SIR RANULPH FIENNES: THE COLDEST JOURNEY

Legendary explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes has praised SMI’s ‘amazing’ thermal insulation equipment which helped to protect his team on an ambitious trek across the South Pole.

Sir Ranulph’s expedition, called The Coldest Journey, hit the headlines when it became the first attempt to cross the Antarctic continent in winter.

And he selected Tempro, the market-leading thermal insulation product invented and produced by Seymour Manufacturing International (SMI), to insulate the team’s portable homes and scientific research pods.

Sir Ranulph said: “The Tempro cover was quite remarkable, for not only did it provide the vital insulation to keep the team warm but it also withstood the frequent winter storms."

"After months of extreme cold, relentless wind and the battering from drifting snow there was no visible sign of either stretching, wear or abrasion to the fabric whilst the insulation appeared to be as effective as it was to start with."

“When conditions are that harsh it’s incredibly reassuring to know that you have something you can depend on and it was certainly one less thing to worry about.”

SMI chairman Brian Seymour admitted that, when he was first approached by the explorer, it was a rather daunting proposal.

“We knew this meant taking Tempro and the SMI team well out of our comfort zone. Nonetheless, always keen to take on a challenge, we agreed to make a first cover and put it through initial testing in Sweden."

“The results in testing were quite astonishing. We were in temperatures of minus 40 Celsius, yet inside the covers the temperature recorded (after just 10 minutes of heating every five hours) was plus 10 degrees Celsius . . . a temperature difference of 50? Celsius!

In its normal environments of food retail and manufacturing, Tempro is often deployed because of its ability to save significant amounts of carbon and avoid energy loss. It can be used to provide thermal cover to transport temperature sensitive goods; as cold room curtains it can help prevent energy loss; and used as ceiling-hung temperature control zones it can create a cold room in alien conditions.

coldest journey