1. Refrigerated Trailers and Warehouses
For goods that need precise temperature control, refrigerated shipping and warehousing is usually the preferred option. Businesses should take care to find a reliable refrigerated logistics partner that can provide detailed information about their temperature-control practices, particularly in last-mile shipping. Some cold chain logistics technologies now even allow shippers to track their cargo’s temperatures mid-journey, so make sure to ask a potential 3PL partner what kind of additional services they provide.2. Dry Ice
One of the first methods discovered for heavy-duty refrigerated shipping was solidified carbon dioxide, better known as dry ice. This substance stays extremely cold for a long time and is non-toxic, making it effective for perishables shipping, but it presents its own challenges. Dry ice can cause painful burns if it touches the skin, and it gradually replaces a room’s oxygen as it sublimates, which means it can cause asphyxiation in a small, unventilated room. Dry ice is still a go-to refrigerated shipping method for many businesses, but it needs to be handled carefully. Most large carriers such as UPS and FedEx have restrictions on dry ice, so be sure to thoroughly read and understand their rules before shipping goods packed with dry ice. (And grab some dry ice labels while you’re at it.)
3. Reusable Refrigerant Gel Packs
Reusable refrigerant gel packs are a great alternative to dry ice. These gel packs are also known as phase change materials because they contain a gel that can freeze, melt and be re-frozen again and again. Air Sea Containers offers reusable refrigerant gel packs that are ideal for providing a little extra cooling power to goods while in transit. What’s more, they’re easier on the environment thanks to being completely recyclable and biodegradable, and they can be safely handled by anyone without the risk of injury or contamination. We offer our refrigerant gel packs in 16-ounce, 32-ounce and 48-ounce sizes.4. Styrofoam Coolers
Styrofoam coolers might be old-school, but they still offer some of the best value of any kind of refrigerated shipping materials. Styrofoam is an excellent insulator that’s also inexpensive and reusable, making it a great solution for any kind of insulated shipping when combined with materials like refrigerant gel packs or dry ice. Air Sea Containers ships our Styrofoam coolers in economy pallet loads of 45 to 100 units, and each comes with an overpack box for extra protection.5. Specimen Kits
Some kinds of materials require a more intensive approach to temperature-controlled shipping, such as biological specimens being shipped for laboratory testing. For these applications, Air Sea Containers offers specimen shipping kits designed especially for biological shipping applications. These include pre-freezable Bio-Bottle® technology to keep specimens cold and safely contained, and our heavy-duty Ultra-Freeze Plus Pack even includes special phase change blocks that can keep a specimen below freezing for over a week straight.6. Drum Heaters and Blankets
Most temperature-controlled shipping methods focus on keeping cargo refrigerated. But when outside temperatures are frigid, it can be just as important to keep cargo from freezing or falling below a certain temperature. Air Sea’s bucket and drum heaters are the perfect solution. We offer both IntelliHeat® Thermosafe® Induction Heaters and a wide variety of flexible drum and tote heating jackets to maintain ideal cargo temperatures in cold weather. Our drum heaters are designed for maximum flexibility and personnel safety, and many are rated for performance in ambient temperatures all the way down to -40ºF.
3.0L Ultra-Freeze Plus Pack
Temperature-controlled shipping is a major part of 21st-century logistics, and businesses who ship perishable goods owe it to themselves (and their customers) to know all of the available options. With a little research, you can find a cost-effective temperature-controlled packaging option from Air Sea Containers that will make it easier than you ever thought possible to ship perishable goods.
