REFRIGERATED container "reefer" GUIDE

20' & 40' PORTABLE ELECTRIC

WALK-IN COOLER CONTAINERS - THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

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REEFER
INVENTORY

PHOTOS

Site Preparation
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How does a reefer container work?

Checklist for Stowage of Reefer Cargo

PrimeLINE^®

We've been developing our Reefer Practice for a while and are gaining a reputation as the
go-to reefer seller!

We've been developing our Reefer Practice for a while
and are gaining a reputation as the go-to reefer seller!

Do you need cold storage and/or temperature controlled
storage space for your

bar, beer cave, beverage cooler, brewery, butchery, clinic, cafeteria, soup kitchen, chicken farm, convenience store, dairy farm, floral shop, grocery store, restaurant, school, etc. pp?

20' and 40' all-electric container refrigeration units or "reefers" are designed to transport temperature sensitive goods across land and sea like

bananas, beverages and juice, dairy and ice cream, flower bulbs, flowers, and plants, fruit and vegetables, meat and seafood, chilled wine, and pharmaceuticals

Retired reefer containers are ideal for on-site chiller applications:

Restaurants and Food Stores: Keep extra food supplies and ensure that your perishable produce does not go to waste.

Festivals and Outdoor Events: Offer cooled drinks and fresh foods at concerts, open air festivals, farmers’ markets, sporting events, etc.

Disaster Relief: Offer reprieve for stricken victims of natural disasters by delivering them large quantities of food, water, medicine and other perishable supplies.

Did you know?
Harvested fruit can be contaminated by pests such as vermin, fruit flies and damaging insects. Instead of using harmful chemicals to disinfest produce, reefer containers are used to expose crops to extended and sustained low temperatures until pests are eliminated. This process is called cold sterilization or Cold Treatment (CT).

Is "refrigerated" a misnomer?

Reefer containers can maintain cold AND warm temperature levels They can run at set temperatures anywhere on the scale above or below freezing.

Power Source

Refrigeration units run on electrical power, see requirements below. Aboard ships, at terminals and depots they are plugged into an electrical power supply. When travelling overland, diesel engine powered generators or "Gensets" provide electrical power: "Clip-on" Gensets attach to the front of the reefer whereas "underslung" Gensets are mounted under the chassis.

Operating and Non-operating Reefers (NOR)

Non-operating or non-running reefers are popular with cool customers who just need an insulated container for storage or which they can convert to an insulated and winter proof tiny home or similar space.

Other customers will purchase a cheaper NOR in order to save costs and will install their own HVAC/air conditioning system, see below. This makes sense if your electricity supplier does not offer a three phase, 360 to 480 Volt power source and/or you do not wish to invest in and run a step-up transformer. This might be your solution:

MODALART PARTS FOR CONTAINER UPGRADES:

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Reefers Vs. Cold Rooms or Commercial Walk-in Coolers and Freezers

At similar price points, reefers are generally much larger and offer more cooled space than commercial walk-in coolers or freezers. Furthermore, reefers can be placed and operated both outdoors (utilize extra space on your property) or indoors (garage or warehouse).
Reefers do not come with the hefty construction expense of brick-and-mortar cooling buildings. Moreover, they can be exempt from permits and local building codes and taxes as non-permanent structures.
Reefers can be deployed permanently or temporarily, and are easy to relocate. Relocatable containers used for business are considered as "equipment" pursuant to Section 179 and can qualify for write offs and tax deductions. See online Sec. 179 tax calculator.

Please run the numbers for your temperature controlled facility including mortgage, taxes, electricity consumption, maintenance, repairs, mobility, etc. and compare! (Disclaimer: Please always consult a lawyer and/or CPA. ModalART is not a tax advisor.)

Pre-Trip Inspection (PTI)

Before delivery, Cargoworthy and IICL reefers are PTI'd to ensure that the unit is undamaged, the machinery is in running order, and that the unit is steam cleaned.

Inspections include the evaluation of the unit's refrigeration and heating capacity, temperature control, various components and the controller display, plus contactors, fans, protection devices and sensors. PTI tests take between 30 minutes and 2.5 hours to complete.

