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  • Refrigeration thanks to plastic crystals

    Researchers have found that "plastic crystals" undergo particularly high temperature variations when subjected to pressure changes. These materials could be used for the development of the promising technology of barocaloric refrigeration.

    • Publication date : 2019/04/30
  • R&D: Thermoelastic cooling

    Researchers at the University of Maryland are developing a new "thermally elastic" metal alloy for use in advanced refrigeration and air-conditioning systems. This two-state alloy alternately absorbs or creates heat in much the same way as a...

    • Publication date : 2011/02/07
  • Taiwanese fruit distributor tracks fresh produce via RFID

    Je-Nong Cooperative Farm has reduced labor costs by adopting plastic crates with embedded passive UHF EPC tags to track its products.

    • Publication date : 2013/11/19
  • Packaging innovations

    Plant-based food packaging Biodegradable packaging looks set to be the way of the future. A sharp rise in demand for natural products and healthier food added to the stability of maize prices versus those of petroleum-based polymers have...

    • Publication date : 2006/05/05
  • Brief: System to go!

    Danfoss has been awarded its 4th consecutive Refrigeration Innovation Award for a completely self-contained refrigeration system. The Interchangeable Cooling Engine (I.C.E.) was designed for vending machine applications - it is already compliant...

    • Publication date : 2006/05/05
  • Briefs: Non-PVC Food Wrap

    Diamant Film, a Canadian company, is responding to banning of PVC stretch films used for foods and now has exclusive marketing and distribution rights for its non-PVC films in China, South Korea and Thailand. PVC films contain DEHA, a carcinogenic...

    • Publication date : 2006/07/26
  • Briefs: biodegradable packaging

    The use of biodegradable packaging (such as starch and polylactic acid) in Eastern Europe is taking off: in 2006, 821 tonnes of such packaging were consumed in Eastern Europe, compared with 19 350 tonnes in Western Europe and 16 047 tonnes in...

    • Publication date : 2007/05/04
  • Briefs: cryogenic labels

    In order to identify specimens for forensic investigations, medical research or blood, plasma and semen donations, reliable identification is vital. Labels used for deep-frozen material need to be durable and legible and must remain where they are...

    • Publication date : 2008/10/25
  • New freedom for diabetics

    A portable refrigerator is designed for storing insulin has been developed and won second prize in the Emhart "create the future" contest. It fits in a jacket pocket and is powered by a rechargeable battery. It uses a Peltier device (heat pump)...

    • Publication date : 2004/05/25
  • Briefs: English pears all year round

    Tesco, a UK-based retailer, has announced the availability of English pears all year round. Until now, the autumn fruit, which some consider the best in the world, was only available from September-May. Tesco's biggest pear supplier, Adrian...

    • Publication date : 2011/02/11
  • Green light for VIP project

    The EU's sustainable development project aiming to reduce energy consumption has led to the recently concluded Vacuum Insulating Panels (VIP) project, initiated in 2001. According to the designers, these panels provide 5-7 times more insulating...

    • Publication date : 2005/07/19
  • Briefs: Morning dew: a source of drinking water

    Researchers at Grenoble CEA, in France, have designed, thanks to a new material, a collector that can collect and condense dew, providing a precious additional source of water, and furthermore, of drinking water. The device is based on the...

    • Publication date : 2006/07/26
  • Out of the ordinary: Fed up with warm beer?

    Warm beer at a barbecue got young Kent Hodgson thinking about ways of cooling drinks without lugging around a chilly bin. The 22-year old New Zealand inventor has invented Huski, a device that turns a tepid beverage into a cold drink within...

    • Publication date : 2008/05/13
  • Nanotechnology applications: Nanopackaging

    Nanopackaging market worth billions Global sales of nanotechnology-related products approached 739 million € last year, and the food packaging industry could be worth as much as 22 billion €, according to a new study that provides an insight into...

    • Publication date : 2007/08/05
  • Fridge recycling scheme in the favelas

    In 2000, the Brazilian government passed a law requiring that electricity providers invest 0.5% of their turnover in projects promoting energy efficiency, especially among the disadvantaged. Among these, a refrigerator exchange project in the...

    • Publication date : 2011/06/20
  • Additive manufacturing of regenerators for caloric cooling

    In many areas of engineering, additive manufacturing allows the production of complex and multifunctional products that could not be manufactured using traditional methods. In the...

    • Last update : 2022/09/16
    • Langues : English, French
    • Themes : Caloric cooling (magnetocaloric, electrocaloric, elastocaloric and barocaloric cooling)
  • Cryogenic nitrogen in the food and beverage industry

    The adoption of cryogenic processes in the food and beverage industry is predominantly driven by liquid nitrogen (LIN), and it is the preferred candidate for food chilling and...

    • Last update : 2023/11/07
    • Langues : English, French
    • Themes : Freezing of foodstuffs