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New technology to ship flowers by boat

January 28, 2014  By Dave Harrison


Jan. 28, 2014, Tinglev, Denmark — Eyeing vast new efficiencies in global
fresh produce and fresh-cut flower transport, Maersk Container Industry
(MCI) is now partnering with Boston-based technology company Primaira
LLC to develop an air cleaning system in Star Cool Integrated
refrigerated containers.

Jan. 28, 2014, Tinglev, Denmark — Eyeing vast new efficiencies in global fresh produce and fresh-cut flower transport, Maersk Container Industry (MCI) is now partnering with Boston-based technology company Primaira LLC to develop an air cleaning system in Star Cool Integrated refrigerated containers.

Thorough tests and trials have shown the patented technology, Bluezone®, to be an efficient eliminator of moulds, fungi and bacteria. Using an ozone concentration 300 times higher than otherwise seen on the market, Bluezone also removes ethylene effectively.

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“We are still working on the final design, but we are convinced that the Bluezone and Star Cool combination represents economic and environmental upsides so far unseen in container transportation,” says Soren Leth Johannsen, chief commercial officer of MCI.

EXPERIENCE WITH ENHANCING FOOD QUALITY

MCI’s partner, Primaira, has extensive experience developing technologies that enhance food quality.

“The years of exacting, scientific work demonstrate the superiority of the Bluezone technology in ethylene and mould removal and value in extending the shelf life of fresh produce,” says Karen Benedek, managing partner of Primaira LLC.

Bluezone complements MCI’s well-known CA and AV+ systems, increasing the geographical reach of containerized transport and preserving the quality of fruit and produce.

Fresh-cut flowers, for example, are a $14 billion (U.S.) market globally, and more than 90 per cent of the intercontinental shipments are by air.

“We are excited about the Bluezone and Star Cool product and its prospects. For example, just consider the economic and environmental upsides on potentially converting today’s airfreight of fresh-cut flowers into reefer containers,” says Johannsen.

Bluezone in Star Cool will be available in second half of 2014.


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