Digi International introduced Thursday Digi SafeTemps to measure air temperature at the point of product in the trailer to deliver complete temperature visibility throughout transit, and serves as an independent audit of refrigeration system compliance. Designed in conjunction with transportation and logistics companies, Digi SafeTemps provides precise and continuous visibility using wireless monitors that automatically generate temperature alerts and reports of perishable goods throughout the transportation and supply chain process.
The new offering helps to simplify FSMA compliance with proof of inventory temperature throughout transport chain; measure product temperature in its cooling zone for independent audit of cooling equipment; and eliminate error-prone manual logging with automated trip, shipment and delivery reports. It also receives location-based alerts for temperature exceptions, such as door open and failures; enables viewing of temperature, path and location of inventory while in transit or in the yard; and comes with easy-to-install wireless temperature sensors and gateways in fleets and refrigeration units of all types.
As part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the FDA issued new food safety rules to prevent food contamination during transportation. The rules require those involved in transporting human and animal food by motor or rail vehicle to follow recognized best practices for sanitary transportation, including properly refrigerating food.
Shippers and receivers must verify that transport units are pre-cooled prior to loading, and track temperatures during transit. They must also capture, log and share temperature monitoring data to show end-to-end compliance.
In addition to providing customers with the ability to meet new FSMA requirements, Digi SafeTemps also provides an independent audit of refrigerated trailers, known as reefers. In reefers, the temperature is controlled by a refrigeration unit that creates and maintains three temperature zones (frozen, refrigerated and ambient temperature). With Digi SafeTemps technology deployed directly within each zone inside the container a real-time and accurate record verifies that the reefer unit is meeting FSMA requirements
Digi SafeTemps provides location-based, real-time temperature monitoring and alert notification. By linking positioning and temperature monitoring, the customer has complete visibility throughout the transport chain. The system can locate and monitor refrigeration units in trailer yards during preparation, as it leaves the shipper location (i.e. geo-fencing), in transit, arrival at destination, and location in the destination yard. During the course of the shipment, the system provides breadcrumbing and zone temperatures with five-minute stop detection. During transit, through integration with dispatch and telematics software, shippers and carriers are immediately alerted to any temperature event.
Additionally, by placing the Digi SafeTemps gateway on the outside refrigeration unit, an LED light visibly alerts yard managers, shippers and carriers to any temperature fail event.
Through proactive, real-time monitoring, Digi SafeTemps provides automated and detailed trip, shipment and customer delivery reports. Information can be presented in a Digi-hosted dashboard, as well as be integrated with ERP, Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Dock Management Systems (DMS), yard management systems and transport management systems.
By eliminating manual input of temperature information, sensor-based input saves labor, eliminates potential human error and provides reliable data to verify adherence to FSMA requirements. Additionally, automated data logging and temperature tracking provides verification to product specific temperature rule sets such as the four-hour and one-hour time/temperature rule set.
Digi SafeTemps follows Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) standards to provide a traceable independent audit of both reefer units and product temperatures.
A subscription-based service, Digi SafeTemps is comprised of wireless sensors, gateways and software that allow temperature data to be monitored, logged, and retrieved independent of the make or model of refrigeration unit. Data transmission is able to adjust to various environments to take advantage of Bluetooth, WiFi or LTE/3G cellular networks. Hardware and software are included as part of the subscription and requires no capital expense.
“Requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act present immediate challenges for our customers in the transportation industry,” said Kevin C. Riley, chief operating officer, Digi International. “Digi SafeTemps automates temperature logging and location reporting. Our solution is unique in that it continuously measures temperature at the point of product, within the cooling system itself, providing an independent verification of a trailer’s reefer equipment.”
