Isotec: the cold chain without a reefer vehicle
GEBHARDT Isotec is a family of insulated containers built to move temperature-sensitive goods without a refrigerated vehicle. The cold comes from beside the goods, not from the engine: insulated walls hold the warehouse cold in, and eutectic plates feed it through the trip.
What Isotec is
The classic way needs a separate reefer for each temperature regime, or cools the whole vehicle to -21 °C. That is expensive, inflexible, and on small drops most of the vehicle runs empty. With Isotec you cool the container, not the vehicle.
GEBHARDT has its own Turkish site, but its contact sits in Germany. We provide the local part: engineering, application analysis and technical answers in Turkish. Aris Makina is GEBHARDT's official distributor in Türkiye.
The Isotec family: body, plates, add-ons
Passive insulated container. The version on wheels rolls by hand from the van into the shop; the version on a pallet is handled from all four sides by forklift and pallet truck.
Product card →
TBX for fish and seafood. An inner tray collects the meltwater and a drain valve sits on the rear wall; the container is washable and no liquid leaks into the vehicle or store.
Product card →
Reusable plates that store cold energy. The melting point is chosen to match the goods; unlike dry ice they are bought once and refrozen. Food-safe shell, salt-water filling.
Product card →Isotec TBX sizes
- TBX 410410 L · 500 kgOuter size (mm): 580 × 803 × 1799
- TBX 600600 L · 500 kgOuter size (mm): 757 × 824 × 1766
- TBX 725725 L · 500 kgOuter size (mm): 757 × 954 × 1766
- TBX 795795 L · 500 kgOuter size (mm): 757 × 954 × 1929
- TBX 900900 L · 700 kgOuter size (mm): 797 × 1200 × 1784
- TBX 10001000 L · 700 kgOuter size (mm): 797 × 1200 × 1884
- TBX 10701070 L · 700 kgOuter size (mm): 797 × 1200 × 1984
- TBX 11701170 L · 700 kgOuter size (mm): 797 × 1200 × 2134
- TBX 15001500 L · 700 kgOuter size (mm): 1023 × 1224 × 2003
| Model | Volume | Payload | Outer size (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBX 410 | 410 L | 500 kg | 580 × 803 × 1799 |
| TBX 600 | 600 L | 500 kg | 757 × 824 × 1766 |
| TBX 725 | 725 L | 500 kg | 757 × 954 × 1766 |
| TBX 795 | 795 L | 500 kg | 757 × 954 × 1929 |
| TBX 900 | 900 L | 700 kg | 797 × 1200 × 1784 |
| TBX 1000 | 1000 L | 700 kg | 797 × 1200 × 1884 |
| TBX 1070 | 1070 L | 700 kg | 797 × 1200 × 1984 |
| TBX 1170 | 1170 L | 700 kg | 797 × 1200 × 2134 |
| TBX 1500 | 1500 L | 700 kg | 1023 × 1224 × 2003 |
Dimensions from the GEBHARDT Turkish product page. 410-795 on wheels, 900-1500 on a pallet.
Accessories
When plates are stacked together to freeze, they do not freeze through and the cold they carry stays half-charged. A freezing rack holds the plates upright and spaced, so each one freezes evenly right through. Standard for 480×280 mm plates; other sizes are made on request.
Splits the single tall space inside the container into levels, so the box underneath does not carry the weight of the one above. Powder coat over a galvanised body, RAL 7032. Sized for the 600, 725/795 and 900-1170 models.
Carries the eutectic plate on its own level above the load. It has an anti-drop latch and is removable, so on a trip that needs no plate you leave the container clear. For the 600, 725/795 and 900-1170 models.
A stainless-steel tray that collects the meltwater from fish and wet loads. It fits an existing container afterwards and adapts it to seafood work; it washes out and no liquid passes into the vehicle or the store. For the 725 and 795 models.
A perforated tray shelf for trips that run on dry ice instead of plates. It keeps the dry ice on its own level, apart from the load. For the 725 and 795 models.
