Temperature Indicators for Shipping & Logistics

In order to ensure quality control, maintain an intact warranty and protect against claims, it is important to track heat exposure and critical temperatures during shipping. Ocean containers heat up in direct sun, just as road shipments do in warm climates or summer temperatures, increasing the risk of exceeding critical temperatures. Ascending irreversible temperature indicators provide reliable proof of heat exposure by making reached temperature thresholds permanently visible.

By placing ascending irreversible temperature indicator strips on your cargo. These permanently change color once the specified temperature thresholds on the strip have been reached. Sea containers and other freight are exposed to large amounts of solar heat during transit, with the insides reaching temperatures up to 60 °C, which can damage the cargo. Since continuous heat monitoring is difficult and costly, irreversible temperature indicators provide clear and cost-effective evidence of exceeded temperature thresholds.

Depending on the cargo, heat damage can start to occur at just 40 °C, which makes this a sensible threshold at the lower end of an ascending temperature indicator. Especially for heat-sensitive freight like electronics, pharmaceutical products, chemicals and some goods like wine, a temperature indicator covering values between 40 and about 60 °C is recommended.

Irreversible temperature indicators should be placed on multiple points on the cargo itself as well as in the container to ensure clear and consistent readings across the whole shipment. If your freight contains products with specific heat-sensitive parts, the indicators should be placed directly on or as near as possible to these parts in order to accurately indicate exceeded thresholds.