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Isothermal Boxes: A Complete Guide for Businesses

Transporting fresh goods in summer or sensitive medicines under controlled temperatures is no longer the challenge it once was. Isothermal boxes have revolutionised the way sensitive goods are transported, combining simplicity and innovation to provide practical, reliable solutions.

In this article, we’ll walk you through these must-have tools: what they are, how they work, and how to choose the perfect model for your needs.

What is an isothermal box and what is it used for?

An isothermal box is a container designed to keep the internal temperature constant, protecting the contents from external temperature fluctuations. Ideal for transporting fresh food, temperature-sensitive drugs or industrial materials, isothermal boxes ensure that your products arrive at their destination in perfect condition.

For example, in the food sector they ensure that fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy products stay fresh throughout the journey, preventing spoilage caused by heat. In the pharmaceutical sector, they are essential in keeping vaccines and medicines at the right temperature, preserving their effectiveness. But it doesn’t end there: the industry also uses them to transport delicate materials that require thermal stability.

In short, isothermal boxes are indispensable tools for anyone dealing with temperature-sensitive goods.

How are isothermal boxes made?

Not all isothermal boxes are the same: there are two main types, each designed for different needs.

Foamed Boxes: These boxes are made of a plastic framework filled with expanded polyurethane – an insulating material that provides a good thermal barrier. They are made using moulds, which means they come in predefined sizes with limited customisation options. This makes them ideal for those seeking a cost-effective and lightweight solution for standard transport needs. However, their fixed structure may be less suitable for specialist applications.

Fibreglass and Rigid Polyurethane Boxes: These boxes offer superior quality thanks to the fibreglass walls, which are both durable and suitable for contact with food. Inside, the rigid polyurethane ensures excellent thermal insulation. This type of box is fully customisable, with no limits on shape or size, and is ideal for complex and long-duration transport operations.

Each model has its own distinct advantages, and the best choice will always depend on your specific operational needs.

Want to be absolutely sure you’re making the right choice before investing in an isothermal box? Get in touch with a specialist technician at ES Frigo: with no obligation, you’ll find the ideal solution for your needs.

Whether you opt for a foamed or fibreglass model, the goal is the same: to maintain the quality of your goods during transport.

Thermal or isothermal: what is the correct term?

“Thermal” and “isothermal” are often used interchangeably, but there is a significant difference.

The correct term is “isothermal”, as it refers to the ability to maintain a stable internal temperature, whether hot or cold. Many mistakenly believe that isothermal boxes are only useful for cold storage, but they can also be used to retain heat, for example for cooked foods.

How to choose the most suitable isothermal box?

Choosing the right isothermal box is easier than it seems. You just need to answer these questions:

What are transporting? Food, pharmaceuticals or industrial materials?

How are you transporting it? What type of vehicle and how much space is available?

How long will the trip take? Duration and number of openings affect the choice.

What are the environmental conditions? Will the box have to deal with extreme climates or temperature fluctuations?

Once these variables have been established, it will be easier to decide whether to opt for an isothermal or refrigerated box, perhaps with the help of an expert.

Another important factor to consider is regulations, which can be very different depending on the product you are dealing with.

Isothermal or refrigerated box: how to understand which one you need?

Isothermal boxes are ideal for short trips or when you don’t need to open them often. If, on the other hand, you need to maintain a specific temperature for long periods, refrigerated boxes with active cooling systems are the right choice. These may include refrigeration units powered by the vehicle’s battery or thermal packs for continuous cooling.

Isothermal boxes also offer numerous advantages:

Eco-friendly: They consume less energy by reducing reliance on active refrigeration, making them a more sustainable choice.

Versatile: Suitable for a variety of sectors, from food to pharmaceuticals.

Durable: Made with sturdy materials such as fibreglass, they provide a long-lasting service and help reduce long-term costs.

For example, a farm might use isothermal boxes to deliver fresh cheese without worrying about spoilage, while a pharmaceutical distributor can be confident that vaccines will arrive intact and safe.

Refrigerated boxes, on the other hand, are indispensable for trips that require active temperature control for extended periods. Key benefits include:

Precise temperature control: Thanks to active refrigeration systems, they maintain specific temperatures, even under extreme environmental conditions.

Operational flexibility: Ideal for long-distance transport or with frequent openings, they ensure that the internal temperature remains stable.

Enhanced protection: Perfect for highly sensitive goods such as medicines, vaccines and frozen products, minimising the risk of spoilage.

