Cold Chain Monitoring Options For Transit

A Simple Summary Of Cold Chain Monitoring Options For Transit

It is vital across all cold chain food distribution that products are kept at a safe temperature throughout their journey. This ensures compliance with health standards from major organisations and alleviates food safety concerns surrounding bacterial growth, infection, and contamination. Cold chain monitoring is also the best way to encourage cold chain accountability, and can provide vital data records for insurance claims and audits.

There are many options for cold chain monitoring and it can be very confusing trying to find out which is the best choice for your business. To help, we’ve gone back to basics to explain what the differences between these products are, and which one is right for you.

Temperature Indicators

Temperature indicators are easy-to-apply stickers that change colour upon entering an unacceptable temperature range. They are a clear, visible deterrent to mishandling. There are no electronics involved, and they are single-use only. We recommend ShockWatch’s ColdMark and WarmMark products for the highest accuracy on the market for indicator technology.

Benefits of using ShockWatch Indicators:

• The Cheapest option
• Fast and instant indication of mishandling or environmental abuse
• One-time use activation
• Offers evidence for insurance claims
• Alerts recipient to inspect the contents before accepting delivery
• Visual indication and deterrent that people shouldn’t mishandle
• Tamper-Proof
• Easy-to-apply adhesive backing
• Available in rolls – allows for rapid application if needed
• Clear binary yes/no result
• Can be shipped and stored under most conditions
• Individually serialised to help product tracking for internal handling and chain of custody

Data Loggers

A data logger is an electronic instrument (usually battery powered) that monitors an environment over time and automatically logs data within its internal memory. If the logger has an LCD screen it can also display live data readings. Data is extracted manually after transit, usually via a USB connection to a PC. We recommend Hanwell Solutions’ data loggers for standalone cold chain monitoring requirements or consistent data records.

Benefits of using a Hanwell Data Logger:

• Larger temperature range
• High accuracy sensors
• Can measure parameters other than temperature, such as;
  • Relative Humidity
  • Light
  • CO2
  • Shock/Impact
• Provides a full record of temperature and any breaches throughout journey
• Full records relieve the pressure of audits
• Unlike an indicator, this can track several breaches
• Can detect when and where damage could have occurred, with date and time stamped records
• Provides consistent record keeping, without gaps
• Automated reports, that can be downloaded via USB
• No danger of human error
• Great for insurance claims – tells you exactly when the breach occurred

Wireless Transport Logging System

Before a vehicle leaves the distribution centre, a wireless transmitter is attached to a pallet or lorry. Each transmitter will log temperature data at 10-minute intervals for up to 1 or 4 days (depending on requirements). On arrival either back (at the same distribution centre or a store networked to the main cold chain monitoring system) transmitters will immediately and automatically download data without the need for a manual interception. We recommend Hanwell IceSpy for competitive accuracy and reliable environmental monitoring.

Benefits of using Hanwell IceSpy:

• Combines the benefits of indicators and data loggers
• Widest temperature range of -200°C to +350°C
• Newly updated, feature-rich EMS Software which displays your data
• Immediate alerts and alarm notifications direct to email and SMS
• Instant and automatic download of events to EMS upon arrival
• View, share and interact with live data and alarms from anywhere in the world 24/7
• Share data with users and allocate permissions to various data groups
• Access critical information on your local PC, via the company intranet or network and via the internet
• Helps to follow FDA, HACCP, and MHRA regulations.

GPRS Transmitters

GPRS Transmitters require a SIM card and use a mobile data service in order to transmit data from remote locations, and is a cold chain temperature monitoring option for specific situations. We recommend Hanwell Solutions’ iSense for monitoring isolated locations without internet access, which are sometimes miles away from the main base system, or on route to another destination.

Benefits of using iSense:

• Long Range GPRS transmitter
• Perfect for remote locations
• Superior performance hardware and high accuracy sensors
• Completely self-contained (battery operated)
• All data recovered in the event of temporary GPRS coverage problems
• 24/7 real-time updates to EMS software
• Newly updated, feature-rich EMS Software which displays your data
• Immediate alerts and alarm notifications direct to email and SMS

To find out more about our temperature indicators, contact us today.