Across Saudi Arabia, many industries depend on Refrigerated Containers to keep food, pharmaceuticals, research materials and high value components safe. Yet even the best cold storage can fail if the wrong equipment is selected, poorly handled or operated without the right safeguards. These mistakes are more common than most businesses realise and can lead to costly spoilage, compliance issues and operational delays.
Here are eight real mistakes businesses make when procuring or using refrigerated containers, along with how Trane Saudi Arabia helps prevent them.
1. Choosing a Reefer That Cannot Reach the Required Temperature Range
One of the biggest mistakes is selecting a container that simply cannot achieve the temperatures the product requires. Not all reefers can handle deep freezing or precise chilled conditions, and many businesses discover this only after loading sensitive goods.
How Trane prevents it:
Trane provides reefers with wide and verified temperature capabilities.
- Onshore units maintain minus 40°C to plus 30°C
- Super freezers reach minus 70°C to minus 10°C
This ensures the right match for pharmaceuticals, frozen foods, research samples and other sensitive products.
2. Using a Standard Reefer for Offshore or Hazardous Environments
Many companies send normal containers to offshore rigs or remote sites, unaware that marine environments require certified equipment. This creates safety issues and regulatory violations.
How Trane prevents it:
Trane offers DNV 2.7-1 certified offshore reefers in 10ft and 20ft sizes. They are engineered specifically for oil and gas, marine lifting, vibration and harsh offshore temperatures. This keeps operations compliant and secure.
3. Overlooking Compliance Requirements for Pharmaceuticals or Global Shipping
Pharmaceutical companies and exporters often forget that cold storage must meet GDP guidelines and ISO shipping standards. Without compliant equipment, goods can be rejected, delayed or legally problematic.
How Trane prevents it:
Trane reefers are GDP certified and meet ISO container shipping standards. This supports healthcare, biotech and international logistics customers by ensuring goods remain compliant from storage to transport.
4. Assuming All Reefers Have Reliable Temperature Monitoring
Many businesses operate blind, relying solely on manual temperature checks. Without real time monitoring, issues like temperature drift or power loss go unnoticed until damage occurs.
How Trane prevents it:
Trane offers Remote Monitoring Management (RMM).
This telematics system allows operators to track and control temperatures remotely, receive alerts, and verify that products remain within safe ranges throughout transport or storage.
5. Selecting the Wrong Size Container for the Operation
Another common mistake is choosing a size that does not match operational needs. A container that is too small leads to overloading and airflow issues. One that is too large increases energy consumption.
How Trane prevents it:
Trane provides three scalable reefer sizes:
- 10ft
- 20ft
- 40ft
This allows businesses to choose exactly the right capacity for their inventory, avoiding energy waste or compromised cooling.
6. Ignoring Energy Efficiency and Running Costs
Many companies focus only on capacity or price and forget that poorly designed reefers cost much more to operate. Inefficient compressors and weak insulation lead to high electricity use, especially in Saudi Arabia’s extreme heat.
How Trane prevents it:
Trane reefers are designed for fast temperature pull down and lower power consumption. Their insulation, compressor technology and airflow control help reduce running costs while keeping goods safe.
7. Underestimating Transport and Mobility Requirements
Some businesses choose reefers that are not designed for frequent movement between warehouses, ports or job sites. Containers that lack structural strength or marine lifting points suffer damage or fail during relocation.
How Trane prevents it:
Trane reefers are built for easy mobility and transport, with durable construction and design suited for regular relocation. Offshore models are engineered for safe movement between vessels, rigs and remote projects.
8. Using Reefers for Products They Are Not Designed to Store
Businesses sometimes place chemicals, high tech components, vaccines or laboratory materials in standard food grade reefers without considering their unique temperature and stability requirements.
How Trane prevents it:
Trane’s range covers multiple industry needs:
- Pharmaceuticals and healthcare including vaccines, samples and medical ingredients
- Food and beverage such as dairy, fruits, vegetables, seafood and processed items
- Technology components requiring controlled storage
- Research and development materials in automotive, aviation and energy sectors
Each reefer is designed to safeguard the specific sensitivity of the products stored.
Refrigerated containers are essential for protecting valuable goods in Saudi Arabia’s demanding climate. The mistakes above are common, but they are avoidable when businesses choose the right equipment and the right partner. Trane Saudi Arabia provides Thermoking reefers that offer wide temperature capability, certified compliance, scalable sizes, deep freezing options, real time monitoring and durable construction for onshore and offshore operations. This ensures your products remain safe, stable and compliant throughout their journey.
For organisations seeking flexible or seasonal solutions, Trane also offers reliable cold storage rental options that maintain product integrity without long term investment.
