Container liner or reefer: when to choose what
Container liner or reefer: choose a reefer if your cargo must stay strictly refrigerated. Choose a dry container with a container liner if your cargo must be protected against heat, frost and condensation, without active cooling.
By a reefer liner or reefer container alternative we mean here the container liner in a dry container: a passive solution without active cooling.
Cost difference between a reefer and a container liner
A container liner is an affordable alternative for anyone who wants to insulate a container without active cooling. It is much cheaper than a reefer container and suitable for goods that do not need to be strictly refrigerated.
Container liner or reefer: what you give up with a container liner
A liner does not cool. A thermal liner of reflective bubble foil limits the effect of the outside temperature, but it does not adjust anything. That means:
- No guaranteed temperature window and no setpoint.
- No option for cargo that must stay refrigerated.
The trade-off in one table
| Situation | Choice |
|---|---|
| Cargo that must stay strictly refrigerated | Reefer |
| Wine, chocolate, cosmetics, electronics | Dry container with container liner |
| Cargo with a moisture risk | Dry container with container liner and desiccant bags |
| Cargo that must not freeze on winter routes | Dry container with container liner |
When a container liner is the logical choice
A container liner suits cargo that is temperature sensitive but does not need to be strictly refrigerated: wine, oil, chocolate, cosmetics and electronics, which suffer damage from heat up to 60 °C in summer or from frost on winter routes. The container liner limits those extremes.
Container liners: the sizes and the material
The liners are also called thermal container liners or container insulation liners. They are meant for 20-foot, 40-foot and HC sea containers and limit temperature swings caused by solar radiation, heat and cold weather conditions on long sea freight routes.
| Liner | Dimensions (cm) | Material |
|---|---|---|
| Sea container insulation liner 20DV | 589 x 233 x 233 | Aluminum-coated bubble foil |
| Sea container insulation liner 40DV | 1,200 x 233 x 233 | Aluminum-coated bubble foil |
| Sea container insulation liner 40HC | 1,200 x 233 x 269 | Aluminum-coated bubble foil |
| Sea container insulation liner 45HC | 1,335 x 233 x 269 | Reflective aluminum-coated bubble foil |
What the product details say per liner
- 20DV: provides a stable temperature in sea freight of temperature-sensitive goods.
- 40DV: reduces temperature changes during long transport.
- 40HC: the thermal protection helps reduce temperature swings and contributes to less condensation.
- 45HC: meant for longer transports, with durable thermal insulation.
Cargo that the product descriptions mention
The descriptions of the liners mention food, pharmaceutical and biotech shipments and chemicals as cargo that can experience temperature swings. Container transport by sea and land and protection of delicate products also appear. What your cargo may endure is something you determine with your client.
Liner or insulation boards
According to the collection text, a sea container is also insulated with insulation boards or insulation panels against the wall and the ceiling. A liner insulates the entire cargo space in one go. It is quick to place, reusable and needs no installation work. The liners come with an installation guide as a PDF: 9 steps with photos, from unrolling on the container floor to zipping up the door cover.
Desiccant bags next to the liner
A liner does not absorb moisture. For the moisture there are container desiccant bags in two sets: 20 bags of 600 grams, each with an absorption of up to 2 liters, or 10 bags of 1,200 grams, each with an absorption of up to 4 liters. They hang from the eyes in the container.
Reefer container alternative: when does it work?
As a reefer container alternative, a container liner works only if your cargo has no hard temperature window. If the cargo must stay strictly refrigerated, you choose the reefer. You can read how to insulate the inside of a container in insulating a sea container: protect your cargo from heat and condensation.
Do you ship single pallets instead of full containers? Then look at the insulated pallet covers. The requirements for your product are something you determine yourself with your client. Here we only describe what a container liner does. You can read more about moisture risks in Condensation and heat in the container: liner and desiccant bags.
Frequently asked questions about container liner or reefer
Can a container liner replace a reefer?
Only if your cargo has no fixed temperature window. A container liner does not cool and gives no guarantee on a temperature.
Do I also need desiccant bags with a container liner?
For moisture-sensitive cargo that is sensible. A liner limits temperature changes, desiccant bags absorb moisture. See the container desiccant bags.
Which container liner size fits my container?
That depends on the container type. There are liners for 20DV, 40DV, 40HC and 45HC. The exact sizes are on the collection page.
What is a container liner made of?
Of reflective, aluminum-coated bubble foil.
Is a container liner reusable?
Yes, when handled with care. The liner can be installed without specialist tools.
Order directly
See the container liner or reefer choice in our range: container liners for 20DV, 40DV, 40HC and 45HC, available from stock.
You will find all names for this product in our glossary.
