The company that invented the first refrigerated trailer in 1938 is now working on technology to make them more energy-efficient.
Thermo King held an "
innovation showcase" last month at its headquarters in Bloomington, where it employs more than 500 people.
The company makes refrigeration systems for the trucking industry, as well as heating and cooling systems for buses and trains.
Most conventional heating and cooling systems draw their power from the same diesel engine that drives the vehicle. Thermo King recently introduced systems that run separate from the primary engine, tapping into an electric battery or a separate diesel engine.
"There's a lot of buzz around these electric systems," said Chris Casazza, president of Thermo King in North America.
According to the company, the new systems are more energy-efficient, less complicated to install and maintain, and less expensive over the lifetime of the system.
Casazza said the company is seeing growing interest from vehicle manufacturers in trying out the new units. Meanwhile, the company's overall revenues for the year are about 20 percent ahead of last year.
Source: Chris Casazza, Thermo King
Writer:
Dan Haugen