Hubbard have recently supplied FFL Airline Catering Services of Crawley with a second refrigeration unit for their vehicles used to deliver inflight meals and other supplies to various airlines at Gatwick. Hubbard 520 Alpha ELs are fitted to two DAF 18-tonne vehicles converted by aviation ground support equipment specialists, Emtek Support of Norwich so they reach 6 metres up to the aircraft door. Emtek fitted an electro-hydraulic scissor lift and platforms to the chassis cab and bolted the Hubbard evaporator and condensor in position before Hubbard installed and wired it in.
The split refrigeration system consists of an under mounted condenser unit with an evaporator mounted under the van body roof, powered by the vehicle’s main engine.
Jed Sherwood, Hubbard’s Key Accounts Manager for the South explains, “As the vehicle jacks up so high we modified the wiring looms and pipes to lengths of around 25m. We know the bodybuilders well and work closely with them on a project like this”
The Hubbard 520 Alpha is a high capacity split system designed to operate in medium to large truck box bodies that are suitably insulated for fresh or frozen produce transportation. It uses environmentally friendly R404a refrigerant, is suitable for temperatures down to -25°C and is available with single or three-phase standby.
FFL are based just over a mile from Gatwick and the bulk of food orders are delivered in the DAF trucks for scheduled services. Back-up vans are also used to get food to aircraft quickly, which are likewise fitted with Hubbard units – the smaller 390 Alpha ELs are designed for use with insulated panel vans and small box bodies and are also suitable for temperatures down to -25°C.
Mike Matthews, Director of FFL explains, “Some business class passengers have tickets that are valid for 365 days and so the airlines don’t know when they will check-in, but when they do they need a meal. We have four Citroen Relay vans that are used for last minute deliveries, all fitted with Hubbard refrigeration units.
“We’ve used various fridge units in the past but where others have let us down, both in terms of the product and service, Hubbard have always been reliable. We’ve built up a relationship with them over a number of years and know Jed personally. As we replace vehicles now we are specifying Hubbards.”
Hubbard
Dougie Stoddart
Email: transport@hubbard.co.uk
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