Cold Watch

Real Time Monitoring

Benefits of the Cold Watch Temperature and Humidity Sensors

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benefits of the cold watch temperature and humidity sensors

We are well into the month of love and romance and one can only imagine how disappointed Juliette would be if her Romeo presented her with melted chocolates or wilted flowers. These are both products that are part of the ‘cold chain,’ that require to maintain a certain temperature from their place of origin to their ultimate point of sale.

These type of products, and many other such as fresh food and pharmaceuticals, are stored and transported at the correct temperature. More importantly, these temperatures need to be constantly and accurately monitored throughout the cold chain process.

Monitoring Accurately in Real Time

Companies such as Cold Watch  utilise high-precision instruments known as real-time temperature and humidity sensors. This article reviews the benefit of the Cold Watch temperature and humidity sensors.

By using real-time temperature and humidity readings you can optimise production and mitigate the risk of your products or equipment suffering damages or loss.

Awareness Can Prevent Loss

Primarily if the temperature is suddenly lost at some point of the chain process, for example in transit, the products might be affected enough to be declared unfit for sale upon arrival. If the recipients were not informed along the cold chain in real time that the temperature had been compromised, they  may not be aware of potential losses during the transit route.

Knowing exactly how long the temperature was affected can assist them to determine if the products are still fit for sale –  thus mitigating wastage.

Further, if the driver and despatch are aware of a compromise in temperature they can adjust their schedules to ensure their estimated time of arrival will be sooner thus avoiding damage to the products.

Why Cold Watch?

What are the benefits of the Cold Watch temperature and humidity sensors? Cold Watch supplies superior products and pride themselves on being at the cutting edge utilising and supplying state-of-the-art equipment when monitoring the cold chain.

The real temperature and humidity sensor unit is compact, highly configurable, and uses the GSM/Cell phone network to transmit readings to a centralised cloud-based reporting system that can be configured to suit specific requirements.

The mission at Cold Watch has always been for the primary focus to be on providing management solutions to stakeholders in the cold chain process so that product wastage can be minimised with accurate real-time data provided by tracking products on a global scale.

Talk to them today to ensure you receive the best service and products thus experiencing superior real-time cold chain monitoring.

Why Cold Chain Monitoring is Vital for Temperature Sensitive Products

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When the vaccine for COVID-19 was announced it was shared how essential it was that it be shipped at the correct temperature, which was well below freezing. This serves as just one example of a temperature-sensitive products.

There are a variety of temperature-sensitive products such as medical products, and pharmaceutical products. Whether it is the aforementioned vaccines, blood products such as plasma and insulin or medical devices it is essential that these products when transported are protected from heat and remain at certain specified temperatures.

Other non-medical products include perishable items such as wine, ice cream, fresh fruit, meat, poultry and fish. Perishable products need to remain at a certain temperature from the point of production to the point of sale. Some of these products embark on extensive journeys which can include, shipping, storage and road transport prior to reaching the shelves of retailers or the end user.

Cold Chain Monitoring to the Rescue

This process is referred to as the cold chain. Cold chain monitoring is the use of state-of-the-art monitoring devices that continually monitor temperature-sensitive products being transported in the cold chain cycle.

Cold chain Monitoring is vital for Temperature-Sensitive Products. There are a variety of benefits in using cold chain monitoring and includes:

Accurate Data-Sharing and Reporting Fluctuations – As it involves real-time monitoring it streamlines the distribution of data regarding temperature-sensitive products by providing arrival and departure notifications along the transit routes. Upon arrival, the temperature-monitoring device also provides a report indicating any temperature fluctuations during transit.

Reduces Waste and Damage – When shippers and handlers are aware that a monitoring device is being used they execute their part of the cold chain more efficiently, improving their services to ensure that waste and damage is minimized.

A More Reliable Cold Chain is Produced – When the correct temperature-monitoring technology is implemented and communicated at every point of the cold chain to all participants, shipments travel more safely and the cold chain is regarded as reliable.

Preventing Product Delays and Wastage – The efficiency in monitoring the products and executing warnings if the temperature is compromised in real-time speeds up the transit process when necessary, preventing crucial delays and reports on the exact temperature fluctuations along the route. This further provides insight to the condition of the product. This can assist in avoiding unnecessary wastage.

