A specialist temperature-control unit from Carrier Transicold has helped Pulleyn Transport to transport musical instruments for the Philarmonia Orchestra in a way that ensures their welfare.

The Carrier Transicold Supra 1150 unit is mounted to a new high-spec 26-tonne Mercedes-Benz Actros rigid truck, with bespoke bodywork from Wessex Vehicle Services. Featuring a dual discharge evaporator, the Supra 1150 unit is used to maintain a set point between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius, removing any internal condensation to provide a consistent, dry environment that is vital for the welfare of the instruments.

“Similar vehicles often use heating systems that rely on ducting beneath the floor,” said Ryan Pulleyn, managing director of Pulleyn Transport. “These just don’t provide the same level of consistent airflow around the interior of the body that we get from the Supra unit – it’s a much more efficient way of maintaining the precise set point.”

Based at the Royal Festival Hall in London, the Philharmonia Orchestra perform around the UK and across Europe. These journeys can begin and end with very different ambient temperatures outside, potentially creating condensation inside the truck. The Supra 1150 unit’s ability to maintain continuous airflow – independent of the truck’s engine speed – makes it the ideal solution for the orchestra’s high-value musical instruments.

“Everything about this vehicle is designed to protect the cargo, from the bespoke-built shelving and load locking to the fully padded and carpeted interior. We then specified the Supra unit for its ability to keep tight control of the internal environment at all times, day or night,” added Pulleyn. 

The truck also comes equipped with a blind spot awareness lighting system to help protect vulnerable road users, an alarm on all doors, internal and external cameras, and air-bolt locks for maximum security.

The new truck also features a telematics and fleet management system supported by Carrier Transicold, which allows set points, operation modes, pre-trip checks and any alarms tripped on the Supra unit to be cleared from a connected device anywhere in the world.

On the road between five and seven days a week and expected to clock up to 70,000 miles a year, the new rigid joins a 35-strong fleet at Reading-based Pulleyn Transport, ranging from 7.5-tonne trucks to 13.6-metre refrigerated trailers, all featuring Carrier Transicold systems.