Cooling elements
Gel Packs
From gel packs for one way applications to
to gel pack with paper foil for a natural look.
Foam Bricks
Hard Shell Packs
Cooling elements with a stable and robust hard plastic cover and water filling.
Phase Change Material (PCM)
Robust hard shell packs with different phase change material fillings.
Flexible Cooling mats
Flexible cooling mats in different sizes with water-filled segmented chambers. For flexibility even when frozen.
Looking for an alternative to dry ice?
Gel packs, foam bricks and PCM cooling elements may be used in appropriately designed frozen packouts where an alternative to dry ice is required. The elements themselves are not classified as hazardous materials.
THERMOCON cooling elements for cold chain packaging
The GDP-compliant shipping of temperature-sensitive products is becoming increasingly important and so is the quality of the cooling elements. In order to maintain the required temperature limits and running times, the right cooling elements in the right quantity must be correctly positioned.
THERMOCON offers a wide range of different cooling elements for different temperature ranges and running times and provides support in the selection process. Starting with the inexpensive gel pack up to the PCM-Pack, which is filled with different phase change materials.
The right cooling elements for every temperature range
In the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical sectors, there are three common temperature ranges in which temperature-sensitive products, such as sera or active ingredients, must be transported and stored:
- +15 to +25°C (Ambient)
- +2 to +8°C (Cold)
- <-15°C (Frozen)
To cover these areas, THERMOCON offers a wide range of different cooling packs. For the temperature ranges Cold and Ambient we offer gel packs in different versions, Foam Bricks with stable foam core, segmented Cooling mats for high flexibility, HDPE Packs with a robust hard shell and water-based filling and phase change materials are used.
Phase change material (PCM): A possible alternative to dry ice.
The use of dry ice in the shipping of temperature-sensitive products is increasingly criticised. According to IATA-DGR (International Air Transport Association – Dangerous Goods), dry ice as a coolant is classified as a dangerous good in air transport (UN 1845). In air transport, as well as in the regulations for the road transport of dangerous goods (ADR), dry ice must be labelled.
Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide (CO₂). Dry ice has its phase transition at -78.5°C and changes directly to the gaseous state without melting. Dry ice can therefore only be used once. If this cooling product is handled carelessly, there is a risk of cold burns.
For suitable frozen packouts, Phase Change Materials (PCM) and PCM gel packs can provide a practical alternative to dry ice. The cooling elements themselves are not classified as dangerous goods and can support passive temperature control when the packout is designed for the required temperature range, runtime and shipping profile. Requirements for the complete shipment must be assessed separately. The special phase change material used in these elements has a melting point of –21 °C and is preconditioned at –30 °C to –40 °C.