Which Invention Was Most Important In Revolutionizing The Meat Industry

Which Invention Was the Most Important in Revolutionizing the Meat Industry?

Answer –

The most significant invention that revolutionized the meat industry was the refrigerated railway car which was also popularly known as the ‘reefer car’. The reefer car was discovered in the 19^th century. Before this remarkable discovery, meat could only be delivered for a short distance before it became stale. This hugely limited the scope of the meat industry.

With the discovery of the reefer, meat could be delivered for long distances, and it remained fresh. This hugely broadened the meat producer's market and made it feasible for them to deliver meat to faraway areas from the production source. This further led to the development of large-scale meatpacking companies and the spread of outstanding meat–processing centers like Kansas City and Chicago.

The Refrigerator Car: A Brief History

 Once the population of the United States of America understood that the swiftest and effective transport means was the railroads during the first half of the 19^th century. Countless companies didn't take long to realize that trains could easily move anything.

Undeniably, this incorporated foods. But, this posed to be an issue, since naturally, food is putrefiable. And, in the middle of the 19^th century, refrigeration was yet not discovered.

The first trial of reefers was conducted by 1851 on the Northern Railroad (later a part of the Rutland Railroad) in New York. These cars had certain remarkable features like some kinds of insulation and ice blocks to keep the food products cool.

While it proved to be quite efficient, much better techniques of cooling and insulation required being discovered so that the refrigerator car could be used all year round.

Hence, refrigerator cars that are experimental became common throughout 1850. Only certain simple solutions were found, like using simple ice blocks in boxcars that are standard.

Then the first efficient reefers were discovered that comprised heavy insulations, floor drains, roof hatches, and ice bunkers located at the car ends. These cars had certain natural insulation like cow hair mattes, sawdust or even plain old dirt. In the year 1867, JB Sutherland from Detroit of Michigan, patented the first refrigerator car using a remarkable design. He also tried to control the airflow in the reefer to keep the food products fresh.

Despite these kinds of early advances in the refrigerator cars technology, railroads were slowly welcoming the new car. They were not in favor of new technology based on cost versus returns. Later, reefers became one of the first privately-owned cars to move on railroads. In the present era, they are also popularly known as private-car lines.  

Then, famous brands like Armor and Swift soon started making appearances on the sides of countless reefers.

In 1941, the first kind of air-conditioning was launched in the refrigerator car. This occurred when the Pacific Fruit Company introduced an alternator-driven fan system. This particular system compelled air to move in huge quantities through the ice bunkers and out of vents situated close to the ceiling. This assisted in improving the coolness of the contents of the cars.

Around the same time, improved insulation techniques were designed like rubber seals along the seams of the car's interiors. This helped in keeping outside air out, thus conserving the foods that can easily go stale.

But, it was the industry of frozen foods of the year 1950 that finally brought an end to the dominance of the refrigerator car in delivering foods that are perishable.  

By the year 2001, the demand for the refrigerator car in the US reduced to terribly low quantity of around 8000 cars. But, in the present era, that number has again increased to more than 25000 as farmers and cultivators have gained back faith in railroads to deliver their valuable products by rail.

Advantages of Refrigerated Car or Reefer

Beyond the development in technology that helps in keeping biodegradable goods at their optimal temperature, refrigerator car brings countless benefits to the table. These are –

• Greenest Method to Shape Freight on Land

On average, the freight railroads of the US can move a ton of freight more than 470 miles on a single gallon of diesel fuel. This produces 75% less carbon footprint than trucks.

• Cost Effective

Generally, railways offer reduced cost per ton mile compared to a truck.

• Huge Volumes Can Be Delivered Effectively

A refrigerated car can deliver a similar amount of cargo as 3-4 tricks. Hence, when you tend to deliver by rail, you can gain efficiencies in supply chains. Often railroads can also tackle shipments that are less than truckloads.

Hence, it can be concluded strongly that the refrigeration of cars enabled the meat industry to undergo a huge and remarkable revolution.

Frequently Asked Questions-

1. What is the history of a refrigerator car?

Popularly known by the name 'reefers', refrigerator cars were a remarkable revolutionary design. It allowed the biodegradable food products like meat, dairy and vegetables to stay fresh. These refrigerator cars originated in the mid-19^th century and used naturally ice as means of cooling.

2. Who invented refrigerator cars?

William Davis was the pioneer of the refrigerated railcars. Davis is a fish market owner who has designed a refrigerated boxcar on the basis of the design of containers with ice and gravity-forced air circulation of fellow Detroiter JB Sutherland.

3. What is a dry reefer container?

A dry reefer contains the modification of a dry container fitted with a refrigeration or cooling unit. These containers are used to transport temperature-sensitive products that require a dry atmosphere.

4. What is the difference between a normal cargo container and a reefer container?

The normal dry containers are used to deliver general dry products. On the other hand, reefer containers are used to deliver products that require temperature control. An electrical power supply is connected to the refrigeration unit that is fitted in the refrigerated container. The refrigeration unit is arranged in such a manner that the external dimensions of the container cater to the standards of ISO and thereby fit into the ship cell guides of the container.

5. What is an express reefer?

At the time, the express refrigerator car was a common component of the passenger train. These cars offered swift delivery of high-value, perishable goods and crops that required the speediest service railroads could deliver.