The doors to the UK's coolest distribution event - the Temperature Controlled Storage & Distribution exhibition (TCS&D 2013) - open on 18th September. Taking place at the Peterborough Arena, this two-day show will feature not only the UK's largest collection of refrigerated vehicles under one roof but also over 85 exhibitors showcasing a huge range of products and services designed to save costs in the chilled and frozen supply chain.

Free conference
Visitors to TCS&D 2013 will be able to take advantage of a programme of free seminars, hosted by the Food Storage & Distribution Federation (FSDF) on the first day of the show and by the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) on the second day. The sessions on Wednesday 18th September will cover a variety of topics including Training, Skills and Careers; Longer Trailers; Logistics IT for Food Storage & Distribution Companies; Mobile Refrigeration; and Business Continuity Planning. The programme on Thursday 19th September will include sessions on An Overview of the Frozen Food Industry; Health & Safety; and a seminar from exihibitor, Witron, about fully automated case picking at -24°C.

Innovative ideas
TCS&D 2013 will feature all the latest solutions to enhance efficiency and reduce costs in temperature-controlled storage and distribution. Exhibiting at the show for the first time will be the VMS Group, a leading specialist in fleet management that provides a full range of solutions including contract hire, vehicle maintenance, accident management and rental solutions. The VMS stands - H17 and H19 - will feature experts from VMS (Refrigeration) Ltd and one of its refrigerated vehicles.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Sopp + Sopp will be exhibiting at the show on stand F9. The vehicle accident management specialist will be promoting its many services, ranging from its in-house, 24/7 call centre offering First Notification Of Loss through to the painting of Formula 1 race trucks and trailers.

Distribution and food chain construction specialist, Chalcroft, will be explaining to visitors on stand G1 how expert construction can reduce operating costs and improve productivity. The company, which has built new facilities for top names such as Grocontinental and Kuehne + Nagel, also undertakes refurbishment projects.

Articulated forklift supplier, Bendi, will be demonstrating the benefits of its Arctic model, complete with full cold store cab, on stand D1. With the cost of storing pallets in a cold store being up to three times higher than in an ambient warehouse, any reduction in the space required can dramatically reduce costs and the new Bendi Arctic can deliver aisle reductions of up to 50%. The Arctic's cab is a stand-alone unit, connected to the chassis by rubber cab suspension and fly-by-wire controls, and features all-round vision.

BPW (stand E8) - renowned for its range of axle and suspension systems for the heavy commercial trailer market - is entering the telematics sector with the launch of its TCONTROL Smart Trailer Monitoring System, featuring the 'COOL' solution for temperature-controlled operations. Gathering key data via GPS, fridge and EBS interrogation, TCONTROL features real-time alarms to highlight temperature variations; error codes on the EBS modulator to indicate roll stability and harsh braking events, as well as loading and unloading times; and the solution can also measure tyre pressure.

IMS will be exhibiting the latest SAF axle and air suspension systems, designed to provide greater efficiency and cost savings to fleets of all sizes, on stand C27. Exhibits will include the SAF INTRADRUM, the lightest integrated suspension system on the market; the SAF INTRADISC, a 9-tonne axle air suspension system with optimised one-piece 22.5" or 19.5" disc brake; the Electro Hydraulic Trailer Steering System from VSE, designed especially for urban deliveries; and the ALEX RIMS forged aluminium wheel, which is half the weight of a steel wheel, releases heat faster to save tyre and brake life and is proven to reduce fuel costs by more than 3%.

Phase Change Material Products will be launching no less than three new products on stand B6. The EcoMESH Adiabatic Air Inlet Cooling system offers refrigeration energy savings by using a unique water spray system over mesh. The solution is virtually maintenance free and the company claims that the payback period can be as short as one cooling season. The firm will also launch its PlusICE eutectic cold storage load shifting solution and its PlusICE Phase Change Material (PCM) ice packs at the show.

Coolertech will show three vehicles - all Mercedes-Benz and converted at Coolertech's UK production facilities - on its stand, C1, at the exhibition. Two will be insulated panel vans - a Sprinter MWB high-roof van to frozen specification and a Citan chilled conversion - and the third will be a 3500kg Sprinter MWB 3.5m insulated box body, built for a variable-temperature, rental operation.

SSI Schaefer will showcase a number of products from its standard range of storage equipment - including high-capacity small parts shelving, adjustable pallet racking and plastic distribution containers - on stand F17. The company will also display its extensive plastic container range, ideal for use in chilled and frozen environments. A video will give visitors the chance to learn more about its Orbiter high-density storage and retrieval system and the company's mobile racking solutions.

Jungheinrich (stand E16) will be highlighting the benefits of its broad range of materials handling solutions for temperature-controlled store operators at TCS&D 2013. Under the banner 'BestInvest', the company will demonstrate how its lift trucks, racking and storage solutions, automated systems, warehouse planning and tailor-made finance options can reduce long-term handling fleet operating costs by up to 20 per cent. Products on display will include a cold store version of its ETM-V2 reach truck series, recently named 'Warehouse Truck of the Year' in the prestigious IFOY awards, fitted with Jungheinrich's latest cold store cab technology. Also on show will be its counterbalance and powered pallet trucks, including the lithium-ion-powered EJE pallet truck, and its multi-depth shuttle storage Under Pallet Carrier (UPC) technology.

TCS&D 2013 Awards Dinner
The TCS&D 2013 Awards Dinner, which will take place at the end of the first day of the show in the Cambridge Suite of Peterborough Arena, will be bestowing accolades on individuals, companies or solutions that demonstrate best practice in a range of categories in the temperature-controlled storage and distribution industry.

Register now for free entry
Registration ensures that you receive the latest news about the show and pre-registered attendees are automatically entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a Kindle Fire on each day of the show.