🧊 Envirotainer invests in Swiss Airtainer

Welcome back to CubeCold News where we cover the latest developments in the cold chain industry and temperature-controlled logistics.

In today’s edition:

• Meet Pulleyn Transport at Cold Chain Hub!

• Envirotainer invests in Swiss Airtainer to drive sustainable innovation in pharmaceutical cold chain

• Schmitz Cargobull invests in Sub Zero to expand cold chain capabilities in India

• Trane launches BrainBox AI Lab to transform energy management and sustainability in buildings

• China’s cold-chain logistics sector expands in H1 as demand grows

CubeCold

News

Envirotainer invests in Swiss Airtainer to drive sustainable innovation in pharmaceutical cold chain Envirotainer, a global leader in pharmaceutical cold chain solutions, has made a strategic investment in Swiss Airtainer to advance sustainable innovation in temperature-controlled logistics.

• Through this partnership, Envirotainer gains exclusive worldwide rights to market and operate Swiss Airtainer's advanced container technology.

• Founded in 2019, Swiss Airtainer has rapidly emerged as an innovator in lightweight, technology-driven container design.

• Their active RKN container is the industry's lightest and features solar panels for self-sustaining energy, plus IoT-enabled real-time monitoring for enhanced visibility and operational optimization.

• The partnership represents a significant shift toward smarter cold chain solutions that integrate renewable energy, digital connectivity, and reduced weight into comprehensive systems that protect product integrity while minimizing climate impact. (Freight Waves)

Schmitz Cargobull invests in Sub Zero to expand cold chain capabilities in India Schmitz Cargobull AG, Europe's leading semi-trailer manufacturer, has made a strategic investment in Sub Zero Insulation Technologies (SZIT), acquiring a 27.5% equity stake in the Indian refrigerated truck body producer with options to increase ownership.

• This partnership targets India's rapidly growing cold chain logistics market, where 30-40% of perishable produce is lost annually due to inadequate facilities.

• Sub Zero, founded in 2015 and based in Pune, produces over 1,500 units annually and serves major OEMs including Tata Motors, Mahindra, and Volvo Eicher.

• The collaboration focuses on modernizing Sub Zero's Pune facility, introducing Schmitz Cargobull's advanced technologies including insulated panels and trailer telematics, and establishing training programs between German and Indian teams.

• Both family-led companies share long-term vision and customer-centric values.(Schmitz Cargobull)

Trane launches BrainBox AI Lab to transform energy management and sustainability in buildings Trane Technologies has launched the BrainBox AI Lab in Swords, Ireland, marking a significant step in advancing AI-driven energy efficiency and sustainability for building operations and refrigerated transport.

• The lab aims to lead digital transformation in the HVAC industry through intelligent, autonomous building solutions.

• Following Trane's acquisition of BrainBox AI in January 2025, the lab serves as a research hub bringing together AI experts, software engineers, data scientists, and machine learning developers.

• The facility focuses on developing autonomous control systems, predictive models, and algorithms designed to reduce emissions through optimized energy use.

• Led by Jean-Simon Venne, the lab will explore emerging fields including agentic AI and physics-informed neural networks, positioning Trane Technologies at the forefront of climate innovation and digitized building operations. (Trane Technologies)

China’s cold-chain logistics sector expands in H1 as demand grows China's cold-chain logistics sector experienced robust growth in the first half of 2025, driven by government policies aimed at boosting domestic consumption, according to the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP).

• Key growth indicators include food-related cold-chain logistics demand reaching 192 million tons (up 4.35% year-over-year) and sector revenues totalling 279.94 billion yuan ($38.56 billion), representing a 3.84% annual increase.

• The industry is showing resilient expansion as fresh produce enters peak consumption season, with further demand growth expected in Q3.

• Investment in cold-storage projects surged 7.67% to 22.31 billion yuan, while refrigerated truck sales jumped 18.19% to 29,474 units.

• Particularly notable was the 119.61% surge in new-energy refrigerated truck sales to 10,548 units, achieving a 35.8% market penetration rate. (Global Times)

Other headlines

Honor Foods has opened a new 156,000 sq ft distribution centre in Kissimmee, Florida, to expand its foodservice redistribution capabilities in the Southeast US market and serve as the new home for Sunny Morning Orlando operations.

Denmark is advocating for cold chain infrastructure development in Nigeria to address the country's 40% post-harvest food losses while promoting climate-resilient solutions that combine Danish energy-efficient cooling technology with local expertise to improve food security and healthcare outcomes.

Unite union has secured recognition at Lineage's Peterborough refrigerated warehousing facility following a successful ballot, giving the union collective bargaining rights for approximately 30 drivers and shunters to negotiate improvements in pay, working conditions, and benefits.

Air cargo is playing an increasingly central role in global fresh food logistics, with IAG Cargo reporting a 21% increase in perishable goods volumes in H1 2025 as consumer demand for fresh, high-quality produce drives the need for faster, temperature-controlled transportation from farm to fork.

IoT-enabled real-time monitoring systems are transforming pharmaceutical cold chain logistics by providing continuous temperature and environmental tracking from warehouse to delivery, enabling proactive responses to prevent product spoilage and ensuring regulatory compliance for temperature-sensitive medicines like vaccines and biologics.

UK logistics sector M&A activity showed resilience in Q2 2025 with 21 deals completed, driven primarily by strategic consolidation as companies seek scale and efficiency to address challenges including rising costs, driver shortages, and sustainability investments, with 94% of deals involving trade buyers and 40% targeting tech-enabled businesses.

That’s it for this week!

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