Why is PUF Panel The Best Choice For Refrigerated Trucks?

PUF panels deliver optimal thermal insulation for refrigerated vehicles with their K-value. High-density polyurethane foam panels offer superior thermal insulation properties and have seen widespread adoption in recent years. Whether transporting frozen or temperature-controlled food, they provide a stable and cost-effective low-temperature transportation solution.

As the premier insulation material for refrigerated trucks, PUF panels replace traditional wooden boards. Wooden boards suffer from significant drawbacks: susceptibility to corrosion, deformation, and water absorption. Utilizing PUF foam panels as the refrigerated truck body solution is the preferred approach. We believe selecting reliable, stable, and sustainable refrigerated truck body materials capable of transporting goods nationwide is paramount.

Composite Box is the ultimate refrigerated truck body solution.

What is PUF panel?

PUF stands for polyurethane foam. It is a high-density closed-cell rigid foam material with an extremely low thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.022-0.027 W/(m·K), significantly lower than EPS foam. Additionally, it can be continuously high-pressure laminated with fiberglass boards and CFRT continuous fibers. It exhibits exceptional compressive strength. PUF board also features lightweight properties and delivers remarkable energy-saving benefits. It is widely used in industrial buildings, cold storage facilities, and similar applications.

Advantages of PUF panels for refrigerated trucks include:

As the core insulation material for refrigerated truck bodies, PUF panels (polyurethane foam panels) deliver exceptional thermal insulation. They effectively maintain low-temperature cargo environments and minimize heat exchange. Their low thermal conductivity and closed-cell structure ensure stable temperatures, making them ideal for cold chain transportation of perishables, pharmaceuticals, and similar goods. Simultaneously, their lightweight design reduces vehicle weight, improving fuel efficiency. while corrosion resistance and moisture protection extend service life. Compared to traditional materials, PUF panels offer easy installation and high cost-effectiveness, driving the refrigerated truck industry toward greater efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Superior Insulation Performance: The closed-cell polyurethane foam structure of PUF panels achieves thermal conductivity as low as 0.02-0.03 W/m·K, effectively blocking external heat and minimizing temperature fluctuations within the cargo compartment. During refrigerated transport, this reduces refrigeration equipment runtime, keeping perishable goods like meat and produce fresh while preventing spoilage losses. For long-haul transport, heat loss is controlled to less than one-third of traditional materials, enhancing cold chain efficiency. Its uniform foaming process eliminates voids, ensuring consistent insulation across multi-temperature zones from -18°C to +10°C, boosting reliability and economy.

Lightweight High-Strength Design: PUF panels feature a density of 30-40 kg/m³ with high compressive strength, weighing only one-quarter of steel plates. This reduces refrigerated truck curb weight, increasing payload capacity and fuel economy. In practical use, it saves 5%-10% in diesel consumption, making it ideal for frequent short-haul deliveries. Surface skins like fiberglass enhance impact resistance, withstanding road vibrations without deformation. Facilitates body assembly and shortens manufacturing cycles. Compared to XPS panels, it offers higher strength, making it suitable for heavy-duty refrigerated trucks and ensuring safe transport of perishable goods.

Energy-saving and environmental benefits: PUF panels’ high thermal insulation reduces refrigeration energy consumption by 20%-30%, lowering carbon emissions and aligning with green logistics trends. During refrigerated truck operation, they directly save electricity or fuel costs—a medium-sized vehicle can save hundreds of kilowatt-hours annually. Fluorine-free foaming process is environmentally friendly and non-toxic, suitable for food-grade transportation. Long-term use reduces maintenance frequency. Industry data shows a 15% improvement in overall lifecycle energy efficiency, promoting sustainable cold chain development, especially in e-commerce fresh produce delivery.

Durable moisture resistance: PUF panels feature over 95% closed-cell density, offering excellent waterproofing and moisture resistance. Prevents condensation buildup and mold growth, extending cargo compartment lifespan by over 10 years. In humid environments, it prevents insulation layer moisture absorption failure, ensuring hygiene standards for seafood and pharmaceutical transport. The surface coating resists corrosion, withstands acids and alkalis, and resists aging. It maintains structural integrity after extreme temperature testing. Fire-rated B1, it reduces fire risk. Compared to traditional cotton boards, it offers superior durability and lower maintenance costs.

Easy processing and installation: PUF panels are prefabricated with precise dimensions, formed in a single hot-pressing process. This enables rapid on-site assembly without complex tools, shortening delivery cycles. It reduces labor costs and allows custom multi-temperature zone partitions for versatile vehicle use. Seamless bonding ensures airtightness and prevents cold bridges. Suitable for various vehicle models with high flexibility. Localized replacement during maintenance is simple without compromising performance, boosting production efficiency and driving manufacturers’ modular transformation.

How Do PUF Panels Improve Refrigerated Truck Performance?

Pre-fabricated Refrigeration Solutions:

PUF panels can be manufactured into various-sized box panels, enabling bulk production according to specifications. Transported as loose components, this significantly reduces shipping costs and allows on-site assembly, thereby shortening production time.

Enhanced Energy Efficiency:

Refrigerated truck bodies constructed with PUF panels boost energy efficiency. Their low thermal conductivity and superior insulation properties reduce the required power output of refrigeration units.

PUF sandwich panels minimize energy absorption while maintaining relative temperature isolation between interior and exterior environments. This ensures stable internal temperature fluctuations and prevents cold air transfer through the medium. Consequently, energy efficiency improves, refrigeration unit losses decrease, petroleum and electricity consumption are reduced, and greenhouse gas emissions are mitigated.

Enhanced Temperature Stability:

Superior insulation materials improve temperature stability, preventing fluctuations in both hot summers and cold winters. This ensures consistent temperature maintenance during long-distance transport. Adequate panel thickness delivers excellent thermal retention, making PUF panels ideal for transporting temperature-sensitive goods like pharmaceuticals and vaccines.

Weight Reduction:

PUF panels significantly reduce overall vehicle weight. Traditional panel materials contribute to heavy truck loads. PUF panels increase truck speed. Despite their light weight, they offer high impact resistance, structural integrity, and extended service life.

Easy Maintenance

PUF panels are typically delivered as CKD or SKD kits, enabling modular assembly. Damaged panels can be replaced individually. If the surface uses CFRT, repairs are straightforward since it’s a thermoplastic material—simply use a hot press machine to restore it.

Applications of PUF Panel Refrigerated Trucks

• PUF Panel Refrigerated Trucks
• Medical products such as pharmaceuticals and vaccines
• Juices, dairy products, etc.
• Fruits, vegetables, and meats
• Frozen foods
• Seafood and other frozen products
• PUF Panel Refrigerated Trucks

Why Choose Composite Box Refrigerated Truck Bodies?

PUF refrigerated truck bodies represent a modern refrigeration solution. In terms of cost and efficiency, PUF is the most suitable insulation material for refrigerated vehicles. We offer professional refrigerated truck bodies with customized production and delivery of fully disassembled components. If you wish to enhance refrigeration performance and temperature stability while reducing costs, you can seek assistance from Composite Box engineers.