- Up to 75% cost savings for transporting chilled and frozen foods compared with conventional containers
- End-to-end cold chain logistics processes become more flexible while also reducing complexity
- Thermo Trolleys are robust, ergonomic, maintenance-free, and easy to clean
Leipheim/Würzburg, Germany — February 18, 2026 — To transport temperature-sensitive chilled and frozen foods, va-Q-tec, a pioneer in highly efficient vacuum insulation technology, and Wanzl, a leading manufacturer of high-quality transport and logistics solutions for retail, are presenting their jointly developed Thermo Trolley for the first time. The upright container enables transport of chilled and frozen foods without refrigerated vehicles, dry ice, or cold packs. Thanks to vacuum insulation, the internal temperature remains stable – entirely passive – i.e., without external power — for up to 12 hours. This makes the entire logistics process, from order picking and distribution centers to delivery and stocking refrigerated cases and freezers, simpler, leaner, and more cost-effective.
“With the Thermo Trolley, we are taking the next step in supermarket food logistics. Customers can reduce costs by up to 75% over the service life. Maintaining the cold chain becomes less complex, more flexible and more sustainable. This is enabled by the high insulation performance of our vacuum technology and our process expertise gained from more than 20 years of experience in temperature-controlled supply chains. With the new Thermo Trolley, the temperature remains consistently stable during transport of chilled and frozen foods, even without active refrigeration,” says Felix Rau, Vice President, Business Unit TempChain, va-Q-tec.
Jürgen Frank, SVP Market Germany, Wanzl, also highlights the practical benefits: “The Thermo Trolley is robust, easy to maneuver, and can be seamlessly integrated into existing retail logistics processes. It provides customers with a transport system that meets the highest hygiene standards, offers a long service life, and is maintenance-free and easy to clean. For retail and the food industry, the Thermo Trolley is a true innovation for day-to-day operations.”
Efficient and reliable cold chain — zero energy consumption during transport
Standard transport containers are typically insulated with polyurethane (PU) foam and therefore rely on additional cooling media during transport. This makes the logistics process complex and costly. Thermo Trolleys are simply loaded with pre-chilled goods and transported on standard trucks. No energy is required en route because the passive cooling performance remains constant thanks to vacuum insulation. Even at high outdoor temperatures, goods stay chilled or frozen for up to 12 hours without refrigerated vehicles. In-store, the labor-intensive handling of cooling media — and the need for intermediate refrigeration — is eliminated. After unloading, the Thermo Trolley is cleaned at the distribution center and is ready for immediate reuse.
Availability and use cases
The Thermo Trolley will be officially launched at EuroShop 2026 and is available immediately in various sizes and configurations. It can be ordered with skids or casters. It is ideally suited for supermarket chains (store replenishment), manufacturers of chilled and frozen foods such as bakeries, logistics service providers with multi-temperature requirements, and regional distribution centers and central warehouses.
