Castell Howell buys into Carrier Transicold technology to cut running costs and emissions

Carmarthenshire-based food wholesaler Castell Howell has added two new Eco-Drive-equipped Volvo FH tractors, as well as the first of two new 13.6-metre Gray & Adams double deck trailers mounted with Carrier Transicold Vector HE 19 refrigeration units, to its fleet.

Castell Howell’s fleet transports a range of ambient, chilled and frozen products across Wales and the southwest of England.

This latest purchase will allow the company to tackle rising fuel prices by cutting fuel usage, whilst also reducing the company’s emissions.

The Eco-Drive power module uses a hydraulic pump connected to the truck engine’s power take-off, which drives a generator that delivers the electrical power required to run any of Castell Howell’s Vector units. The power is delivered independent of the truck’s engine speed, ensuring 100% refrigeration capacity even when the vehicle is idling.

Martin Jones, Castell Howell transport director, said: “Experiencing the reliability and performance of Carrier Transicold’s technology first-hand over the years gave us the confidence to continue our sustainability journey with them.

“As a business, we’re always looking to stay at the forefront of the technology curve and adding the Eco-Drive to these tractor units was an exciting next step for our operation. They will interface perfectly with our existing Carrier fridge units, giving us genuine hybrid flexibility across our trailer fleet.

“If you couple that with the associated backup and support we can call on throughout their service partner network, it’s a win-win for the business.

“The great thing about Eco-Drive is that with the technology supplied by Carrier, I know it will interface perfectly with my fridge equipment.”

Tony Biggs, Carrier Transicold key account manager, added: “Castell Howell has been an early adopter for many of our new technologies.

“They were one of the first to specify the Vector HE 19 and have seen the performance benefits of the Eco-Drive on the engineless Iceland units they run in their rigid truck fleet.”

The new additions to Castell Howell’s operation align with Carrier’s 2030 ESG goal of helping customers reduce their carbon footprint by more than one gigaton.