IntegratedreeferNEWS

By Soren Leth Johannsen, Chief Commercial Officer

2012 ended with a lower than initially expected output. 2013 shows mixed signals but, based on the overall activity level seen so far, reefer production is slightly down on 2012 figures - a year that ended with 118,000 reefers produced.

Many lines seem to want to wait to see the result of the announced reefer rate restoration before committing to investments. This allows lessors to continue to make inroads, and their share of new production is at an all-time high.

At present, we are registering a growing demand for MCI products, especially our latest CA system and “CA ready” option. The focus on energy and cargo preservation, mixed with the increased demand for reducing food waste, benefits MCI as the only combined box and unit manufacturer. In 2012, this resulted in a larger customer portfolio for Star Cool and a 32% market share in this segment. Recently, CMA-CGM, Nile Dutch and APL have joined the ranks.

Each liner operator has its own structure and specialities and each new user requires dedicated follow up, training and support. For these reasons, we are increasing our global service group in pace with user expansion. As previously advised, we are also catering for this expansion through increased capacity. The latest news from Chile is that we have initiated the earthmoving process in preparation for the factory buildings, after receiving final governmental approvals.

Some of the main carriers hold a more optimistic view of 2013 compared to 2012, so it seems that things are looking up. It is also a comfort for our industry that the market fundamentals for refrigerated cargo remain strong and are growing. In conclusion, it appears that massive production volumes for reefers are certainly more a matter of when than if.

We are well equipped for the future. While the market can vary, we stay focused on producing the ideal reefer in close cooperation with our clients. In this issue, you can read about “Mark Q” reefer box design improvements, while the back page has some interesting news about unusual reefer use currently taking place in in Germany.

Rough seas, bright outlook

March 2013

To cater for our continually expanding customer base and population of equipment, MCI is pleased to announce the addition to the Star Cool Service department of Gerard Grinwis.

Gerard will be based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and will be an important part of our team, helping to support customers in the Benelux area as well as other territories.

Gerard brings to the team his 20 years of experience in many different facets of container refrigeration, from estimation and repairs to vessel support coordination, global reefer EMR and, most recently, technical project management. This experience will be put to good use as our global support network now includes ten staff and 320 service providers located worldwide.

Star Cool Service contact information can be found on our website at the following address: www.mcicontainers.com/Service/Pages/Contactservice.aspx .

Gerard Grinwis

Expanding global service organisation

Earlier, there were a multitude of different reefer container designs. Each owner had his own specification. Sometimes, the differences between designs were down to minor details. Sometimes, it would entail a totally different design. As a result, the container manufac-turing industry used to resemble workshops rather than a high-tech modern mass-production facility.

Mark Q changes the gameIn 2008, after analysing M&R data and following extensive consulta-tions with customers, MCI came up with the Mark Q reefer container. Mark Q was intended to be a better and cost-effective reefer con-tainer that met the following requirements:

The lowest Cost of Total Ownership (TCO). A rugged reefer, resistant to impact and cost-effective to repair. Not just focusing on the initial cost when buying a new container, but also on the M&R costs during the entire working life of a reefer.

A reefer container for optimal cargo care. To focus on the export-ers’ needs, including insulation and hygiene.

A standard reefer container developed for industrial production. To avoid unnecessary costs, streamline production and to ensure consistently high quality.

Mark Q did not spell the end of some customised designs, but it became the platform from which customers’ designs could develop. Much like car manufacturers now have a common platform used to

make different makes and models of cars. Mark Q is therefore still MCI’s reefer container platform today. When MCI in San Antonio, Chile comes on stream in 2014, the platform will also be Mark Q.

The Mark Q concept was a success from the start, as customer in-volvement in the design phase helped bring acceptance across the industry. The success was such that MCI changed to the Mark Q for 100% orders faster than even the most optimistic projections. To date, MCI has produced more than 180,000 Mark Q containers.

Mark Q continues to evolveMark Q was never intended to be a final design, and over the years it has evolved – it is a “living design”; optimised through constant dia-logue with customers regarding design improvements. One focus is always to optimise the design to lower M&R costs. In recent years, the focus has also been on optimising interior space to make it the least bacteria-prone container in the industry.

Ever since Mark Q was introduced, the design has constantly evolved

to optimise cargo care and minimise repair cost.

Mark Q

the living reefer design

“Our conventional reefer ship services to West Africa mean our reefer containers operate in demanding, high utilisation situations carrying various perishable & frozen cargos, so it is very important to Africa Express Line that it employs reefer containers that are proven to be strong and damage-resistant. We can see the reinforcements made in the Mark Q design help contribute to lower M&R costs, less repair downtime, and also are environmentally friendly with the SuPoTec insulating foam.”

Mathew Shed, Container ManagerAfrica Express Line Ltd.

Since 2010, the Mark Q container is foamed using non-HCFC foam

technology (SuPoTec). This not only makes it the “greenest” container on the market,

but also the only one compliant with all regulations for foam, including

the most recent EU regulation.

Sealant free reefer interior

Mark Q construction is based on detailed repair statistics

Regardless of the commodity transported in a reefer container, one key factor is hygiene. The reefer container interior must be hygienic and clean while water ingress into the foam must be avoided at all times.

During the manufacturing process, sealants are needed for caul-king purposes to ensure that water does not penetrate into the foam. Unfortunately, sealant attracts dirt and bacteria and, even worse, it is prone to damage and is cut loose during steam-cleaning of the con-tainer, leaving room for bacteria growth in the resulting cavity. Over time, this will also increase the risk of water ingress into the foam.

