Twenty years of cold chain

When Luan Pingxin brought over breakfast, she saw Hu Shutong staring intently at the poster.

The Madrid Refrigeration Exhibition, officially known as the Madrid International Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Exhibition, is as prestigious as the Milan Refrigeration Exhibition. It is the most important trade event in the global commercial refrigeration industry and a platform for showcasing technological innovation.

Hu Shutong read the introduction to the exhibition above, which was indeed massive in scale, with an exhibition hall of over 80,000 square meters, more than 500 direct exhibitors, and more than 700 agents. The main exhibits would include air conditioners, insulators, refrigeration and industrial refrigeration equipment, pipe valves and ventilation equipment, etc. In addition, new products related to regulations, monitoring and centralized technical management, as well as installer tools and application software, would also be showcased.

"What's wrong? Feeling a little itchy?"

"Let's eat, I'm so hungry."

Hu Shutong smiled and put the poster aside. Luan Pingxin had prepared a lavish breakfast, and Hu Shutong seemed to have a good appetite, but this didn't escape Luan Pingxin's notice. This small poster had struck a chord with Hu Shutong.

Luan Pingxin is no stranger to studying and visiting abroad. She has done so at least seven or eight times since her sophomore year, not only because of her strong professional skills, but also because of her academic advantages.

In China, electrical engineering and automation, and mechanical manufacturing and automation are highly sought-after engineering majors, serving as an important talent pool for national infrastructure construction. Moreover, these major engineering disciplines have a long history and abundant educational resources.

This stands in stark contrast to Hu Shutong's situation, where talent development in the field of cold chain logistics is still in its infancy, and the support system is not yet fully developed. Take his own postgraduate studies, for example: the Master's program at the University of Minnesota is far too weak; although the university and professors have been working hard, the results have not been immediately apparent.

Back then, he suggested that Luan Pingxin pursue a postgraduate degree while working, but in the end, he himself took this path to its extreme. It was almost predictable that his master's thesis would be a "reflection on practice" of these three years.

Many times when Luan Pingxin went abroad, she would imagine what it would be like if Hu Shutong could participate. Unlike her and her team, who would spend most of the day staring at a machine and a few data points, Hu Shutong's perspective was completely different. He would understand cold machines but wouldn't get bogged down in them. In a sense, someone like him was better able to see the value of a demonstration.

After the meal, while looking for something, Luan Pingxin picked up Hu Shutong's backpack and immediately asked in surprise, "So you've come here to work in a different place?"

"No, I just came here to relax. I feel like I'm being chased by a pack of wolves in Mingyuan."

"Only Panhu Fishing Port is left. We still have two months, so let's take it slow."

"That's fine, so you won't be bored during the day."

Hu Shutong frowned. "Dawn is already in mass production, can't you take a break?"

"There's no other way, we still have the next phase of the task to discuss. You can grab a bite at the noodle shop downstairs for lunch, and go out to buy groceries at 4:30 sharp in the afternoon. You provide the money and the effort, and I'll cook it. If you can't stay at home, there are people playing chess and playing with birds in the small square, and there are also yo-yo experts. Remember, remember, don't help me tidy up the room, my blueprints must be in the designated place."

After giving a long explanation, Luan Pingxin went to work, and now she really was working here as she said. Hu Shutong placed the materials on the dining table, but for a moment, he couldn't settle down. He got up to go to the balcony, but his gaze fell again on the poster. If you don't see it, you won't know, but once you have a vague impression, it's easy to think about it more deeply and further.

What are the cold chain logistics like overseas?

Hu Shutong kept thinking to himself that he cared about the advanced equipment, but even more about the standardization of the entire process. He knew there was so much to learn there, but what he found in books and on websites couldn't compare to firsthand experience.

Hu Shutong's future path has gradually become clear in his heart, which makes it even more necessary for him to have an international perspective rather than working behind closed doors. He needs to understand the best, most optimal, and most advanced technologies so that things have a goal and pursuit from the very beginning.

The cold chain must always be in line with international standards. Standards and plans must take into account the domestic market, and must also be revised in accordance with the requirements of different countries and organizations.

After Luan Pingxin left, Hu Shutong's mind was filled with these thoughts, and he didn't even glance at the materials on the table. Around noon, Hu Shutong suddenly heard the door open, and then Luan Pingxin reappeared in front of him.

"Why are you back?"

With a smile in her eyes, she swayed her shoulders behind her back, "I didn't expect things to go so smoothly. Look what this is!"

As they were talking, a folded document resembling an invitation appeared before Hu Shutong's eyes. Its cover read "Baileng Group's European Refrigeration Exhibition Tour," with the words "Invitation" in large characters in the center!

Hu Shutong hurriedly opened it, and there on the table were the three characters "Hu Shutong"!

Overjoyed beyond words, Hu Shutong asked in utter astonishment, "How did you do that?"

"I have a brilliant plan! Consider this a reward for our research team! The team has been on vacation for half a month, and I went to do this specifically for you!"

Luan Pingxin felt a sense of accomplishment at being able to accomplish this for Hu Shutong and see him happy. She knew that this trip must have been incredibly valuable to Hu Shutong.

Baileng is one of the twenty domestic exhibitors at the Refrigeration Exhibition. At the exhibition, they will showcase the latest refrigeration equipment. At present, the competitiveness of products such as Dawn is mainly in terms of price, targeting markets in South America, Central Asia, and South Asia.

This trip, which began in mid-October and lasted for half a month, included attending the Madrid Refrigeration Exhibition and a series of conferences and events. Among them, the event in Paris was the one Hu Shutong was most looking forward to—

Attend the ECSLA conference.

ECSLA, or European Cold Storage Logistics Association, traces its origins back to 1958. Today, it has over 900 public cold storage and logistics facilities, 40 private companies, and 11 cold storage facility suppliers, with a total cold storage capacity of 50 million tons.

It is not just a public affairs body, but also an organization that provides professional advice on EU legislation related to the refrigeration sector and provides standards and regulations for the processing and distribution of perishable foods.

This is crucial in the development of the cold chain. The rise of the cold chain has been a long process because it cannot be solved simply by implementing cold storage facilities, improving technology, and advocating for food safety. It also requires regulating corporate self-discipline, providing precedents and laws for problem-solving, and establishing a comprehensive institutional framework, which is the ultimate solution to the chaos.

Hu Shutong believes this is a consensus among many people at the forefront of the industry.

So, when will our country have its own professional "cold chain association"?

……

I've loved cold chain logistics for twenty years.