A new hybrid solution for temperature-sensitive shipment handling at airports has been introduced.

La Couverture is described by owner Marco Del Giudice as “halfway between a thermal dolly and a standard thermal cover”. It offers a level of protection near to the former but at “much lower cost” while being as “easy to use” as the latter.

It protects temperature-sensitive shipments (+15°C to +25°C) from temperature variations (heat or cold) during the tarmac handling phase thanks to the use of innovative materials, Del Giudice said.

La Couverture was developed in one year, with testing of prototypes in real airport handling conditions – including in mid-summer in Rome – and in refrigerated containers.

Five-hour protection for ULDs on the tarmac can now be offered thanks to innovative cooling materials – phase change materials (PCMs) – that absorb heat.

La Couverture is also fitted with a GPS tracker, allowing its location within the airport to be identified.

Another key benefit is the sustainability of the product, according to Del Giudice. It is partly made of recycled bottles (192.5 PET bottles per cover), is reusable and is carbon-neutral, he said.