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✍️ By: Team BC1.NL
Efficiency and sustainability are playing an increasingly important role in refrigerated transport. With the new BlueSeal Air Curtain from Amsterdam-based Brightec, hauliers can not only improve their loading process but also achieve significant savings on fuel costs.
BlueSeal, an innovative air curtain with immediate benefits
Brightec developed the BlueSeal Air Curtain to address exactly these issues. This innovative system creates an invisible air seal during loading and unloading. It's easy to install, and comfortable and hygienic to use.
The biggest advantage? Fuel savings of up to 30%, since the cooling unit doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the set temperature.
How does an air curtain in a refrigerated truck work?
At the front there is a grille with small fans behind it. Those fans draw in air, the curtain bends that air, and it is then pushed out through a plastic honeycomb. The whole unit is deliberately compact, because there is little room in a truck.
Why does the airflow have to be uniform?
Because otherwise the curtain does not work. The air leaving at the bottom must have the same speed and direction as the air leaving at the top. That is not a given, fans naturally produce a turbulent airflow. Behind the fans and the honeycomb sit vanes that turn that turbulent air into a homogeneous, laminar flow.
How much diesel does it save?
Customers measured for a year, with and without the air curtain. The result, up to 30 percent can be saved on the diesel needed for cooling. Those same customers compared it with a truck fitted with plastic strip curtains, the usual alternative: the air curtain proved 10 percent more efficient than those flaps.
Consistent temperature is critical in refrigerated transport
In temperature-controlled transport, keeping products at a stable temperature throughout the journey is essential. Any disruption, particularly during loading and unloading, can compromise product quality. This risk is especially pronounced when there's a large gap between indoor and outdoor temperatures, making fluctuations more likely.
Strip curtains vs. air curtains, a major difference in ease of use
Plastic strip curtains have traditionally been used to limit temperature loss. However, they're far from ideal; they get dirty quickly, stay damp, and often get in the driver's way. On top of that, they increase the risk of unhygienic conditions and slow down the workflow.
Sustainable, efficient, and driver-friendly
Beyond the cost savings, the air curtain also makes life easier for drivers. No more awkward strip curtains, just a clear, unobstructed passage that maintains both temperature and hygiene. The system fits perfectly with the growing demand for sustainable solutions in transport and logistics.
