GEBHARDT
Isotec TBX Insulated Container
Cold chain logistics
Insulated containers, eutectic plates and thermoboxes for food and pharma distribution.
For food retail, catering and pharmaceutical logistics we supply the GEBHARDT Isotec cold chain programme. The idea is simple: the cold comes from beside the goods, not from the engine - an insulated Isotec® TBX container (410-1500 l, on wheels or on a pallet) holds the warehouse cold in and eutectic plates feed it through the trip. On many routes this removes the need for a reefer: the goods travel in the container while the vehicle stays standard.
Three parts make the process work
Insulation, eutectic plates and pre-cooling. Plates must freeze fully with an air gap between them; pre-cooling targets 0 to +2 °C for fresh goods and -21 to -25 °C for deep-freeze. Get one of the three wrong and the other two cannot compensate.
GEBHARDT states performance of up to 24 hours for a correctly configured system. Actual duration depends on the goods, starting temperature, fill level, ambient conditions, cold-source preparation and lid openings; it must be checked for the intended route.
Certification and records
GEBHARDT describes Isotec TBX as ATP and HACCP certified for food logistics and says that an external test institute assesses the container and production processes. Request the current certificate and its scope from Aris Makina before relying on that status - we obtain it from GEBHARDT and pass it on. Equipment documentation does not replace the operator's HACCP plan or the temperature record for the actual trip.
What else is in the programme
TBX Seafood versions with an inner tray and rear drain, and EPP thermoboxes for the last mile. Inside the container, slide-in shelves, plate rails and freezing racks organise the plates and the load. Suer lashing equipment secures the containers in the vehicle, and Co.Par isothermal boxes cover smaller volumes.
For the basics: What the cold chain is
How it works
The cold comes from beside the goods, not the engine
The insulated body keeps the warehouse cold inside and eutectic plates feed it through the trip. The lid is what matters: every opening lets warm air in, and when it closes the plates pull the temperature back down. Below are the three parts of the programme: the eutectic plate, the insulated container and the thermobox for the last mile.
The four figures the decision rests on
- Volume
- 410-1500 l
- Payload
- 500-700 kg
- Temperature
- 0…+2 °C / -21…-25 °C
- Certification
- ATP · HACCP
From GEBHARDT's product data. The real holding time depends on the goods, fill level, door openings and ambient temperature; we calculate the exact value by thermal analysis together with GEBHARDT's engineers.
TBX, refrigerated vehicle and dry ice side by side
| Isotec TBX + eutectic plates | Refrigerated vehicle | Dry ice | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle needed | Standard truck | Dedicated refrigerated truck | Standard truck |
| Reuse of the cooling source | Plates are reused for years | Tied to the vehicle | Single-use |
| Mixed temperatures in one run | Separate temperature per container | Usually one temperature per compartment | Per box |
| Needed at the warehouse | Plate-freezing capacity | - | A steady dry-ice supply |
| Temperature range | 0…+2 °C / -21…-25 °C (per plate) | Per vehicle equipment | -78 °C sublimation |
Qualitative comparison based on GEBHARDT's product documentation. Costs depend on the operation - request a quote for real numbers.
Where does it break in your operation?
The cold chain does not break at the same point in every trade: for one it is the number of door openings, for another leakage or mixed regimes. Start from whichever is closest to your own operation.
- Bakery and patisserieCream products wait on the ramp at dawn and start running after the first stop.Read
- Catering and canteensThe hot line arrives perfect; salads and desserts turn up lukewarm at service.Read
- Dairy and cheeseYoghurt sours, vacuum packs sweat inside, shelf life shortens.Read
- Butchers and meatColour darkens, drip loss rises; carcass and mince do not want the same regime.Read
- SeafoodCold is not enough: meltwater leaks into the vehicle, and hygiene audits ask about it.Read
- Ice cream and frozenA few degrees on the last mile mean irreversible crystals in the product.Read
- Pharma and healthThe 2-8 °C band is narrow; without records it is the process, not the product, that gets rejected.Read
- Seasonal peaksVolume doubles before a holiday and no refrigerated truck can be rented.Read
Cold chain articles
How long you have when the unit stops: the failure test that gives you the numberWhen the unit stops, the hours you have left are measured by the WHO Supplement 11 failure test: set point, a 12-hour stabilisation, logger requirements and the single figure in the report.
Three separate proofs: choice, maintenance and use of the equipmentThe carrier writes that the truck was refrigerated and the unit ran. Article 878(4) of the Turkish Commercial Code asks for three separate proofs: choice, maintenance and use of the equipment.
The ATP type test: a 25-degree gap, 24 sensors, two and a half daysThe K value on a certificate is measured, not calculated. Tunnel temperature, sensor count and stability conditions are all written down, and knowing them makes the number in an offer readable.
6 + 3 + 3 + 3: an ATP certificate has its end date written in from the startThe life of an insulated body is set by a calendar, not by its sheet metal: six years from manufacture, then three inspections of three years each, then a class downgrade at fifteen. Investment maths follows that calendar.
Is mince +3 or 2 °C? Two texts, two numbers, and which one bindsThe Ministry's ATP inspection table puts mince at +3 °C, the animal hygiene regulation at 2 °C. Not a contradiction but two different instruments, and knowing which works where shortens a delivery dispute.
Which text asks for what in cold transport: a short mapEquipment, product temperature, measuring device and record retention come from four different texts. Knowing where each answer lives halves the work of assembling a file.
Products for this industry
16 productsA selection from four brand catalogues for this industry - narrow it down by brand.
GEBHARDT
Isotec TBX Seafood
GEBHARDT
Eutectic Plates
GEBHARDT
Thermobox (EPP)
GEBHARDT
Cheese Ripening Container
GEBHARDT
Eutectic Plate Freezing Racks
Frequently asked questions
We don't have a reefer vehicle - can we still run cold-chain transport?
Yes. In Isotec TBX containers the goods travel with eutectic plates or dry ice; no cooling equipment or conversion is needed on the vehicle. How long it holds depends on the goods, the fill level, pre-cooling and how often the lid is opened, so no general figure applies. Once we have the conditions, the right container-plate combination follows.
Is there a dedicated version for goods like fresh fish that shed meltwater?
Yes: the Isotec TBX Seafood comes with a liquid-tight tray that collects meltwater at the base and a rear drain valve - no dripping or odour on the move. Our blog has a separate guide to the cleaning routine.
How long before a trip should we pre-cool the container?
GEBHARDT recommends 12-20 hours of pre-cooling; the target starting temperature is 0 to +2 °C for fresh goods and -21 to -25 °C for deep-freeze. This is the step most often skipped in the field - without pre-cooling the plate's cold is wasted. We calculate the exact time together with GEBHARDT's engineers, in a thermal analysis for your goods and fill level.
Which melting point should we choose for the eutectic plates?
The melting point is chosen to match the goods' regime: -3 °C for fresh, and -14, -18 or -21 °C for frozen. As a rule the plate must be frozen at least 5 °C below its melting point - for a -21 °C plate the freezer runs at -26 °C. Tell us your goods and regime, and we pick the plate to match.
Why eutectic plates instead of dry ice?
A eutectic plate is bought once and refrozen again and again; dry ice is used up each time and re-bought. The GEBHARDT eutectic plate brochure states a savings potential of up to 41% for plates against dry ice. The right choice depends on route time and volume - the two can also be combined.