"Cold chain" is a term that gained a lot of popularity in a specific phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, during the first distribution of vaccines.
As often happens, with the passage of time and the return to normality, this word seems to have fallen into oblivion again. But regardless of what's on the news, the cold chain exists before, during and after the pandemic and still plays a crucial role in the logistics of many goods.
Today we deal with the cold chain and its essential function in our society.
What is the Cold Chain
We call the cold chain the set of operations necessary to ensure the maintenance of optimal thermal conditions for heat-sensitive products during all phases of their production, storage and distribution.
For example, during the pandemic it became necessary for land transporters to be equipped to keep their containers at sufficiently low temperatures in order to preserve vaccines.
However, this process is essential for maintaining the quality and safety of a wide range of products, including foods, drugs and other biological materials.
Let's take a closer look at how it works.
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How the Cold Chain Works
Just like a real chain, the cold chain is based on a series of highly interconnected steps that aim to keep products at specific temperatures, from the point of origin to the final consumer. These steps include:
- Production and Preparation: Products are produced and prepared in controlled environments, where they are immediately refrigerated or frozen.
- Storage: Products are stored in refrigerated warehouses or freezers, where temperatures are constantly monitored and maintained.
- Transportation: During transportation, products are kept at a controlled temperature using refrigerated trucks, insulated containers or other specialized means of transport.
- Distribution and Sales: Distribution and sales points have refrigerated facilities to keep products at the necessary temperature until purchased by the consumer.
In which Sectors is the Cold Chain needed and why
The cold chain is essential in many sectors, including:
- Food Industry: The cold chain in the food industry ensures that perishable food products, such as meat, fish, dairy products and fruit, remain fresh and safe for consumption.
- Pharmaceutical Industry: As shown by the pandemic era, many drugs require specific temperature conditions to maintain their effectiveness.
- Research Sector: Similarly, research also needs the cold chain to preserve biological samples, tissues and other sensitive materials at the right temperature.
The Role of Ultra Freezers in the Cold Chain
A fundamental role within the cold chain is played by ultra-low temperature freezers.
We call ultra-freezers those freezers capable of reaching and maintaining extremely low temperatures. How low?
There is no real official threshold that distinguishes a freezer from an ULT freezer. Conventionally we talk about an ultra-freezer when the device is capable of going below -40°. However, most freezers stop at around -25°.
If in the food sector freezers are able to maintain and preserve food within the cold chain, when we talk about drugs or biological samples the situation changes.
For this reason, ultra-low temperature freezers are essential in the pharmaceutical and research sectors because the temperatures necessary to preserve the active ingredients of these products are extremely low.
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The FDM Ultra-low freezers
FDM - Environment Makers is a company with over 70 years of experience in the field of climate simulation.
FDM ultra freezers are equipped with advanced technologies for precise temperature control and guarantee safe and efficient storage of sensitive products and therefore perfect for the cold chain.
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