Protocol “COVERS” single use insulated thermal covers for pallets

Protocol “COVERS” : How-to-use instructions

According to this protocol “Covers” a tailor made thermal cover and insulated bottom is used to insulate a pallet. The bottom insulation is placed on the pallet on which the time-temperature sensitive products are loaded. Next, the thermal cover is pulled over the products and is closed with the tape-closure. The foldable overlaps of the bottom insulation are folded upwards over the cover which prevents cold bridges and creates a perfectly closed system. As a last step, all overlaps are sealed with the Temax convection sealing tape.
Complete protocol “Covers” booklet available in PDF format.

User specifications

  • Very high temperature protection = HOT and COLD
  • Material thickness Temax-4000 = 3,5 cm (1,38 inches) + 4 integrated reflection systems
  • Unique thermal resistance techniques = same insulation performance as ca 10 cm thermal wool
  • extreme airfield TARMAC temperature protection + solar power + greenhouse extremes
  • Minimal impact on payload + waterproof + condense proof / product protection
  • Minimal impact on ecological footprint = unique material + production techniques + recycling formula
  • Worldwide validated by pharmaceutical manufacturers (+2°C to +30°C) and (+15°C to +25°C)

Implementation instructions S.O.P’s

WORKSHEET “How-to-use” instructions
This worksheet contains the mayor user steps for packing time-temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals on Euro or US- Block pallets with Temax® thermal blankets. Please see complete detailed procedure in the protocol “Blankets” and T.R.M. “Temperature Risk Management” guidelines. Keep this worksheet in the direct proximity of the work space. The complete protocol and worksheet is available in PDF format. More information? Please send us an email.
Training & Education “Day-training” sessions + certificate
When a 3PL-provider or pharmaceutical manufacturer wants to implement the usage of Temax thermal blankets or thermal covers, the company Krautz-Temax provides specialized or customer dedicated “day-trainings” and education. This day-training contains a three hours theoretical course on thermal energy and temperature phenomena followed by a three hours practical training on wrapping and insulating procedures (protocols and S.O.P’s). The training set-up can be a standard Temax® protocol or a new protocol which is specially developed for a certain pharmaceutical manufacturer. (Training: English language at Krautz-Temax HQ) More information? Please send us an email.
S.O.P’s “Standard Operation Procedures”
Please read the S.O.P’s (TRM-plan) before you start the wrapping or insulating of the pallets. In the S.O.P’s you can find more detailed information on the function of the overlaps and the sealing process which are crucial to avoid potential cold bridges or thermal bridges.
Insulation configuration (T1-S1-B1)
In this example the insulation configuration T1-S1-B1 was used which means that on all sides (Top, Sides, Bottom) one (1) layer of Temax-4000 insulation material was used. Please check the thermal energy calculations which were made for you which insulation configuration needs to be used for your transport or cold chain situation.

Thermal cover in production lines with automated packing processes

Temax4000coverc

This part of the protocol is mostly used by producers of pharmaceutical products. This protocol is specially designed for automated systems when for example the insulation is being done in a automated production process which means that the goods are loaded on the pallet by machines or if the empty pallet is going through a loading process to be loaded automatically or that the pallet is being wrapped with automated sealing machines. In such cases it is very important that the bottom insulation has no flaps and has the same size as the pallet so the production machines or wrapping machines are not influenced by the flaps hanging over the side of the pallet.

According to this protocol, two items are used to insulate a pallet being an insulated bottom and an insulated cover. First the insulated bottom is placed on the pallet to protect the goods against an airflow of external temperatures through the bottom side of the goods. Next the goods are placed on the insulated bottom. An insulated thermal thermo cover is placed over the goods so a total protection can be offered. Last, a tape sealing is used to press the sides of the insulated cover against the bottom insulation so potential cold bridges are sealed. Now the pallet is completely insulated and ready to be shipped. The insulation material for this protocol is tailor made according to the required temperature results. Mostly the Temax4000 with thickness of 4cm is being used yet due to the wanted results the quality can be increased or decreased. The material is also tailor made according to the pallet sizes. The height can easily be adjusted so one thermal thermo cover can be used for different pallet heights. To prevent the bottom insulation from falling of the pallet during the loading processes, the insulation can be foreseen with double sided tape at the bottom to tape it on to the pallet

Temax4000coverc

Thermal cover used at third parties

If pharmaceutical products are being send in a transport system where partial active cooling is being used, other actors in the cold chain, being third parties to the producer, can decide or be obligated by the pharmaceutical producer to use passive cooling or passive packaging to ensure or guaranty the temperature of the goods in the CCP’s of the chain. The goods are unloaded and it is up to the third party or actor at the airport to insulate the pallet with insulation material, functioning as a passive packaging, to ensure the required temperatures. The problem with this way of transport is that some pharmaceutical producers claim that their pallets may not be re-packed. This means that the actor can not place an insulation between the pallet and the goods. A solution for this situation could be to use an extra floating pallet on which the insulation is placed and on which the pallet with the goods is loaded.

This way of insulating gives certain disadvantages like the extra height and extra weight created by the extra pallet. Therefore it could be advisable that the third party, who needs to insulate the pallet, convinces the producer to pre-insulate the bottom at the production process so the third party only needs to place the insulated cover and seal the potential cold bridges meaning that the use of an extra pallet can be avoided

General information

Temax multilayer insulation foil – thermal covers – for temperature protection of pallets
The Temax multilayer insulated thermal covers are also used for temperature protection of time-temperature sensitive products against external temperatures. The insulatied thermal covers function as a passive cooling system in which the own thermal energy of the products is used to offer a certain temperature preservation. The time of the temperature preservation is hereby depending on the available thermal energy of the products combined with the insulation quality of the thermal cover and the temperature difference to which the passive cooling system is exposed. The higher the insulation quality of the insulated thermal cover, the longer the temperature preservation.
Temax thermal covers= high insulation + payload friendly + nature friendly
The Temax multilayer insulated thermal covers are mostly used in the transport and logistics of time-temperature sensitive products such as pharmaceuticals, healthcare products, food products and perishables and chemical products. When these kind of products are transported or shipped with insulated thermal covers or other passive cooling systems, two mayor issues are important being the temperature preservation, which determines the quality of the products, and the payload which will have an impact on the transport costs. Experience shows that the Temax thermal covers can offer an ideal co-relation between these two subjects due to its light weight and high insulation quality. This also explains why more and more companies are implementing the Temax thermal covers as their standard temperature controlled logistics systems.
Temax thermal covers 005

Multilayer thermal covers for temperature protection of time-temperature sensitive products
Thermal covers for Euro pallets (80x120cm) and US-BLOCK pallets (40″x48″)
Customer validated for (+2 to +30°C and +15 tot +25°C) pharmaceuticals in airfreight shipments

Single use THERMAL COVERS