CRRC Shijiazhuang Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of CRRC Corporation Limited (CRRC), has developed an advanced intelligent cold chain system specially designed for the intricate needs of fresh flower transportation.
This advanced system meticulously regulates temperature and humidity, guaranteeing an end-to-end logistics solution that ensures floral freshness from origin to destination.
A CRRC-developed cryogenic mobile cold storage container [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Once harvested, the flowers are delivered to a fixed cold storage facility, known as the “Cloud Flower Warehouse”, for freshness preservation. During the rail-road intermodal phase, cryogenic intelligent cold chain equipment is deployed to maintain stable low temperatures over long-distance transport. For the final phase of urban delivery, cold-storage-enabled new energy distribution vehicles take over, which ensure the flowers reach their destination as fresh as when they were picked.
Throughout storage and transportation, the cold chain system delivers precise temperature control. It has already been deployed at scale along major projects such as the China-Laos Railway’s “Lancang-Mekong Express” , helping reduce the industry’s average spoilage rate to just 2 percent, while extending the freshness period of each batch of flowers to over 30 days.
The cold chain system includes an advanced humidity control system that automatically adjusts humidity levels based on flower type and needs. This reduces moisture loss during storage by up to 65 percent. Combined with a “pre-cooling + storage” model, the system also features extended air ducts and increased air outlets to release cold air more gently.
Both the cold chain vehicles and intelligent storage facilities are equipped with smart monitoring systems that support Beidou/GPS dual-mode positioning and multi-network communication, enabling seamless coordination across the entire logistics chain. With IoT-powered sensing devices, operators can monitor critical parameters such as temperature, humidity and oxygen levels in real time via mobile terminals. An intelligent alert module triggers warnings if abnormal conditions are detected, ensuring full visibility and control over the quality of the flowers.
(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)
