Zodiac Aerospace has shown off a prototype of a cooled trolley which keeps in-flight meals chilled for up to 10h.
The Cool Trolley features a thermodynamic design which uses dry ice to keep contents at a temperature of 0-5ºC for long enough to remain fresh for the return leg of a flight, without requiring adjustments to the galley.
The design is based on the Hybrite S platform. Zodiac describes it as providing “a very user-friendly application of dry ice cooling” because the way in which it is insulated means the outer parts do not freeze.
Although a prototype of the product is on display at the Aircraft Interiors show, the manufacturer declines to provide an anticipated entry-into-service date for the product.
The company has also announced a partnership with security specialist Maple, which will provide a Smart Lock solution for the Hybrite trolley line.
The locking system uses touch-key technology to gain access to trolleys and enables operators to pinpoint any incidences in which the integrity of the trolley was compromised.
It is already in use on thousands of duty-free trolleys but the new partnership means the system will now be exclusively available for Zodiac Hybrite trolley users, as an integrated option for new trolleys, from 2016.
“The Smart Lock will allow airlines to address the complex area of air catering security with an easy to implement solution, using proven and reliable technology in actual operations,” says Zodiac Rotable Equipment vice-president sales Bart van Berkel.
Source: Flight Daily News
