Leader – Q3 2024 – Integrated Reefer News
By Søren Leth Johannsen
CEO of Maersk Container Industry
Welcome to our 3rd quarter edition of our Integrated Reefer News in 2024. Again, we are pleased to provide you with a selection of news from MCI.
As we continue our journey towards a sustainable future, I’m proud to introduce Star Cool 1.1, a leap forward in decarbonizing the reefer industry. With sustainability, energy efficiency, and reliability, being entrenched in the DNA of our products, Star Cool 1.1 brings an innovative approach to addressing the evolving needs of the industry.
Adapting to Rising Refrigerant Prices: A Flexible Approach
While the price and global availability of R134a is relatively stable and there are no indications of shortages observed in the EU, they are on record high levels since the introduction of the F-gas quota system.
Initially, prices had increased exponentially back in 2017, but in hindsight it could be concluded that a large part can be attributed to stockpiling and other effects that impacted an insecure market.
Alternatives, such as R513A has been rather steady through the last 4-5 years, with an average price increase of 2.7% per year in the service sector.
As of this January, China introduced a freeze in HFC quantity available to the market, following the Kigali Amendment. Consequently, prices so far increased by 10% and it is expected that this trend will continue over the coming years.
Adapted for the Future
Sustainability is now a key focus in our sector, but also is the assurance of the life expectancy of the reefer and here the Star Cool 1.1 addresses those two important parameters with its flexible triple refrigerant solution. Building on our double refrigerant system, this new solution offers seamless transitions between R134a, R513A, and R1234yf, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations such as the latest US standards, all without hardware changes.
Energy efficiency remains a priority, and Star Cool 1.1’s advanced compressor reduces energy consumption by 8%, helping operators to achieve lower costs and emissions. With integrated energy monitoring, via Sekstant telematics, users can easily optimize their energy usage.
Reliability is central to Star Cool. With design enhancements on the upgraded 1.1 – such as a reversed evaporator coil, reinforced cargo barriers, a compressor operating with lower speed and increased efficiency ensuring that durability and consistent performance for safe cargo transport remains paramount.
You can read much more about the Star Cool 1.1 in this newsletter as well as in our press release here. The future of refrigerated transport is one that balances reliability, efficiency and sustainability in a flexible way, and we are excited to be leading this change.
Warm regards,
Søren Leth Johannsen
CEO
