Yusen Logistics of the Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) Group and NGK SPARK PLUG had been jointly studying a system to visualize monitoring the concentration of ethylene in the atmosphere during the transportation of fruit and vegetables, and has been carrying out promotion with exhibition since November 2018.

Ethylene is a growth hormone generated naturally by fruit and vegetables and is also applied artificially to ripen imported banana, etc. However, its excessive existence in the atmosphere of warehouses or containers to store or transport would cause overheat or corrosion to force down the value of merchandizes. Such a phenomenon is deemed to be unavoidable and generally producers/shippers load an appropriately loss-assumed quantity of fruit and vegetables for shipment. In the past there were so few methods to measure the concentration of ethylene that it was difficult to presume the starting time of influence and loss rates on fruit and vegetables. The two companies proposed an idea to reduce the loss of foodstuff by means of an appropriate control of ethylene concentration from the viewpoints of improvement in profitability and environmental solution. 　 Yusen Logistics has experiences in transportations means to contribute to the preservation of fresh fruit and vegetables using the N2-filled CA transportation.

NGK Spark Plug, on the other hand, has been exploring to develop new applications of the sensors which it has been deploying mainly for the automobile industries. The efforts of exploration has come to match the intention of Yusen Logistics which aims at enhancing the transportation field for agricultural products through introduction of a new technology, resulting in the joint development at this time.

　The ethylene visualizing system developed by the two companies makes it possible to measure concentration of ethylene in real time by installing “ETHYLE” of NGK’s ethylene gas sensor inside the warehouses of containers which deal with fruit and vegetables.

Taking advantage of IoT, they are planning to add a function to monitor remotely measured values. Though it is not known yet when the addition will be practical, but they intend to make it widely known mainly to the shippers of fruit and vegetables, taking into account the renting business as well as the ordinary sales.

Yoshiteru Chishiki, development staff of Yusen Logistics describes the advantages, “A real-time comprehension of ethylene concentration makes it possible for you to take an instant measure even if a proper concentration is derailed. Furthermore, a more effective way of consolidated loading such as an appropriate distance with uniform space between loads might be possible for ethylene to act easily among fruit and vegetables.”

Yusuke Hirosawa, marketing staff of NGK is enthusiastic to say, “As ETHYLE is operable by dry battery for more than one month, it will be able to respond to the transportation to overseas to be expected from now on. We would like to appeal the point that the best environments for fruit and vegetables can be quantified.”