Celsius appointed sole UK agent for innovative new door insulation pods to minimise heat loss in fridge vans

Celsius has partnered with one of Europe’s leading suppliers of specialist components to import innovative new insulated door panels which maintain the operating temperature more effectively inside refrigerated vans. 

The Lancashire-based specialist temperature-controlled transport converter has collaborated with BRBNI Components to develop the door pods for the UK market. 

Fabricated from 100 per cent recycled ABS plastic, the door pods fit snugly to the inside of the rear and side doors of fridge vans, reducing heat transfer by up to 25 per cent. The heat transfer effect conducts heat via the metal doors into the chilled space, meaning more energy is required to maintain the correct temperature. 

BRBNI Components is one of Europe’s leading composite material fabricators and has launched a new range of recycled ABS plastic components for the vehicle conversion industry. BRBNI Components’ parent company has more than 50 years’ experience in the sector. 

The new partnership makes Celsius sole agent for the importation and distribution of BRBNI components into the UK insulated vehicle sector.  

CAD designers at each company have been working closely with each other to introduce a new range of side and rear door pods and surrounds made from ABS plastic.  Testing in the in-house test chamber at Celsius’ UK manufacturing facility has allowed the partners to optimise thermal performance while minimising weight and streamlining the installation process. 

Celsius has been at the forefront of electric fridge van development since 2018, when the Lancashire-based converter produced its first working prototype electric fridge van. 

Since then, Celsius has worked with the University of Warwick and Europe’s leading refrigeration specialists to develop super-efficient chiller units and lighter, more sustainable insulation solutions which deliver significant efficiency gains with diesel vans and are especially well suited for electric van conversions. 

The door pods are the latest innovation to stem from Celsius’ sustained investment in R&D to drive efficiencies in the temperature-controlled transport sector. 

Celsius’ newly patented lining system has been completely redesigned from the ground up to eliminate the use of fibreglass, instead utilising a 90 per cent recycled plastic material which is then 100 per cent recyclable at the end of its life.   

The company is currently developing new electric fridge van prototypes based on the next generation of more affordable electric vans. 

Celsius Conversions manager Sam Hargreaves said: “During extensive testing, these doors reduced heat transfer by between 15 and 25 per cent depending on the van model they were fitted to. 

“They complement our new Polycore insulation system perfectly, maximising thermal efficiency without adding significant additional weight and compromising payload. 

“Like the rest of the Polycore insulation system, these door pods are fabricated from recycled material and are fully recyclable at the end of their life.” 

Marco Fortunati, sales and marketing director at BRBNI Components said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Celsius to bring our innovative new products to the UK refrigerated vehicle market. 

“Working collaboratively with a local partner in this sector has allowed us to tap into the Celsius team’s vast experience of the industry and fine-tune the product for the UK market.” 

Celsius’ new insulation system scooped the Refrigerated Panel Van of the Year Award at the Temperature Controlled Storage and Distribution Show in recognition of its ground-breaking new vehicle insulation system.