Portable refrigerator for transporting medicines, vaccines and biological materials – cooling, temperature control and a built-in battery

Professional transport refrigerator with compressor cooling, forced internal air circulation and a battery installed inside the unit. Designed to transport temperature-sensitive products, including medicines, vaccines, pharmaceutical preparations and selected biological and laboratory materials.

The ET18MED has a usable capacity of approximately 16 litres and provides active cooling, including sub-zero temperatures. It can serve as a portable temperature-controlled chamber or an active thermostatic container.

The electronic controller regulates cooling and forced internal air circulation according to the chamber temperature and the selected setpoint. Forced internal air circulation and an additional digital temperature sensor support temperature stability and a more even temperature distribution.

The programmable setpoint range of −15°C to +40°C allows different configurations, such as restricting user settings to +2°C to +8°C.

The unit can operate at ambient temperatures from +2°C to +43°C. The temperature that can be achieved depends on ambient conditions, the temperature and quantity of the load, and the unit's configuration.

The built-in battery allows operation without an external power connection. An additional external battery can be used to extend operating time.

Key benefits

• Compressor cooling – actively lowers the temperature, including below 0°C, without frozen cooling packs.
• Automatic temperature control – electronic control of cooling and internal air circulation.
• Forced internal air circulation – supports a more even temperature distribution inside the chamber.
• High-resolution digital temperature sensor used by the control system.
• Custom temperature configuration – the lower and upper limits available to the user can be restricted.
• Clear control panel – displays the temperature and allows setpoint adjustment.
• Settings memory – retains the configuration when the unit is restarted.
• Internal battery included – operation without an external power source.
• Additional external battery option – extends operating time.
• 12 V DC and 230 V AC power via an adapter – for use in vehicles and stationary locations.
• Optional Wi-Fi temperature logger – monitoring, measurement history, charts and reports.
• Optional temperature alarms – configurable thresholds and alerts.

Applications – transport under controlled temperature conditions

The ET18MED can be used in pharmaceutical, laboratory, diagnostic, veterinary and technical applications requiring active temperature control.

• Medicines and vaccines – transport of products requiring specified temperature conditions, such as +2°C to +8°C.
• Insulin and injectable preparations – selected hormones, antibiotics, interferons, adrenaline and other products in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements.
• Pharmaceutical and immunological products – applications in pharmacies, hospitals and pharmaceutical distribution centres.
• Biological and diagnostic samples – selected laboratory materials requiring controlled temperatures.
• Microbiological materials – samples, cultures and research materials in accordance with the relevant procedures.
• Semen samples – the unit can be configured for the transport of selected andrology materials.
• Veterinary materials – medicines, vaccines and diagnostic samples.
• Products requiring sub-zero temperatures – subject to confirmation of suitable operating conditions.
• Mobile laboratories, ambulances and specialist vehicles – field applications and transport between facilities.

Custom configuration also allows consideration of specialist research applications involving the transport of selected tissues and biological materials.

Important: Transporting organs and tissues intended for transplantation requires a separate technical assessment, validation and confirmation of the applicable procedural and legal requirements. Maintaining a set temperature alone does not establish the unit's suitability for transporting transplant organs.

Cold chain

The refrigerator can help maintain cold-chain continuity during the transport of medicines, vaccines, pharmaceutical preparations and other temperature-sensitive products.

Active cooling provides temperature control without relying on passive cooling packs. The built-in battery allows operation to continue while the unit is moved between a vehicle and the delivery location.

The optional logger enables temperature documentation during transport, analysis of recorded measurements and report generation.

For products subject to specific cold-chain requirements, a suitable temperature profile must be confirmed for the intended application.

Custom temperature configuration

The ET18MED allows a temperature setpoint range from −15°C to +40°C, depending on the unit's prepared configuration.

The range available to the user can also be restricted, reducing the risk of accidentally selecting a temperature outside the specified interval.

Example configurations:

• +2°C to +8°C – an example range for selected medicines, vaccines and pharmaceutical preparations.
• Other custom ranges – according to the requirements of the product being transported.

For example, andrology and microbiology laboratories may consider using the unit to transport selected biological samples requiring controlled thermal conditions.

Technical settings and control parameters are available in a password-protected service menu.

The setpoint range does not guarantee that every temperature can be maintained under all ambient conditions. Requirements may differ between biological materials.

Internal battery – specifications and operating time

The ET18MED is equipped with a replaceable lithium-ion battery installed inside the refrigerator. The battery is supplied as standard and allows operation without a vehicle or mains power connection.

Battery specifications:

• Technology: lithium-ion (Li-Ion).
• Rated capacity: 170 Wh (15,600 mAh).
• Nominal voltage: 10.9 V.
• Design: replaceable, installed inside the unit.
• Charge-level indicator: 4 LEDs.
• Battery operating temperature: −20°C to +60°C.
• Charging temperature: 0°C to +45°C.

