When it comes to cold chain shipping of fresh or frozen seafood (shrimp, crab, lobster, etc.), deciding which type of insulated shipping container to use can come down to a balance between how much you want to reduce costs (for profitability) and how well you want to protect cargo during transit (which affects customer satisfaction).
Two options available for packaging and thermal protection are…
- Rigid Shipping Containers – usually plastic or metal boxes filled with normal or dry ice, sometimes with frozen gel packs.
- EPS Foam Shipping Coolers – made from space-age Styrofoam, which also use refrigerants like gel packs or dry ice, depending on the shipper’s preference.
So, since rigid shipping containers have been around for so many years and are so readily available, one question a savvy business person might ask is…
“Why should I switch to using foam shipping coolers to get my fresh or frozen seafood to customers?”
Take a look at the following options and choose the one that you think makes the most sense:
IN) Foam chargers are lighter than hard plastic or metal.
B) EPS foam shipping containers can be much cheaper to buy from manufacturers.
VS) Expanded polystyrene shipping coolers have better thermal insulation characteristics than dense plastics and metal containers.
D) They offer superior protection against the spread of dangerous bacteria.
MY) All the previous opinions are correct.
No matter which of the options makes the most sense to you, the fact is that they are all presented to get you thinking about the possibilities of considering a non-rigid option. “All previous” is the best answer because foam shipping coolers have taken the cold chain shipping industry by storm in recent years and the reason is that foam shipments are lighter, cheaper, better insulating and offer antimicrobial protection superior (inhibits the growth or spread of bacteria) .
Lighter than hard plastic or metal containers – cutting-edge technology behind EPS foam allows for the production of super-lightweight material that, when manufactured correctly, can fill all the roles of rigid materials in the cold chain shipping process. The lighter weight reduces shipping costs, thus making a strong contribution to better profits for businesses.
Cheaper to buy from manufacturers – although rigid containers have been around for many years, that does not necessarily make them the best purchase option for companies, and that is because expanded polystyrene is very cheap to produce, even when the manufacturing standard is the most high. Again, even the added weight of hard plastic or metal makes it more expensive to ship wholesale to the seafood company in need. Therefore, companies are better served by reducing such costs by adjusting their shipping logistics to include foam carriers.
Seafood cargo stays colder longer – The thermal insulation qualities and characteristics of EPS are much better from the start. There is no desperate need to “pre-cool” the way shippers must with hard materials to prevent temperature-sensitive cargo from heating up prematurely. When packages are assembled in temperature-controlled environments, the foam option is already far ahead.
Healthier protection against the spread of microbes in transit – the molecular structure of expanded polystyrene is very hostile to germs and bacteria. They just don’t like it and have a hard time getting a foothold. Because of this, food naturally preserves longer inside a foam shipping container. When cargo stays fresh longer, you increase customer satisfaction ratings and reduce complaints while decreasing the chance of product returns.
As you can see, there are numerous reasons why companies make a wise decision when choosing to make a change to their cold chain shipping logistics by integrating foam shippers (foam shipping coolers), and all of those reasons. add up to a more appealing end result. .