Carrier Transicold has been recognised with the John Connell Enterprise in Quiet Transport Award 2011 by the Noise Abatement Society for its latest PIEK-certified refrigeration system, the Vector™ 1550 City unit. The award was presented at a special ceremony last week at the Palace of Westminster in London. Carrier Transicold helps improve global transport and shipping temperature control with a complete line of equipment for refrigerated trucks, trailers and containers, and is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

This marks the second John Connell Award for Carrier Transicold. Honoured in the Innovation category in 2007 for its Vector 1850 City unit, Carrier Transicold was the first temperature controlled equipment manufacturer in Europe to offer a trailer refrigeration system meeting the stringent PIEK standards. This latest award follows just eight months after the Vector 1550 City unit’s launch, featuring new technology that offers fleets a mono-temperature solution combining low energy consumption, enhanced environmental performance, maximum cold chain protection and reduced noise.

“What makes the Vector 1550 City unit unique is its ability to meet the demanding PIEK legislation without requiring expensive trailer modifications, such as under trailer exhaust systems,” said Justin Grace, managing director, Carrier Transicold UK. “This makes it a seamless option for trailer manufacturers, particularly those that build their products onto a chassis-less trailer.

“As a market leader, customers look to us to provide innovative solutions to their distribution needs – and we are honoured to be recognised a second time with this distinguished award.”

The key difference between the Vector 1550 City unit and a standard Vector 1550 unit is the integration of a wireless ColdTouch display in the cab, which allows the driver to switch to PIEK mode en route, enabling fleets to benefit from a system optimised for both daytime and night-time use.

The Vector 1550 City unit provides the same advantages as the standard Vector 1550 model, including the use of Carrier Transicold’s patented all-electric technology, which removes serviceable parts to help lengthen product life, enhance reliability, lower fuel consumption and improve reliability. Critically, it achieves this whilst reducing the sound emitted by the standard Vector 1550 model by more than 10 decibels (dB), ensuring maximum sound emissions of just 59.5dB – below the 60dB PIEK standard.

It also uses the same mounting points and front wall opening as a standard trailer unit – ensuring the installation process remains similar to other standard Vector units, with no specific chassis work required, a characteristic welcomed by bodybuilders. It provides all this in a light weight package, weighing in at just 790 kg.

The new Vector 1550 City unit joins the more powerful Vector 1850 City multi- temperature system, which features the reefer's diesel engine mounted underneath the chassis in a specially insulated cabinet to offer quantifiable reductions in noise. In developing the optimised Vector 1550 City unit, Carrier Transicold has ensured that customers requiring only single temperature capability can benefit from the same quiet delivery opportunities without the need to specify a more powerful and more costly refrigeration system – and one which is naturally less fuel efficient when being used purely for less intensive single temperature operations.

Commenting on demand for the Vector 1550 City across Europe, Lionel Pourcheresse, product manager, Carrier Transicold Europe, said, “We have seen increased demand, from the retail business sector in particular, for low-noise units. The Vector 1550 City unit falls directly in line with this market development and has been entirely customer-driven. Using PIEK-certified refrigeration units demonstrates concern for the general well-being of both the public and drivers. Furthermore, it can constitute a strong differentiator for logistics companies and retailers operating in highly competitive and regulated markets.”

Established in the Netherlands in 2003 to respond to growing concerns from local government and supermarkets, PIEK standards stipulate that noise levels during night deliveries (from 10:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) must not surpass 60dB, the equivalent of normal conversation. Under PIEK standards, night deliveries are permitted, but only if specific noise level restrictions are met. While the Netherlands paved the way in this field, numerous projects aimed at reducing noise pollution have since come to fruition in other European countries including France, the UK, Spain and Germany.

For more information visit www.carriercityline.com