Top

Communications in Development and Assembling of Textile Products

pictures from different CDATP-articles
Communications in Development and Assembling of Textile Products
You are here: Archives/Peer-reviewed articles/Vol. 7

Smart, knitted and volume-reducible transport box for electro-mobile, temperature-related pharmaceutical and vaccine logistics

Authors

Julia Klausmann, Thomas Mutschler, Christof Breckenfelder, Marcus O. Weber, Maik-Julian Büker, Thomas Freitag, Matthias Hummel, Martin Zeitler, Oliver van Neerven
Julia Klausmann
Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, Mönchengladbach, Germany
Thomas Mutschler
Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, Mönchengladbach, Germany
Christof Breckenfelder
Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, Mönchengladbach, Germany
Marcus O. Weber
Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, Mönchengladbach, Germany
Maik-Julian Büker
Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Nano Systems – ENAS Department Smart Wireless Systems, Paderborn, Germany
Thomas Freitag
Steinbeis Innovationszentrum Energie- und Umwelttechnik (SIZ), Oelsnitz, Germany
Matthias Hummel
Hero-Textil AG, Crailsheim, Germany
Martin Zeitler
Hero-Textil AG, Crailsheim, Germany
Oliver van Neerven
Walther Faltsysteme GmbH, Kevelaer, Germany

Files

PDF
The figure demonstrates cross section of transport box where inside a textile materials is placed

Key Information

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25367/cdatp.v7.a150

Published

13 November 2026

How to Cite

Klausmann, J., Mutschler, T., Breckenfelder, C., Weber, M. O., Büker, M.-J., Freitag, T., … Neerven, O. van. (2026). Smart, knitted and volume-reducible transport box for electro-mobile, temperature-related pharmaceutical and vaccine logistics. Communications in Development and Assembling of Textile Products, 7, 76–85. https://doi.org/10.25367/cdatp.v7.a150

Abstract

Temperature-sensitive goods such as refrigerated and frozen goods pose particular challenges in terms of the availability of electrical energy and energy efficiency. Against the backdrop of the mobility shift towards electric vehicles and the current challenges of temperature-stable transport of pharmaceutical products, research was conducted into high-performance, new vehicle equipment for maintaining cold chains. Typical vehicle equipment concepts are only partially transferable to electric delivery vehicles, where the entire cargo compartment is usually air-conditioned. In addition, the goods cannot be removed from the vehicle while maintaining the cold chain. Known concepts for active cooling of transport boxes are very energy-intensive, expensive and can only be used for specific purposes. For this reason, a textile, modular and volume-reducible transport box with active cooling function was developed, which corresponds to the dimension of the usual transport container according to EU standards. By using this textile box insert, the standard transport container can be upgraded to a cooling box as required. The knitted textile insert assumes the function of an insulating layer. Moreover, this box-in-box system forms the basic unit of an overall logistics concept. By docking the box to an external cooling system via an integrated shelf system in the cargo hold, active and individual cooling is realized for each box. Via a sensor inside the box, data is permanently recorded, enabling constant temperature monitoring, controlling and regulation. An energy-efficient smart label on the outside of the box allows data such as temperature, destination and contents of the box to be accessed. This provides information about the quality of the refrigeration and errors in the supply chain. In the context of the overall system, the completely digitized refrigerated transport container offers an optimal interface towards the autonomous logistics vehicle. This paper presents the box-in-box system and the sensor technology.
PDF

References

Japan Gore Tex Inc, Koji, C., “Storage of food, storing apparatus and sheet material used therefor”, patent JPH11276137A, 12.10.1999, https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/013902257/publication/JPH11276137A?q=pn%3DJPH11276137A

Hubei Cancer Hospital / Hubei Institute if Oncology, Qinwei, M., “Kühlbox für Medikamente, Kühlung über Kompressor, Medical cold chain box”, patent CN211108972U, 28.07.2020, https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/071690392/publication/CN211108972U?q=pn%3DCN211108972U

Fritz-Berger GmbH. Online: https://www.fritz-berger.de/artikel/dometic-coolfreeze-cfx-35w-kompressorkuehlbox-32-liter-37697?varid=38146&partnerid=46A&xtor=SEC-100[520_Smart_Shopping_CSS_PPF_D]-GOO-[D]-[b]-S-[459170]&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvMzDzPLj-QIVge_tCh2_XALVEAkYBSABEgJmE_D_BwE; last accessed: 26.08.2022.

Lusini Deutschland GmbH. Online: https://www.lusini.com/de-de/pdp/166011/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6Jumq_Hj-QIVULLVCh3AiAr5EAQYBiABEgIJKvD_BwE#sku=30114765; last accessed: 26.08.2022.