For instance, an ice cream distributor can rely on refrigerated boxes to maintain product quality during long deliveries. Similarly, pharmaceutical companies depend on them to safely transport temperature-sensitive medicines.

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With ES Frigo, you have an expert partner to help you find the perfect solution for your needs, making your job easier and more secure.

When it comes to temperature-sensitive transport, there’s no room for error: discover ES Frigo Isothermal Boxes or find your own tailor-made solution!

Transfusions in record time: Croce Verde and ES Frigo together

It is not often that one is called upon by a volunteer organisation for such a delicate and vital mission, especially with only one week’s notice!

Croce Verde Reggio Emilia is a historic voluntary association, active since 1914, that provides essential emergency-urgency services to the Reggio Emilia community. With more than a century of history in the name of assistance and solidarity, Croce Verde has become a true landmark for the city thanks to the tireless efforts of its volunteers.

When they contacted us, they needed help with an entirely new project: Croce Verde had won a tender to manage the special medical transport of blood and plasma, supporting the national health service. Their need was to transport blood and plasma from collection clinics to laboratories, ensuring strict temperature control and optimal safety of the storage conditions. A crucial public health task, which required the utmost reliability and precision.

And, as if that wasn’t enough, they only had one week to do everything, from vehicle selection to final testing! It was a demanding but also exciting challenge that we were looking forward to.

The challenge of the time constraints and vehicles: adapting passenger vehicles

The starting situation was far from easy: Croce Verde had just won a tender and had found three used vehicles at the last minute, originally intended for passenger transport. Our task was to adapt these vehicles, and turn them into perfect tools for the cold chain, ready to ensure the safety of extremely delicate medical products. And all that… in just seven days!

The challenge was not so much to provide the refrigerated boxes – for us this was already a tried and tested technology – but rather the fast adaptation of the vehicles and the customisation required by the project. We must admit that the adrenaline rush of the time constraints was a push to give our best. We tailor-made the isothermal boxes for each of the three different vehicles, to fit them into the available space as well as possible.

Technology in the service of safety: geolocation and remote control

A really interesting aspect of this project was the need to implement geolocation and real-time temperature monitoring. Croce Verde wanted to be able to track not only the location of the vehicles, but also the temperature of the isothermal boxes, to be sure that blood and plasma were always stored in optimal conditions. The stakes were high: the safety of the blood components could not be impaired.

To solve this problem, we relied on our network of suppliers and found a solution that would quickly fit into the boxes, without invasive modifications. We installed an electronic control unit with an integrated SIM card, which is able to send real time data on both the position of the vehicle and the temperature inside the boxes. This system allowed the Green Cross to monitor each transport remotely, ensuring safety and reliability at all times during the journey.

Creative solutions under tight deadlines: teamwork that makes the difference

One of the most important aspects of this project was teamwork. It was not just a matter of fast delivery: during the testing stage, we worked closely with Croce Verde to ensure that everything was in perfect working order and that their requirements were one hundred per cent met. It was an actual co-engineering effort, where our goal was not only to provide a working product, but also to assist the customer at every stage, right up to getting the vehicles on the road.

The installation of our battery-operated refrigerated boxes and the monitoring system allowed Croce Verde to kick the new service off without any setbacks, meeting the community’s health needs safely and accurately. Each vehicle was transformed into a mobile laboratory, capable of ensuring the maintenance of the cold chain throughout transportation.

ES Frigo and Croce Verde: flexibility that makes the difference

This project perfectly embodies what we are about at ES Frigo: we don’t just sell isothermal boxes, we are committed to finding tailor-made solutions, even when the challenges seem insurmountable.

Croce Verde was not a typical customer for us, it was not a company with experience in temperature-controlled transportation, but a volunteer association that was faced with a new challenge. And we were proud to be the partner that made it possible to rise to the occasion.

We approached the project with our trademark mentality: listening, understanding and finding innovative solutions, adapting to the customer’s specific needs. Even when time is short, even when the vehicles are not ideal, what matters is being able to ensure the utmost safety and reliability. And that is exactly what we did.

Conclusions

The collaboration with Croce Verde was an excellent example of how to adapt and solve problems under difficult conditions.

We are proud of this project, not only because we adapted vehicles not conventionally used to transport blood and plasma in record time, but also for being part of a project that has a value for the community.

It was a privilege for us to be able to contribute to such an important cause, putting our technical expertise at the service of the community and showing that the cold chain knows no limits, nor time constraints!