Cool Dog Inc., Shirley , MA , has field-tested an economical and compact temperature-tracking device for sample boxes of its frozen, individually wrapped hot-dog-and-bun-shaped ice cream novelties.

Founder Peter Franklin was having problems getting sample product intact to potential customers. The company needed to maintain the Cool Dog’s temperature between -20° and 10° F. The sponge cake and ice cream novelty was becoming too cold in shipment with dry ice, which often caused the sponge cake “bun” to shatter enroute. That left a bad impression with potential new customers. Franklin ’s solution was a switch to cold packs and the use of the HOBO® Pendant™ Logger from Onset Computer.

The battery-powered, reusable device boasts low-cost, accurate recording by providing 0.5° C accuracy and up to 52,000 readings. The 2.3”x1.3”x0.9’’ device, added to Franklin’s insulated corrugated case shipments, is used with HOBOware™ 2.0 for Windows, a graphical analysis software program. The data from the HOBO logger uploads to a PC via a USB port using a HOBO coupler.

Recipients receive a preaddressed mailer to return the units to Franklin, who can upload the data and reuse the device. Then Franklin can adjust his packaging for future, similar shipments if needed.

By Rick Lingle, Packaging World