Longhini Sausage Co. Inc. is a family-owned sausage manufacturer in Connecticut, USA. It has served customers in the southern part of the state for almost 60 years. The company's products are sold in many restaurants, delis, and supermarkets in the area.
In August 2014, CAS DataLoggers, a distributor for T&D Corporation, supplied the company with an automated temperature monitoring system to help control the temperature inside refrigerated delivery trucks and to provide alerts if the refrigeration system encountered problems.
Temperature Problems in Refrigerated Delivery Trucks
Sausages are highly temperature-sensitive products. If the temperature during storage exceeds 35°F, or approximately 1.6°C, the quality and safety of the product may be compromised.
Rich Longhini, the company owner, explained that products are loaded onto trucks in the afternoon for delivery the next morning. Each night, there could be approximately $15,000–20,000 worth of products in trucks parked in the garage.
Previously, one refrigerated truck experienced an abnormally high temperature overnight, but there was no alert system. As a result, the company had to discard about $3,000 worth of products the next morning, and the damage could have been even more severe.
After this incident, Rich wanted a temperature monitoring system that could provide remote alerts instantly if the refrigeration system failed overnight.
Choosing Wireless Data Loggers from T&D
Rich began searching for an automated alert system for refrigerated delivery trucks. He wanted a system that was easy to use, reliable, and had only essential functions.
Most of the initial systems he found were expensive and designed for large trucks, with too many functions for his business's needs.
After consulting with CAS DataLoggers, he chose three RTR-502 wireless temperature data loggers and one RTR-500NW network base station to receive temperature data from all three trucks.
The RTR-500 Series has been discontinued and superseded by the RTR500B Series, a new and improved model.
Each delivery truck was equipped with a data logger inside a device box on the side of the truck, with the temperature probe cable routed to the warmest area inside the cold room, near the refrigeration unit.
The sensor supports a measurement range from -60 to 155°C, can display readings in both Celsius and Fahrenheit, and can record up to 16,000 data points.
Rich opted for devices with high-capacity lithium batteries, which can operate for approximately 4 years, reducing the frequency of battery changes and ensuring continuous temperature monitoring.
Automated Temperature Monitoring and Alerting
Once installed, each data logger automatically measures the temperature inside the truck every 10 minutes while the truck is loaded and parked overnight awaiting delivery.
The RTR-500NW base station is mounted on a wall inside the garage, approximately 50 feet from the trucks. The system can communicate up to approximately 500 feet in an open area.
The base station wirelessly receives data from the data loggers and transmits it via Ethernet to Rich's home computer, allowing him to monitor data, change settings, or register new devices remotely.
For this application, the system was configured with a temperature range of 26°F to 35°F, or approximately -3.3°C to 1.6°C, with settings adjusted to accommodate the refrigeration unit's defrost cycle to reduce unnecessary alerts.
If the temperature inside the truck goes above or below the set range, the base station immediately sends an email alert to Rich's mobile phone.
Rich explained that upon receiving an alert, he can log into the T&D Current Readings Monitor from home to check the temperature and decide on a course of action, such as removing products from the problematic truck or quickly transferring them to another refrigerated truck.
He stated that most food temperature alerts usually indicate a real problem, such as a refrigeration system failure, and in this type of business, alerts cannot be overlooked.
Data Logging to Confirm Product Quality
In addition to alerts, the system also stores temperature history, serving as proof that products were maintained within the appropriate temperature range throughout the storage period.
T&D's software can generate graphs and charts showing temperature history, allowing the company to use this data to confirm with stores and recipients.
Data can also be sent to the T&D WebStorage service, a cloud system that allows users to view and share data 24 hours a day via web browsers, smartphones, or tablets.
Business Outcomes
The wireless data logger system enables Longhini Sausage Co. to automatically monitor its cold chain, reducing the risk of damaged products and allowing for faster problem resolution.
Before installing the system, Rich worried about the temperature inside the trucks. Some nights, he would drive back to check for himself if the products were still in good condition.
After installation, he can be confident that the delivery trucks and products will be ready for dispatch the next morning. If any anomaly occurs, the system will immediately notify his phone.
Rich concluded that the most significant benefit of the system is peace of mind, as he can be sure that the products are safe unless the system indicates an anomaly.
This case study demonstrates that wireless temperature monitoring systems not only help reduce damage from spoiled products but also lighten the burden of monitoring, accelerate decision-making, and create verifiable proof of product quality throughout the storage and transportation process.