Consult the Experts 

It is critical that cold watch monitoring is never compromised at any point in the cold chain. Cold Watch Real-Time Monitoring, utilising a unique combination of science, process and technology, ensures the effectiveness of temperature monitoring solutions in the cold chain environment, bridging the gap between industry, technology and the consumer.

Contact us today to ensure that your temperature-sensitive products are always monitored correctly and maintained at every point of the cold chain.

 

How Digital Real-Time Monitoring keep Freezers at the Right Temperature

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We are now well into the festive season and more than ever masses of fresh produce and products are being shipped via one mode of transport or another so that we will all be able to enjoy the family meal on the big day and provide products for sale in outlets.

One of the great challenges that producers and retailers face is to ensure that the fresh produce arrives fresh at the point of sale and remains fresh until it is placed on the shelves. This obviously requires refrigeration being provided both in transport and on the ground at the point of departure, during transit and at the point of arrival. Products and pharmaceuticals require stability in their shelf life, thus maintaining the correct temperatures in their transit and handling is also essential.

The intricacy of maintaining the exact temperature of large-refrigerated or freezer units for a range of products and produce in the past has been challenging. Due to the advances in technology and the cold chain monitoring industry the solution can now be found in ingenious products supplied by professional Cold Chain Monitoring and Managing experts such as Cold Watch Real-Time Monitoring.

Measure Multiple Sensors in Multiple Locations

The Cold Watch digital real-time monitoring unit (or logger as it is also referred to) is a marvel of science and technology and is capable of efficiently maintaining the exact required temperatures of a freezer. 

It allows for multiple sensors (typically up to eight) across multiple locations. For example, you might have 20 refrigerated units each with five sensors that measure the door, first quarter, the centre of the unit, at the back and the main aircon/refrigeration motor. With a GPS receiver and a GSM modem, it is a multi-functional unit operating both in transit and on the ground and this is essential to maintain the cold chain throughout the producer-to-seller cycle.

It Does Not End There

This is just a brief summary of one aspect of the many areas of cold chain monitoring that is required to be applied and managed enabling a complete cold chain monitoring service. At Cold Watch Real-Time Monitoring we have developed a variety of products to expertly handle many aspects of cold chain monitoring as we believe in delivering only high-quality products and services to all our clients nationwide.

Products also include a custom designed and manufactured temperature probe, a high-accuracy humidity sensor, a customised monitoring unit for mobile/vehicle application and detailed monitoring applications for Web and mobile phones.

Contact us to talk about your specific cold chain challenges and let us find the perfect solution for you by utilising only the very best state-of-the-art equipment and expertise that comes from our many years of experience.

Thank you to all who have supported us during 2022 and may 2023 be a chain of exciting and rewarding experiences!

Temperature Maintenance and Monitoring in Cold Storage

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temperature maintenance and monitoring in cold storage

There is no doubt that many people not familiar with cold chain monitoring may think of maintaining a cold chain from manufacturer to supplier is just about maintaining and monitoring the temperature in the trucks that ship the goods. Certainly, this is a vital aspect of cold chain monitoring, but there are also extended periods in which goods need to be maintained at certain temperatures prior, during and after transit.

This article, thus, reviews temperature maintenance and monitoring in cold storage – a vital part of the whole cold chain sequence.

Types of Cold Storage 

Just like your small fridge/freezer combination at home, these are also (but just on a much larger scale) the two primary types of cold storage facilities – some for freezing and some for standardised refrigeration. 

Freezing Chambers which are sometimes referred to as ‘negative temperature refrigeration chambers will generally have an average range between 0ºC and -28ºC, and even sometimes lower. These are utilised for food freezing or the preservation of biological material. We all remember the extremely low temperature at which the vaccines had to be maintained during the COVID-19 pandemic, illustrating that accurate cold storage temperature control can be a life-or-death scenario.

Refrigeration, or ‘positive temperature refrigeration chambers’ on the other hand generally maintain a temperature of between 10ºC and 0ºC and are mainly used to store fresh produce.  

