• Clariant Southern Africa recognises Transport Month with Container Dri® II
• Clariant is playing pivitol role in transportation of food
Johannesburg, Wednesday 25 October 2017 - As part of National Transport Month, Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, highlights the pivotal role it plays in the safe transport of food and agricultural products. Clariant’s products, such as Container Dri® II, help to reduce food waste in transit. “Food spoilage in particular has huge impacts: According to the Save Food Initiative, up to 40 percent of the globally produced food spoils in less developed countries during transport and distribution,” Hubert SimmlerHuebenthal, Head of Sales EMEA, BU Functional Minerals.
The perishable nature of food presents a major challenge for shipping over long distances. In contrast to air freight, which is a relatively quick process, goods in containers transported by ship, rail, and truck often take several weeks to arrive at their destination, and experience continued exposure to environmental impacts while in transit.
Inside the steel containers, condensation forms, predisposing the goods to the development of fungi, changes in flavor, rotting, or colour fading. Cardboard packaging and filling materials are also affected by exposure to water, which may affect the sturdiness of the packaging and can also lead to cargo damage.
Today, about 70 percent of all cargo is transported in containers. By shipping via containers, large quantities of goods can be transported in tight spaces, keeping transport costs low. And in the context of development aid to combat world hunger, it is especially important that large quantities of food arrive at their destination in an unspoiled condition. This is of substantial concern for local farmers and their distribution channels.
For example cocoa beans are often extremely susceptible to moisture damage during transport. Cocoa beans are primarily grown in Africa, Indonesia and South America, and are typically transported by sea in large shipping containers to major markets in Europe, Asia and North America. Exposure to moisture often causes mold or mildew to form in conditions above 40 percent relative humidity and in the presence of liquid water such as condensation. To protect the delicate beans against damage from mold and mildew during long voyages, effective container desiccants are essential.
"The updated Federation of Cocoa Commerce Ltd (FCC) guidelines make it clear that traditional silica gel desiccants are now considered less effective for moisture protection of cocoa beans vs. our Container Dri® II desiccants." Hubert SimmlerHuebenthal, Head of Sales EMEA, BU Functional Minerals continues: "Silica gel, while inexpensive, simply cannot absorb enough moisture to provide adequate protection for this valuable cargo. In contrast, our technology meets or surpasses the new recommendations with a smaller amount of desiccant, thanks to its exceptional absorption capabilities."
Clariant’s Container Dri® II desiccants not only meet these recommendations with a 65 percent or higher loading, but also provide the highest moisture absorption of any calcium chloride-based product. They easily address FCC absorption requirements and provide a cost-effective solution for cocoa bean shippers. Container Dri® II desiccants are already providing excellent results for coffee shippers.
Long Transport Routes, Fluctuating Temperatures
In transit, a microclimate develops inside the shipping container through the interaction of various factors, such as the container type and the nature of the transported goods; their packaging; packing materials, such as timber beams for securing the load; and the external climate.
During long transport routes, the weather conditions can vary significantly and the temperatures inside the container fluctuate accordingly. These temperature fluctuations are one reason for the formation of condensation and ‘container sweat,’ also known as ‘container rain.’
Container Dri® II absorbs up to three times its weight in moisture and traps it as a thick, no-spill gel. Container Dri® II also has the ability to protect shipments from start to finish, through all temperature ranges and relative humidity variances. It works to reduce the relative humidity down to levels below 40 percent, which decreases the dew point temperature even further. Dew point is the temperature at which condensation starts to form on surfaces, such as container walls and roofs.
By aggressively removing moisture from ambient air, Container Dri® II products lower the dew point to prevent container sweat from damaging goods in transit. This system prevents the conditions that may cause mildew, warpage, corrosion, caking and other damage to agricultural products, such as cocoa and coffee, as well as bulk foods, and a variety of other products. In fact, the World Food Programme (WFP) recommends the use of Container Dri® II in food shipments to developing countries for products such as flour, dry legumes, etc.
“Food is precious and must be treated accordingly. The use of Container Dri® II helps to minimise food waste, supports global aid transports with food, and, most importantly, ensures the hundreds of thousands of tons of food reach the people who need it most, while the good quality is preserved.” Hubert SimmlerHuebenthal, Head of Sales EMEA, BU Functional Minerals said.
Configurations for Every Condition and Product
Another important aspect of Container Dri® II is its flexibility. It is available in bags, poles and strips and in a variety of quantities, rangingfrom 125g up to 1.5kg to satisfy transport conditions and product group needs. It is non-toxic and can be disposed of with standard industrial waste. The product offers a high level of safety and is extremely effective for all temperature and humidity ranges.
Clariant’s aim is to contribute to further development of Southern African industry with high quality innovation to support local trends. “We aim to be a sector leader by bringing our international know-how and expertise to the South African chemicals market,” Hubert SimmlerHuebenthal, Head of Sales EMEA, BU Functional Minerals said.
Hubert SimmlerHuebenthal, Head of Sales EMEA, BU Functional Minerals adds: “Clariant Southern Africa intends to improve its market presence and generate additional growth through sustainable and innovative solutions for customers in different sectors and industries that resonate well with the South African business culture.”
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