In the reefer shipping market ongoing innovation of reefer containers takes place. Relevant aspects of the use of these reefer containers are maintenance of product quality, the energy consumption of the refrigeration unit and the environmental impact due to the use of certain harmful chemicals. A Dutch consortium of companies has initiated a technical development project with the aims to improve the functionality of the reefer container, to achieve energy savings and to improve the sustainability of reefer transport. Erasmus University Rotterdam did the global reefer market research, with the aim to determine the market potential and the logistical and commercial requirements for the new reefer container. This paper is directed towards the methodological frameworks that the Erasmus University applied for this market research: a supply chain analysis specifically directed towards a technological development project in ocean reefershipping and the translation of results into logistical and commercial requirements.
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