A Difference Worth Listening To

Thermo King receives awards and new unit orders for its Whisper and SB-III CR reefers.

Thermo King's new Whisper Edition and SB-III CR reefers are making quite a bit of noise in the industry. Yet they're hardly making a sound. The two have been named among the 50 most significant new products in the commercial trucking industry in 1997.

The Whisper Edition and SB-III CR reefers were chosen from hundreds of new products to receive a "Nifty Fifty" award from Heavy Duty Trucking magazine. The award selections were made by a panel of technical editors at the magazine.

"Our intention is to recognize innovation and design excellence in the trucking industry," explained Andrew Ryder, Heavy Duty Trucking editor. "We're honoring the companies with products that improve truck operating efficiency and help improve the fleet operator's bottom line. In a competitive industry with very tight margins, truck operators are constantly looking for ways to reduce their cost of operation."

"Heavy Duty Trucking is one of the top sources of information for truck fleet managers in the United States," said Mike Komar, manager, marketing communications, dealer development & training.

"It's a key resource for fleet managers when specing equipment. We're happy to be named among the best products of the year."

Whisper Edition

The new Whisper Edition was built with driver retention in mind by offering comfort and safety features that can help reduce the possibility of fatigue at the wheel and ensure a more peaceful night's sleep. The Whisper Edition is an unprecedented 87 percent quieter – that's 10 decibels quieter – than competitive transport refrigeration units. For example, it would take the noise level of 10 Whisper Edition units, all operating at the same time, to equal the noise of one competitive trailer unit.

According to Dick Smith, Thermo King global director, product marketing, trailer division, the industry's response to the new reefer is overwhelming. "The Whisper unit is appreciated by both drivers and fleet owners alike. Drivers are getting a better night's sleep and that helps fleet owners with driver retention. In addition, fleet owners know that a well rested driver is a safer driver."

According to Smith, many fleets are converting to Whisper units and new orders are coming in. "We've had to make revisions to our forecasts for the upcoming year," he explains. "The unit is exceeding our expectations."

SB-III CR

The SB-III CR unit was introduced a few months ago and is being field tested on a limited basis. The unit produces 95 percent less noise than a diesel engine-powered system. How is that possible? This unit is unlike any on the market today. It is powered using liquid carbon dioxide (LCO2) to achieve super-capacity levels.

The LCO2 system has no engine (thus no diesel fuel emissions) and no compressor. An exclusive vapor motor, designed and built by Thermo King and operated by vaporized carbon dioxide gas, powers the evaporator blower and a brushless alternator. Gas does not enter the cargo space, and no refrigerant is used in the unit.

The system has no alternator brushes, bearings or belts. Essentially there is only one moving part – the fan motor that circulates air. "The LCO2 technology has caught the interest of many trucking companies both inside and outside the United States," said Smith.