The new Carrier Transicold Supra HE 13 MT units will be distributed between 14-tonne Volvo FL and 16-tonne DAF XF rigid trucks, each mounted with specialist insulated box bodies from Gray & Adams. These vehicles represent a combination of new additions and replacements in Castell Howell’s 200-strong commercial fleet – approximately 90% of which is now equipped with Carrier Transicold refrigeration technology.
“We’ve been coming back to Carrier for more than three decades,” said Martin Jones, Director of Transport Operations, Castell Howell. “In that time, we have built a level of trust in both the quality of the products and their performance, which helps to make selecting the latest technology an easy decision.
“The Vector HE 19 units have been part of our trailer fleet for years now, so being able to introduce the HE range’s proven reputation for power, pull down efficiency, fuel economy and emissions control to our rigid trucks is an exciting proposition.”
The Carrier Transicold Supra HE 13 MT delivers a quieter, lighter and more compact unit that enhances overall efficiency, performance and uptime. Featuring a single drive belt powertrain and variable-speed fans, the new model consumes up to 27% less fuel compared the legacy Supra 1250 unit. Additionally, with one-third less brazed joints, the risk of refrigerant leaks is significantly reduced, while programmed maintenance intervals have been doubled to further improve operational reliability.
The Supra HE 13 MT features the most compact condenser unit packaging in its class, weighing 149 kilograms less than the Supra 1250 and even smaller than the lowest-capacity Supra 750. This design provides an additional 6.5 centimetres of cab tipping clearance and improves aerodynamics by reducing drag. Combined with exceptional cooling capacity, precise multi-temperature set point control and rapid pull-down speeds, the Supra HE 13 MT is the ideal solution for Castell Howell’s intensive multi-drop delivery routes.
“We like to spec the most powerful Carrier units so that our trucks can cope with everything we throw at them – knowing the new Supra offers such impressive cooling credentials means we don’t have to run the units for as long every day, which in turn means less emissions, improved sustainability, lower fuel costs and reduced maintenance,” said Jones.
The new trucks will operate from the Castell Howell headquarters in Llanelli, supporting customer deliveries six days a week and clocking up to 70,000 kilometres annually. Confidence in the Carrier Transicold systems is reflected in the vehicles’ expected time on fleet, with plans to keep them in operation for up to 10 years.
The 20 Supra HE 13 MT units are part of a broader order of 37 Carrier Transicold systems, including Castell Howell’s first all-electric 18-tonne Volvo FM, which will be cooled by an engineless Carrier Transicold Iceland 11 MT.
“It’s always a privilege working with the Castell Howell team ,” said Tony Biggs, National Sales Manager, Carrier Transicold. “They understand the benefits of embracing new technologies, and we are delighted to get the opportunity to showcase the performance of the new Supra, which will certainly fit in perfectly with the company’s forward-thinking fleet.”
Founded in 1988, Castell Howell is Wales’ largest independent wholesaler. Its fleet transports a range of ambient, chilled and frozen products across Wales and the southwest of England.
For more information on Carrier Transicold products and services, visit Carrier Transicold.