PTI's are included in the purchase price. AS-IS Reefers are sold AS-IS with no PTI/steam cleaning included. Ask to confirm when you buy from us.

General Grading Criteria for Reefers

GRADE		MACHINERY	PTI	COMMENTS
ASIS	In the condition the unit came into our depot. Not inspected before sale. Not repaired.	Non-running	No	The container could be in a variety of physical conditions; Scrap to Cargo Worthy, or even IICL That is why we can add the estimate cost to repair the container to IICL condition, that way the customer can better judge the actual condition of the container.
ASIS HD	High Damage	Non-running	No
WWT	Domestic sale	Non-running	No	Could be running
CW	For export	Running	Yes	PTI sometimes only on request
IICL	Leasing unit	Running	Yes	Usually not for sale
NEW	One Trip ex China	Running	Yes	See Features below.

Features of our New / One Trip Reefers:

5-Year Global Warranty
on all engines.
Top Engine Brands:
Thermo King, Carrier, Daikin, and Starcool.
Multiple Sizes Available:
See specifications for new 20', 20'HC, and 40'HC reefers.
Patented Ice Breaker Door:
Single locking rod on the right door, longer rubber-grip handle for easier leverage, and smooth opening even with ice or frost buildup.
Butcher Door
with improved clearance height and width, see image above.
Key Lock Door System
for extra security.
Enhanced Safety Features:
Bright interior lights, high-pitched panic alarm, and inside safety release door.
Raised Locking Gear:
Positioned 1m above the ground for convenience.
Floor Options:
Choose between flat floor or T-bar floor.
Protective Scuff Liner on sidewalls
to reduce loading/ unloading damage.
Ramp Lip Design:
Full-width ramp lip allows two ramps side by side for wider loading.
Heavy-Duty PVC Sliding Curtains
built for durability.
Easy Maintenance:
Exterior polyurethane paint makes cleaning simple.

Upgrades for New Reefers:

Remote Monitoring for 24/7 visibility
Lightweight, durable aluminum ramp
Dual-voltage transformer for flexibility anywhere.

Thermo King Dual Voltage Transformer for Reefer Options
Carrier Dual Voltage Transformer

Dependability and Reliability:
Nationwide Maintenance & Repair Services

Leading machinery manufacturers like Thermo King, Carrier, Daiken
and Starcool offer parts and repair services nationwide.

General Reefer Specifications

(See Operation Manuals below.)

Temperature ranges:
Regular Reefer:
    −30ºC to +30ºC
    PrimeLINE^®/ MAGNUM^®/ MAGNUM PLUS^®: −35ºC to +30ºC
Super Freezer:
    −70°C to −10°C
    MAGNUM PLUS^® for 20’ reefer: −40°C to +30°C
Our depots generally PTI used reefers to -18 C.
Thermostat controls the machinery to maintain set point temperature within above ranges.
Ventilation (fresh-air exchange) range: 0 to 240 cbm/h
Dehumidification range: 60% to 95% maximum relative humidity
Operating voltage: Three-phase 360 to 480 Volt/50 to 60 Hertz. See below.
Fan speed (internal air circulation): max. 3,000 cbm/h (low speed), max. 6,000 cbm/h (high speed)
Top quality insulation ensures minimum heat leakage
Most reefers have T-bar aluminum floors for optimum air circulation. The T-bars allow chilled air to circulate through the gratings of the ducted floor along the entire reefer.
Temperature-controlled using built-in microprocessors
See d imensions, capacity, payload. Note that specifications may vary with manufacturer and are subject to change.

Do you have enough power?

Reefers require three-phase 460/480 Volt AC, 50 to 60 Hertz and a circuit breaker with a minimum of 30 Amps.

If your power supply is 208/230 Volt AC, 50 to 60 Hertz you will need a circuit breaker with a minimum of 50 Amps and a transformer.

The voltage variance must be limited to +/- 15 percent.
It is imperative that circuit breakers and surge protectors are at the electrical source.
The microprocessor control system circuits are very sensitive. Never arc weld any reefer component or conductive part on which the reefer rests.

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Operation and Service Manuals

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