Cold Storage Areas

A few of the key areas that have to be rigidly temperature controlled would be; 

  • Static fridges and freezers;
  • Commercial fridges and freezers display units;
  • All sizes and types of refrigeration units, which include walk-in fridge and freezer, cold rooms;
  • Refrigerated containers;
  • Fridge-freezer-container combo;
  • Blast freezers;
  • Server and generator rooms;
  • Green and hothouses;
  • Wine cellars and tanks;
  • Any type of temperature-sensitive application.
  • So, how is the correct temperature maintained and monitored in a cold storage environment? 

Cold Storage Monitoring

The core focus should always be on real-time cold chain monitoring as provided by businesses such as  Cold Watch. We provide solutions carefully designed in collaboration with client-specific requirements. These requirements comprise the monitoring of temperature, humidity measuring, open or closed-door notifications, customised warnings and alert notifications to name a few.

We have several state-of-the-art products such as custom-designed and manufactured temperature probes and high-accuracy humidity sensors all with amazing features that allow us to set, maintain and monitor cold room temperatures accurately and constantly. 

Cold Storage Maintenance

Cold Watch is one of the premier cold chain monitoring and management companies in South Africa and one of our specialised services is the maintenance of cold storage facilities. We are dedicated to maintaining software and hardware components during the contract period. Software updating will be carried out remotely when required without inconveniencing the client. In the event of a breakdown or damage to a Cold Watch system, repairs will be carried out by a certified Cold Watch subcontractor in the most appropriate time frame possible.

Whether it is the control of temperature on the move or in the storage environment Cold Watch has you covered so talk to us today about your specific cold chain monitoring and management requirements and let us introduce you to our extensive range of products and services.

If you are travelling to a holiday getaway soon, you will not need us to monitor your journey but please stay cool and drive safely!

Cold Chain Monitoring can even assist Logistic Companies to Reduce Fuel Consumption!

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It is great when there are benefits derived from unexpected sources. For example, one does not necessarily think of cold chain monitoring experts as being people who would assist logistics companies with vehicle and fuel tracking but due to the massive advancements in the technologies employed by some of the top cold chain monitoring companies cold chain monitoring can even assist logistic companies to reduce fuel consumption!

Why is it important?

Cold chain monitoring is in essence a part of supply chain management when referring to the transportation of cold chain products such as fresh foods, certain chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Supply chain management is a crucial part of logistics (in fact it is often categorised under logistics) and because fuel makes up a large part of this, fleet owners and fleet controllers need to make sure that they have a fault-free fuel tracking system to track their fuel as efficiently as possible. 

The benefits of this are numerous and can even save a business from losing essential clients. Apart from the obvious financial savings, monitored fuel usage can sound a warning bell to fleet owners about anything out of the ordinary in the fleet, like an inefficient vehicle, driver pilferage, or drivers that are wasting fuel through poor driving habits.

Even more importantly, it acts as an emergency warning to fleet owners if a vehicle is running so low on fuel that it may not reach its intended destination at all, thereby giving them time to make alternative arrangements. This is particularly important when transporting any form of cold chain produce or products!

Where does cold chain monitoring come into it?

Sophisticated equipment is required to produce the most effective cold chain solutions, particularly in the transport sector, and advanced vehicle tracking devices are available from companies on the cutting edge of cold chain monitoring and management such as Cold Watch real-time monitoring. 

Devices, like our ‘Mobile vehicle tracking unit,’ which is a customised monitoring unit for mobile vehicle applications, not only monitor the temperature and whereabouts of vehicles in transport but also fuel tracking to ensure that the loss of fuel can never compromise the timeous delivery of the load.

Hence, given the massive fuel price hikes in recent times, one of the most important savings in the trucking industry is that of fuel, and this is yet another benefit of the superior technologies provided by Cold Watch.

Talk to us today about cold chain monitoring and management. Whether your requirements are in storage, on the road, or both, we have the technology that assures freshness and the correct temperature are always maintained both before and during the delivery of your produce. The benefits are great – even unexpected benefits like cold chain monitoring assisting logistic companies to reduce fuel consumption!