Operating time under test conditions:

• Ambient temperature: +21°C.
• Temperature setpoint: +4°C.
• Recorded operating time on the internal battery: approximately 6 hours.

Extending operating time: an additional external battery can be used to increase independence from mains or vehicle power.

Actual operating time depends on ambient temperature, the setpoint, the temperature and quantity of the load, battery condition and how the unit is used. The battery operating and charging temperatures apply to the battery, not to the entire unit. Operating time with an additional battery depends on its specifications and the power configuration.

Vehicle, mains and battery power

The refrigerator can be powered by a 12 V DC supply in a car, ambulance or specialist vehicle, or by a 230 V AC mains supply through a suitable adapter.

The built-in battery allows cordless operation, for example when moving the unit between a pharmacy, laboratory, vehicle and destination.

Optional Wi-Fi module and temperature logger

The refrigerator can be equipped with an optional Wi-Fi module with temperature and operating-parameter logging. The system enables monitoring, analysis and documentation of temperatures during transport.

The local web interface can be accessed from a phone, tablet or computer connected to the unit's Wi-Fi network.

The interface works without Internet access and does not require an additional app.

Key functions:

• Live monitoring – temperature setpoint, chamber temperature and unit operating status.
• Temperature control – setpoint adjustment within the permitted range.
• Component monitoring – compressor and internal air circulation status.
• Measurement history – review of recorded temperature values.
• Measurement calendar – selection of days with available records.
• Interactive charts – zooming, panning and temperature-trend analysis.
• Reporting-period selection – recent hours, days or a specified date range.
• Temperature reports – setpoint and measured values, with minimum, maximum and average summaries.
• PDF, CSV and XLSX export – archiving and further data analysis.
• Extended reports – additional charts of voltage, compressor operation and internal air circulation.
• Unit identification – model and serial number included in reports.
• Real-time clock – date and time synchronisation with a phone or computer.
• Password-protected service menu – configuration, diagnostics and temperature-sensor reading adjustment.

Data storage – microSD and internal memory

The optional logger supports microSD cards up to 32 GB.

A 16 GB card provides space for several years of measurements at the assumed recording frequency and file format. When the memory is full, the oldest files are automatically deleted so recording can continue.

The system also has an independent internal archive for up to 35 days, storing measurement summaries even without an additional memory card. The oldest data is automatically replaced by new records.

Parameter logging can continue with cooling switched off, provided the controller remains powered.

Optional temperature alarms

The system can be expanded with alarms for temperatures below or above configured thresholds, with an individually configured response delay.

The alarm logic can account for the time needed to initially reach the operating temperature.

Available options may include alarm messages in the local web interface and audible alerts.

Thresholds, delays and alert methods are defined during unit configuration.

ET18MED technical specifications

• Model: ET18MED.
• Unit type: portable transport refrigerator with cooling and forced internal air circulation.
• Usable capacity: approximately 16 L.
• Number of compartments: 1.
• Cooling technology: compressor.
• Temperature control: automatic control of cooling and internal air circulation.
• Air circulation: forced internal air circulation.
• Programmable setpoint range: −15°C to +40°C.
• Operating ambient temperature: +2°C to +43°C.
• Example restricted setpoint range: +2°C to +8°C.
• User setpoint limits: programmable lower and upper temperature limits.
• Thermostat: electronic.
• Temperature measurement: additional digital chamber sensor.
• Control panel: electronic, with a temperature display.
• Settings memory: yes.
• Vehicle power: 12 V DC.
• Mains power: 230 V AC via an adapter.
• Internal battery: lithium-ion, replaceable, included.
• Battery operating time: approximately 6 hours under test conditions (+21°C ambient, +4°C setpoint).
• Additional external battery: available as an option to extend operating time.
• External dimensions: 478 × 410 × 324 mm (W × H × D).
• Optional connectivity: Wi-Fi, local web interface.
• Optional operating-parameter logger: yes.
• Logger memory card: microSD up to 32 GB.
• Independent internal archive: up to 35 days.
• Report formats: PDF, CSV, XLSX.
• Optional alarms: temperature-threshold alerts, messages and audible signals.

Standard equipment and options

Standard equipment:

• ET18MED transport refrigerator.
• Compressor cooling system.
• Electronic controller and digital temperature sensor.
• Forced internal air circulation.
• Lithium-ion battery installed inside the refrigerator.
• Support for 12 V DC and 230 V AC power through a suitable adapter.

Optional equipment:

• Additional external battery.
• Wi-Fi module with a local web interface.
• Temperature and operating-parameter logger.
• Reporting and data export in PDF, CSV and XLSX formats.
• Extended temperature alarms and audible alerts.
• Custom configuration of unit parameters.

Technical information: The programmable temperature setpoint range does not guarantee that every value can be achieved under all ambient conditions. Performance depends on operating conditions, the temperature and quantity of the load, its arrangement and the prepared configuration. For pharmaceutical, laboratory and medical applications, the appropriate temperature profile and requirements for temperature monitoring and documentation must be confirmed.