Nippon Block Kako Hanbai KK, Hidekazu, O. et al., „Heat insulated container“, patent JP2002029573A, 12.05.2010, https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/018713692/publication/JP2002029573A?q=10-287372

Losco, D., „Isolierende Faltschachtel mit Mehrfachverwendbarkeit“, patent DE202004008227U1, 02.09.2004, https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/032946647/publication/DE202004008227U1?q=pn%3DDE202004008227U1

Nakumara Hifuku KK, Tomomi, S., “Folding type box”, patent JP7171984B2, 16.11.2022, https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/069581213/publication/JP7171984B2?q=pn%3DJP2020015532A

https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/018713692/publication/JP2002029573A?q=10-287372

Toray Industries, Yoshinori, K., „Hot and cold insulation container”, patent JP2002058604A, 26.2.2002; https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/018737421/publication/JP2002058604A?q=pn%3DJP2002058604A

Hane KK, Takao, H. et al., „Foam synthetic resin cold insulation/heat insulation container“, patent JP6724616B2, 15.07.2020, Zugriff unter: https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DJP2018008710A

ASHIMORI IND CO LTD, Katsuo, K., „Storage box“, patent KR20050098264A, 11.10.2005, https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/032820708/publication/KR20050098264A?q=pn%3DKR20050098264A

Park Sun Woo, “A folding type thermal insulation box and a vacuum insulation sheet groove line forming device using a vacuum insulation sheet on which a groove line is formed”, patent KR101951690B1, 25.02.2019, https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/065584890/publication/KR101951690B1?q=pn%3DKR101951690B1

Brandt, R., „Entfaltbare thermische Isolierbox“, patent DE202021000752U1, 15.03.2021, https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/075269177/publication/DE202021000752U1?q=pn%3DDE202021000752U1

Shanghai Yuanting Cold Chain Tech Co Ltd., Shengrong, Z., “Soft-surface vacuum heat insulation composite board, foldable vacuum heat insulation row and vacuum heat insulation box”, patent CN213535469U, 25.06.2021, https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/076475037/publication/CN213535469U?q=pn%3DCN213535469U

Mecheels, J. Körper, Klima, Kleidung, Wie funktioniert unsere Kleidung?. Schiele & Schon GmbH, Berlin, 1998.

Cooke, B. The physical properties of weft knitted structures. In Advances in knitting technology, Au, K.F., Ed., Woodhead Publishing Limited Cambridge, 2011.

DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V., DIN 60022-1:2020, Abstandstextilien Begriffe und Probenvorbereitung. November 2020.

DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V., DIN 60022-3:2022, Abstandstextilien Teil 3: Bestimmung der Dicke. February 2022.

Van Neerven, O. et al. Textile, volumenreduzierbare und wiederverwendbare Transportbox für die elektro- mobile, temperaturbezogene Pharma- und Impfstofflogistik – Smart Matter. Antrag zum FuE- Kooperationsprojekt, 2021.

Walther Faltsysteme GmbH. Online: https://faltbox.com/de/loesungen/branchenloesungen/retail/non-food-distributionsboxen-fuer-den-leh/; last accessed: 23.08.2022.

Klausmann, J. et al., Thermodynamic qualification of knitted spacer fabrics for use as insulation box insert in the context of refrigerated transport containers in the logistic sector, CDATP 2023, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 18-26, DOI 10.25367/cdatp.2023.1.p.18-26.

DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V. EN ISO 5084:1996, Bestimmung der Dicke von Textilien und textilen Erzeugnissen. October 1996.

Chung, S.; Ehrmann, A.; Weber, M.O. Genauigkeit von Dickenmessungen an Maschenwaren. In Melliand Textilberichte, No. 4, pp 198-199, 2012.

DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V. EN ISO 12127:1997, Textile Flächengebilde Bestimmung der flächenbezogenen Masse unter Verwendung kleiner Proben. October 1997.

Freitag, T. Entwicklung eines Natriumacetat-Trihydrat-Latentwärmespeichers mit einem Wärmeüberträger aus Kunststoffmetallverbund-Kapillarrohr. Ph.D thesis, Technical University Chemnitz, Chemnitz, Germany, 2005.

DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V. DIN 52616:1977-11, Wärmeschutztechnische Prüfungen; Bestimmung der Wärmeleitfähigkeit mit dem Wärmestrommessplatten-Gerät. November 1977.

Finkenzeller, K., RFID Handbook: Fundamentals and Applications in Contactless Smart Cards and Identification, John Wiley and Sons, 2006, p 88.

Details

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25367/cdatp.v7.a150

Published

13 November 2026

Issue

Vol. 7 (2026)

Section

Peer-reviewed articles

Keywords

Cold chain maintenance, logistics, knitted spacer fabric, transport container, volume-reducible box, textile insulation, RFID tags, temperature tracking

How to Cite

Klausmann, J., Mutschler, T., Breckenfelder, C., Weber, M. O., Büker, M.-J., Freitag, T., … Neerven, O. van. (2026). Smart, knitted and volume-reducible transport box for electro-mobile, temperature-related pharmaceutical and vaccine logistics. Communications in Development and Assembling of Textile Products, 7, 76–85. https://doi.org/10.25367/cdatp.v7.a150

Pages

76-85

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Julia Klausmann, Thomas Mutschler, Christof Breckenfelder, Marcus O. Weber, Maik-Julian Büker, Thomas Freitag, Matthias Hummel, Martin Zeitler, Oliver van Neerven

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Similar Articles

<< < 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Back to Top
Hosted by SLUB Dresden using Open Journal Systems.