers are working equally as hard in collaboration with ourselves to re-address the practicalities of the changes that are going to have to be made to cold chain logistics. Whilst Government’s may come and go, with their attendant financial policies and tax regimes, the environmental imperative is here to stay.
"The opportunity for technological advancement has never been greater, not only are we working with commercial concerns throughout Europe but we are drawing on academic skills from Universities in the UK and abroad, working in collaboration to develop unique solutions. This has a twofold effect, our technical research and development teams are able to share their considerable technical manufacturing knowledge with purist technologists, whilst the scientists are able to offer completely new perspectives on old problems".
At its UK headquarters at Otley, near Ipswich, Hubbard have invested heavily in the last 12 months in new manufacturing plant, new business computer operating systems and a new production line for static equipment as well as the investment in clean technology Research and Development.