“Re-sealing” is therefore one of the most frequent repair items, adding a steady flow of USD to annual M&R costs - just on sealants.

For these reasons, MCI is working towards a sealant-free container interior.

We have redesigned the interior and re-moved visible sealant while improving

the caulking properties.Through a constant care focus,

MCI are also finding ways to reduce another critical bacteria and rust-prone area: the riv-eted joints. That is why MCI has redesigned more surfaces so

that they are now devoid of visible rivets.

A key component in the development process is MCI’s access to a comprehensive database of detailed repair statistics.

MCI continuously analyses repair statistics to better understand typical damage patterns and areas that are particularly prone to damage.

This is very valuable for the development process, as it shows where it is necessary to redesign, add or remove material or change gauges to improve the box without adding tare weight or reducing insulation values.

As an example, the base and the lower part of the side panels are prone to impact during operation, potentially causing delamination. Raising the base and strengthening it with 7 cross-members, and adding a 3 mm scuff plate to the lower part of the side panels, has eliminated the frequent damage delimination problems in this area, according to customer feedback.

Outer scuff plate

Raised base

Reinforced gooseneck area with outriggers

The Mark Q design is constantly improved by

analysing a comprehensive database of detailed

repair statistics.

7 cross-members

Scuff liner inside

Door with strong internal

frame

Internal stringers

Zinc protection

on corten rail

Examples of damage-prone areas on the container

Damage on thebottom side rail

Typical delaminationdamage

Without inside scuff liner Non-zincgalvanised frame

Rear header

Scuff liner

Mark Q design without visible sealant:

Jamb post

Inside the doors Rivet-free doors

The intention is to makethe reefer interior totallyrivet and visible sealant free- just like your domesticrefrigerator at home.

Rear sill

This newsletter is published quarterly by: Maersk Container Industry AS. Bjerndrupvej 47, DK-6360 Tinglev, Denmark.

To subscribe and unsubscribe, please go to: www.mcicontainers.com

To request additional copies or if you have any other inquiries about the newsletter, please write to one of these emails: sales@maerskbox.com · starcool@starcool.dk

■ Service Providers/Distribution Centres■ Purchasing spare parts ■ Request training

www.starcool.dkwww.mcicontainers.com

In a first-of-its kind test, Star Cool refrigeration containers from MCI have been entrusted with preserving a unique wooden structure on a site listed by UNESCO as a world heritage landmark.

The wooden structure is a basement storage cellar dating from around 1180 and located in the German city of Lübeck. At the time, the city was a prosperous commercial centre for Baltic Hansa trade.

“This basement is one of the largest and best-preserved medieval cellar constructions in Northern Europe,” says Maruchi Yoshida, an independent conservator associated with the Fraunhofer-Institute for Building Physics and Leibniz-Gemeinschaft who is managing the container project, ARCHe.

“Star Cool was chosen because of its extremely precise temperature and atmospheric control. Such precision is a must if you want to preserve sensitive cultural assets like wet organic structures,” she says.

The old cellar came to light in 2012 during a large-scale archaeological rescue excavation (2009-2014) in the old city area where developers are planning a new luxury housing complex. Now, the cellar has been carefully moved to storage in a Star Cool reefer for further analysis and conservation.

According to Maruchi Yoshida, the Lübeck pilot test may hold promise for the future. “We are looking at a business plan for a company that, at short notice, can provide conservation services and reefers upon the sudden discovery of new archeological sites. There is also potential in the salvage of cultural assets following natural catastrophes and conflicts. Such a company would benefit both urban developers and cultural heritage care offices, but above all the society to which the cultural heritage belongs,” she says.

Some things haven’t changed since 1180. The cellar stored crops like hops that were used for beer production. In other words, beer was enjoyed both then and now in Germany.

The famous Millerntor stadium, home to FC St. Pauli, one of Hamburg’s two football teams, is in the process of being upgraded to modern standards to accommodate the many fans coming to watch the games.

Before and during a football match, hungry and thirsty fans flock to the stalls for food and drinks. In order to store refreshments at the right temperature for the 29,000 fans who turn up at every game, the club needs external refrigerated storage capacity. For this, they turned to one of their long time sponsors, the container leasing company, MAGELLAN Maritime Services.

Carsten Jans, Managing Director at MAGELLAN, has supplied refrigerated containers to St. Pauli for years. MAGELLAN knew that they had to find a solution for the modern stadium with accurate temperature control, low running costs and with the least amount of disturbance to fans, employees and the general public.

Although the St. Pauli fans are not known to be particularly quiet, it is still important that the units make as little environmental impact as possible.

“When the new containers were installed, I had to check to see if the units were running as their noise level was significantly lower compared to the previous ones,” said Torsten Vierkant, project manager St. Pauli.

Accurately cooled refreshments for St. Pauli football fans

Preserving the past

A Star Cool reefer in front of St. Mary’s Church, a famous landmark in Lübeck.

The wooden structure is a basement storage

cellar dating from around 1180.

One of five Star Cool reefers arrives at Millerntor stadium in Hamburg.

“Based on our experience with Star Cool we know that the units are highly energy-efficient”, says Carsten Jans.

From left: Project manager Torsten Vierkant, St. Pauli and Managing Director Carsten Jans, MAGELLAN.