Interko's Fifth-Generation VTH Cooler Integrates Digital Network and Modular Design for Ripening Rooms

Interko has introduced a fifth-generation twin horizontal air cooler (VTH) for its Ultimo ripening rooms, engineered around the company's recently launched digital data network and designed for modular servicing. The two-year development programme, carried out in collaboration with a national university, targets easier maintenance, broader fruit versatility, and deeper digital control of the ripening process.

Modular design and easier servicing

The redesigned VTH cooler is modular by construction, with more standardised and fewer different components than previous generations. The modular heater element and fans are now easily changeable, and the condensation drip trays can be pulled out, opened, and cleaned in place. Drip trays come insulated as standard, enabling a broader temperature range in the room. Dual durable steel M-rails replace the historical side curtains, and the ceiling design has been enhanced.

Digital integration and airflow improvements

New cooling energy sensors for intake and discharge allow operators to calculate the current stage of ripening and actively manage the process. The cooler is fully integrated with Interko's digital data network and is compatible with the company's RipePilot automated ripening system. Airflow performance has been improved through further development of Interko's 'Reverso' reversible fan technology.

Application and current deployment

The VTH maintains precise constant temperatures and uniform airflow for even ripening of bananas, avocados, and mangoes. It is designed to work with Ultimo ripening rooms in single-tier, two-tier, or three-tier format. Interko is currently installing the new cooler for a major international fruit company in Ireland.

Company background

Interko has drawn on 35 years of cooling and ripening experience; the first twin horizontal cooler model was developed by the company's founder in the early 1990s. The Dutch ripening specialist, which describes itself as a market leader in the global ripening industry, is active worldwide, installing ripening and cooling solutions across Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.

Chris Maat, Managing Director/Partner at Interko, stated that the VTH cooler took two years to develop and represents a real evolution in design, being the collaborative result of many fresh ideas and new improvements. He noted that the design process aimed to make the cooler simpler and better for fruit ripeners, with standardised components making it easier to source and replace spare parts through an increasingly challenging global supply chain. Maat highlighted that the insulated drip trays enable a broader temperature range, giving users the versatility of ripening more tropical and exotic fruits beyond bananas, which he described as a growing trend for Ultimo rooms. He also emphasised that the cooling energy sensors allow operators to calculate the current stage of ripening and actively manage the process, while the digital communication with RipePilot creates a platform for further innovation.

Fruit Attraction 2026

At Fruit Attraction 2026 in Madrid, Interko will offer complimentary consultations to visiting fruit ripeners, retailers, importers, and distributors. The team will be available to discuss ways to maximise ripening performance, improve fruit quality during ripening, pre-cooling, or de-greening, and keep energy use and operational costs at a minimum. Interko will exhibit in Pavilion 6, Stand 6E04 during the three-day trade show. Chris Maat (Managing Director/Partner), Anna Zegveld (Sales Director), Narcís Guinart (Product Manager), Nova Smink (Junior Sales Manager/Marketing Manager), and Fabio Ballesteros Monterroza (Sales Manager LATAM) will be present.

For more information: Interko, Tel: +31 (0)79 593 2581, [email protected], www.interko.com