Interko unveils its fifth-generation air cooler Resumen

Interko, the global leader for the design, manufacture, and installation of state-of-the-art fresh fruit ripening rooms, has launched a fifth-generation twin horizontal cooler (VTH) for its Ultimo rooms, marking a major step forward in servicing, functionality, and control.

Engineered from the ground up around Interko’s recently introduced digital data network, the redesigned air cooler marks a milestone for the Dutch ripening expert following two years of development in collaboration with a national university. 

Now modular by design, the VTH cooler – which maintains precise constant temperatures and uniform airflow within a ripening room for even ripening of bananas, avocados, and mangoes – is easier to clean, maintain, and replace parts.

Functionality is also greater thanks to new cooling energy sensors and insulated drip trays. Crucially, the cooler is fully integrated with Interko’s new digital data network, making it compatible with Interko’s exclusive RipePilot automated ripening system, which lays the foundation for even greater digital control of the fruit ripening process.

Airflow and energy efficiency marks another improvement after further development of Interko’s revolutionary REVERSO reversible fan technology, as well as an enhanced ceiling design, and dual durable steel M-rails to replace historical side curtains.

Designed to work with Ultimo ripening rooms of either single-tier, two-tier, or three-tier format, already the VTH is in demand. Currently, Interko is installing the new cooler for a major international fruit company in Ireland.

More Than Just A Cooler

Chris Maat, Managing Director/Partner at Interko, comments:

“From an engineering perspective, we’ve never been more proud of our new product development. The VTH cooler took two years to develop and is the collaborative result of many fresh ideas and new improvements. It’s a real evolution in design.” 

Interko has drawn on its 35 years of cooling and ripening knowledge and experience to completely redesign the fifth generation of its twin horizontal air cooler. The first model was developed by the founder of the company during the early 1990s.

Maat explains: “A great deal of thought has gone into the design process to make our VTH air cooler simpler and better for fruit ripeners. It’s easier and faster to clean, maintain, and service thanks to more standardised and fewer different components. This is key for sourcing and replacing spare parts via an increasingly challenging global supply chain.

“The modular heater element is now easily changeable, just like the fans. The drip trays for condensation can be pulled out, opened, and cleaned easily, unlike the previous generation. Plus the drip trays come insulated as standard to enable a broader temperature range in the room. This gives users the versatility of ripening more tropical and exotic fruits than bananas, which is a growing trend for our popular Ultimo rooms.

“VTH is also packed with data improvements to give operators greater insight into the ripening process for even more control and better decision making. By introducing cooling energy sensors for intake and discharge, users can calculate the current stage of ripening to actively manage the process and achieve better fruit quality. Plus VTH has been designed to communicate digitally with RipePilot via our digital data network, which creates an ideal platform for further innovation.”

Product development remains a strong focus at Interko, particularly digitalisation. By constantly evolving its ripening technologies to accommodate ever-changing customer needs, the market leader continues to raise the bar in the global ripening industry. 

As such, Interko remains highly active worldwide; installing ripening and cooling solutions across Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America where demand for post-harvest processing technologies remains particularly strong.

New Stand Location – Fruit Attraction 2026

Next month at Fruit Attraction 2026, Interko is offering complimentary consultations to any visiting fruit ripeners, retailers, importers, and distributors who wish to discuss ways to maximise their ripening performance.

The team of experts will be available in Madrid to share ideas, answer questions, and explore practical ways to improve fruit quality during either ripening, pre-cooling, or de-greening, while keeping energy use and operational costs at a minimum.

This year Interko will exhibit in the new location of 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.