FRESH SERVICE!

Carrier Transicold Introduces XtendFRESH Atmosphere Control Technology for Extended Transport of Perishables

Carrier Transicold’s new XtendFRESH atmosphere-control system for containers uses innovative technologies that maintain the quality of shipped produce while extending shipping distances and enabling growers to reach new customers. Carrier Transicold helps improve global transport and temperature-controlled shipping with a complete line of equipment for refrigerated trucks, trailers and containers, and is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp.

Considering its many benefits, the XtendFRESH system is designed to be more affordable than Carrier’s prior atmosphere-control solutions and relatively easy to install on existing equipment.

“The XtendFRESH system will expand opportunities for the global trade of perishable commodities. It will enable Carrier Transicold’s shipping line customers to help exporters extend their reach into new markets.” says David Appel, the company’s president.

The XtendFRESH system actively controls oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and removes ethylene, a hormone given off by ripening produce that accelerate ripening if left unchecked. O2 and CO2 levels can be independently set at levels that produce optimum results for a given commodity. The system’s ability to remove ethylene, while managing O2 and CO2, is key to its performance and distinguishes it from other products for container atmosphere control.

By slowing ripening, XtendFRESH significantly lengthens the amount of time produce can spend in refrigerated transit—by more than double in some cases. For example, bananas can be shipped for up to eight weeks rather than four, and beans for up to four weeks rather than 10 days.

“The XtendFRESH system will give the shipping industry a new, more economical way to implement container atmosphere control and, in turn, grow market opportunities,” says Kartik Kumar, Carrier Transicold’s director of Marketing & Strategic Planning, Global Container Refrigeration.

RAMPING UP

Doors Open to Economic Growth in Central Illinois With New Intermodal Container Ramp

Archer Daniels Midland Company opened an intermodal container freight shipping and receiving facility on Sept. 19 that will enable businesses to tap into the company’s deep transportation and logistics expertise and provide a platform for economic growth in central Illinois.

The intermodal ramp, located on 250 acres of land at ADM’s Decatur processing complex, offers direct access to three Class I railroads and close proximity to four interstate highways and a major U.S. highway. For importers and exporters, this unique interchange offers ready access to coastal and export markets. And for all customers, the location provides proximity to 95 million customers within a day’s drive. The facility itself has two high-capacity cranes that can handle 50,000 containers per year, with room to grow to 150,000.

Intermodal containers can be loaded with virtually any type of product and are transported by truck, railcar and ship. Their flexibility and standard size have made them popular worldwide; there are an estimated 17 million intermodal containers in the world today, and the American Association of Railroads reports that between 2010 and 2012, U.S. intermodal container freight volumes increased nearly 10 percent.

PAYING IT OUTWARD

Port Everglades Approved for $16.5 Million in State Funds for Cruise and Cargo Berth Expansions

The Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development (FSTED) Council in October approved $16.5 million in allocations to Port Everglades to lengthen a cruise berth and extend the port’s Southport Turning Notch to allow for more cargo berths. These allocations, which were approved under two different state funding sources, will become part of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) 2014/15 Work Program.

“Both projects will create construction jobs in the short term and support permanent jobs once completed,” says Steven Cernak, Port Everglade’s chief executive and port director. “Florida’s investment in seaports and other infrastructure demonstrates a commitment to making our state a global leader in international trade.”

FSTED allocated $1.85 million to lengthen Slip 2—which includes Berth 4 and is used for cruise ships—by 250 feet westward to accommodate today’s larger cruise ships. Once completed in September 2016, Slip 2 will be 1,150 feet long and 42 feet deep. The Broward County Commission awarded planning and design to Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Inc. on Oct. 1.

In addition to the Slip 2 lengthening, the corresponding Cruise Terminal 4 is being updated as part of an estimated $13.4 million renovation project. This will be the first building Port Everglades will apply for LEED certification. Groundbreaking for the Cruise Terminal 4 renovation is slated for May 2014, with completion expected before the following cruise season in fall of 2014.

FSTED allocated $14.7 million under the new Strategic Port Investment Initiative within FDOT for Port Everglades’ Southport Turning Notch Extension. This project will lengthen the existing deepwater turn-around area for cargo ships from 900 feet to 2,400 feet, which will allow for up to five new cargo berths.

BYTE-SIZE SOLUTIONS

Amber Road Acquires Shanghai-Based EasyCargo

Amber Road, a leading provider of global trade management (GTM) solutions, announced in September that it acquired EasyCargo, a Shanghai-based GTM solutions provider specializing in complex Chinese trade regulations.

EasyCargo is a cloud-based solutions company with a specific focus on a subset of global trade management called China Trade Management, or CTM. EasyCargo’s CTM solution provides extensive automation to support the Chinese government’s regulations for an import regime called Processing Trade.

Processing Trade affects companies that import materials and components into China and use those materials and components to manufacture finished goods for export to foreign markets. When properly administered, Processing Trade transactions are exempt from import duties and value-added taxes on export.

Because Processing Trade can reduce product costs by 25 percent or more, qualifying goods for the program has become increasingly popular. Goods qualifying for the Processing Trade program now account for more than 30 percent of all Chinese imports.

“Many of our existing North American and European customers do business with or in China, either as a source of supply, a manufacturing base or as a market for exports,” says Jim Preuninger, CEO of Amber Road. “Our acquisition of EasyCargo will enable us to offer deep China-specific trade capabilities to our existing customer base as well as access to the growing Chinese market.”

EasyCargo developed its first CTM solution between 2008 and 2009, reaching commercial status in 2010. EasyCargo supports more than 40 customers today, including category leaders such as Bosch, BMW, Continental Automotive and General Electric.

In addition to its cloud-based solutions, EasyCargo has an in-house team of trade experts who monitor, collect, interpret and codify Chinese trade regulations. Those professionals will be folded into Amber Road’s Global Knowledge team, while the rest of the EasyCargo employees will complement Amber Road’s engineering, professional services, customer support and business development staff.

“It is very exciting for us to join such a prominent player in the global trade management space,” says Kae-por Chang, CEO and founder of EasyCargo. “By adding our deep China Trade Management capabilities to Amber Road’s comprehensive GTM suite, we believe we can offer a complete solution to companies doing business in China and abroad.”