Carrier Transicold Celebrates 45 Years of Container Refrigeration Production as it Prepares to Build One Millionth Unit

HAMBURG, Germany, Oct. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- At Intermodal Europe 2013, Carrier Transicold commemorated the 45th anniversary of the invention and production of its first "picture frame" container refrigeration system while looking ahead to its next milestone, the production of its one millionth unit. Carrier Transicold helps improve global transport and shipping temperature control 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. (NYSE: UTX).

Carrier's original front-wall container refrigeration system was produced in 1968 and became the industry standard. With its flat, square frame, that first self-contained system fit compactly on the front wall of a corrugated steel insulated shipping box, giving rise to the nickname "picture frame" unit. The design quickly defined the shape of generations of marine refrigeration systems to come. It took Carrier 25 years to reach the 100,000 unit plateau. With steady growth in the container industry over the past 20 years, Carrier's output increased ten-fold, onto the present course to producing its one millionth unit.

"We're grateful for the continued support of our customers propelling us toward the one millionth unit milestone," said David Appel, president, Carrier Transicold. "As the marine industry's preferred brand for refrigeration, Carrier Transicold has maintained a leadership role over the years, helping move shippers toward more environmentally sustainable refrigerants and bringing further innovations in system efficiency and cargo protection along the way."

The steady growth of Carrier's container refrigeration business is virtually a mirror image of the rise in containerized refrigerated trade through the decades.

"Today, 52 percent of world seaborne trade is delivered efficiently and economically by container vessel, and 65 percent of refrigerated products are transported in containers, the majority of which are efficiently and reliably temperature-controlled by Carrier Transicold systems," Appel said. "On any given day, the value of cargo delivered by Carrier Transicold units alone is valued at $6 billion. Indeed, Carrier Transicold systems and our global service and support network play a significant role in ensuring the well-being of a growing global population, by providing the safe, reliable transport of produce, meat, seafood, vaccines and medicine from hemisphere to hemisphere, 24 hours a day, every day of the year."

At Intermodal Europe, Carrier Transicold demonstrated that its innovative edge is as sharp as ever, showcasing a variety of new technologies designed to improve container shipping:

• NaturaLINE™ natural refrigerant container unit – Launching a new age of efficient and environmentally sustainable transport refrigeration, the world's first natural refrigerant-based container system is now commercially available.
• XtendFRESH™ atmosphere control – This modular system simultaneously manages oxygen and carbon dioxide within a container to precise levels while also removing harmful ethylene, helping control produce quality and prevent ripening before the cargo reaches its destination.
• QUEST™ II power saving mode – A refrigeration system control software, the QUEST II algorithm can reduce energy required to cool certain perishables by up to 65 percent while reducing ship emissions related to power generation.

For more information about Carrier Transicold container refrigeration systems and generator sets, turn to the experts at Carrier Transicold, or visit www.carrier.com/container.

About Carrier Transicold
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping temperature control with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 40 years, Carrier Transicold has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with the most advanced, energy efficient and environmentally sustainable container refrigeration systems and generator sets, direct-drive and diesel truck units and trailer refrigeration systems. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. Visit www.transicold.carrier.com for more information. Follow us on Twitter: @CarrierGreen.