Beyond these, fixed rails built into the container for the plates (they do not come out and speed up loading), a removable wire shelf, a document pocket, an extra pull-and-lift handle and an external thermometer that reads the inner temperature without opening the lid are also available. Images from the official GEBHARDT catalogue; values and part numbers from the same source.
Method
How the passive cold chain works
Insulation
First, keep the heat out.
The insulated body of aluminium and steel slows the outside warmth from seeping in, while the galvanised sheet around it protects the container against the knocks of loading. This layer does not make cold - it keeps the cold inside.
Cooling source
The cold itself is placed inside by a eutectic plate or dry ice.
The plate must freeze right through, an air gap must stay between plates, and the freezer must run at least 5 °C below the plate's melting point. A partially frozen plate has less usable thermal capacity.
Pre-cooling
Bring the container and goods to the target temperature before departure.
GEBHARDT pre-cooling targets Fresh goods 0 to +2 °C Deep-frozen goods -21 to -25 °C Pre-cooling in both cases 12-20 hours A container that was not pre-cooled uses some of the plate's thermal capacity to cool its own body. This step is often skipped in the field, increasing costs.
Verification in use
Protection time and route
GEBHARDT states up to 24 hours of protection for a correctly configured Isotec system. That duration is not a general guarantee.
The goods, starting temperature, fill level, ambient conditions, plate preparation and lid openings change the actual duration, so the intended route requires thermal assessment.
Documentation
GEBHARDT also says that an external test institute assesses the container and production processes against ATP and HACCP requirements. Verify the issuing body, product scope, number and validity from the current copy.
Trip records
4smartlogistics can record trip temperature and lid openings.
Priority sectors
Mixed delivery from warehouse to store: fresh and frozen in one vehicle, in separate containers. The version on wheels reaches small shops and corner markets - ramps and narrow streets are no obstacle.
Fresh fish from the market hall to the store: the inner tray collects the meltwater from the ice and drains it at the rear. Compared with the polystyrene-box-and-ice habit, the container is reused, washes out, and the vehicle stays clean.
Temperature-monitored distribution and plate preparation. Regime requirements and documentation are settled with GEBHARDT per project.
Applications
From the gallery
GEBHARDT's other product groups
Beyond Isotec, GEBHARDT also makes roll containers, warehouse equipment, pallet systems, tyre carriers and automotive load carriers. The whole range is in our catalogue.
Open the GEBHARDT catalogue →GEBHARDT product index
The whole catalogue, by category. Open any product straight from the list.
Roll containers6
Cold chain11
Warehouse equipment11
- Barrel Pallet (Fasspalette)
- Carrier Pallet (Trägerpalette)
- DTB Textile Container
- Euro Pallet Accessories (RB 8 / RB 10)
- GEBHARDT Plug-in Box
- Seed & Agricultural Container
- Shopfitting Pallet (Ladenbaupalette)
- Storage Racks
- System Pallets & Special Pallets
- Tube Frame Pallet (Rohrbügelpalette)
- Wooden Bulk Bins for Apples and Pears
Tyres & wheels4
Frequently asked questions
Is Aris Makina the official GEBHARDT distributor for Türkiye?
Yes. We are the official Turkish distributor of GEBHARDT Logistic Solutions (Cham, Germany).
Which GEBHARDT product groups can you supply?
Roll containers (RBX, Rocotec, Secutec), Isotec insulated transport boxes, warehouse equipment and load carriers for automotive lines.
Can Isotec boxes replace a reefer vehicle?
On many short and medium routes, yes: the goods travel in an insulated container with eutectic plates or dry ice, so the vehicle itself needs no refrigeration. What the holding time depends on, how the thermal analysis works and which documents exist is covered in detail in the cold-chain section.
What size options are there?
The Isotec TBX series spans 410-1500 litres; roll containers come in several footprints and heights. Dimensions are listed on the product pages.
How does quoting work?
Send your requirement (model, quantity, dimensions if relevant) via the form or by phone; the quote is prepared for your quantity and current terms.
Can I request a GEBHARDT product not shown on the site?
Yes. The site lists a selection of the programme; for other models just send the product name or its designation from the GEBHARDT catalogue - we confirm availability with the quote.
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