Insulated Transport Containers Go Green

Food & medical industries embrace new technology.

Springfield, MA January 11, 2010 -- SonRidge, LLC, a catering and chef supplies company located in Western Massachusetts, found themselves in search of a solution to bulky food transport containers for their clients in the food industry. What they discovered was an innovative resolution that not only solved an issue for catering professionals, but a solution that opened the door to the medical industry as well. "One of the chief complaints we came across in the catering industry was how heavy insulated containers were," said SonRidge Partner, Chuck Attridge. "When we found Thermohauser Thermo boxes, we knew we found what we’d been looking for."

Thermohauser, headquartered in Germany, has been developing top of the line professional food service equipment for bakeries, restaurants and caterers for over 85 years. They constructed the insulated food containers from Expanded Polypropylene (EPP), an engineered plastic material developed in the 1980s. EPP is used for a multitude of applications from car bumpers to sports protective gear and is 100% recyclable.

SonRidge Partner, Jack Anderson, says, "Initial feedback has been fantastic. EPP’s light weight, high strength, and incredible temperature retention was the perfect combination we needed to solve this long-standing problem for catering professionals. Plus, there are no gaskets, hinges or latches to replace."

"At first, clients were skeptical to try the boxes," adds Attridge. "It was hard for them to believe that something so lightweight could stand up to the performance of traditional plastic transport containers, never mind surpass their performance. Pans filled with food are heavy enough without the additional burden of traditional pan carriers to contend with."

Kent Fear of Citron Catering in Phoenix was one of SonRidge’s first converts. "SonRidge carries a square box, which is ideal for my round platters. I could never find reusable square insulated transport containers prior to the Thermo boxes," says Fear. "I love these boxes. I purchased 20 already and plan to purchase 20 more this spring."

Although SonRidge was originally in search of the ideal insulated container for food service professionals, they have found the boxes perfect for multiple applications. After having the transport containers tested by the medical industry, SonRidge discovered that they could be successfully sterilized. "This opened up blood and organ transport capabilities. Like hot temperatures, EPP holds cold temperatures longer than traditional containers, as well," says Anderson. The boxes have even been chosen by some bookstores as a preferred means of transporting and storing books because they hold their shape and keep out moisture far better than cardboard.

"I think we’ve only hit the tip of the iceberg for what these containers can be used for. Saving backs and saving the environment – it was a win-win," says Attridge. The Thermo boxes are currently available on Sonridge’s Web site, www.sonridge.com.