🧊 CN and Congebec to expand cold chain logistics across North America

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

In today’s edition:

• CN and Congebec to expand cold chain logistics across North America

• Vertical Cold Storage launches customs bonded warehouse services in Florida

• Frontier Scientific Solutions and ATSG partner to transform pharmaceutical logistics

• Brussels Airport opens Brucargo Central, expands storage capacity by 30%

• Cold Chain Technologies proves sea freight viability for pharmaceutical transport

News

CN and Congebec to expand cold chain logistics across North America CN and Congebec announced a collaboration to develop a storage facility at CN's Calgary Logistics Park in Alberta.

• Developed with construction partner Matthews Tribal, the facility will integrate cold storage, cross-docking, transloading, and first and last-mile services with CN's refrigerated rail programs, positioning temperature-sensitive goods closer to rail infrastructure.

• This initiative addresses longstanding cold supply chain challenges by providing flexible on-demand capacity and more reliable delivery schedules.

• The facility will connect producers, retailers, and logistics providers throughout Alberta and across the cold chain network, strengthening Canada's food distribution infrastructure and global competitiveness. (Nasdaq)

Vertical Cold Storage launches customs bonded warehouse services in Florida Vertical Cold Storage's Medley, Florida facility is now fully licensed as a customs bonded warehouse, becoming the company's first location to offer this service.

• The expansion enables importers of frozen foods to defer duties and tariffs while products remain in storage, creating more efficient and cost-effective operations.

• Located near PortMiami and Miami International Airport, the Medley facility provides strategic access to one of America's busiest gateways for perishable imports.

• The service offers international companies the ability to reach North American markets while maintaining secure, temperature-controlled inventory under bonded status. (Morningstar)

Frontier Scientific Solutions and ATSG partner to transform pharmaceutical logistics Frontier Scientific Solutions and Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) have announced a strategic partnership to revolutionize temperature-controlled pharmaceutical delivery through dedicated air services.

• The collaboration establishes a purpose-built air logistics network specifically designed for the life sciences sector, ensuring continuous temperature control and shipment integrity from origin to delivery.

• The partnership dramatically reduces supply chain complexity by minimizing typical pharmaceutical handoffs from over 20 to fewer than four.

• This dedicated fleet of temperature-controlled aircraft connects key life science hubs globally, with Frontier's Wilmington, North Carolina facility serving as the North American headquarters and Shannon, Ireland anchoring European operations.

• Backed by a $1.5 billion investment from GID, Frontier is developing additional global hubs through 2026. (Business Wire)

Brussels Airport opens Brucargo Central, expands storage capacity by 30% Brussels Airport has inaugurated Brucargo Central, a €70 million logistics hub spanning 83,500 sq m that replaces eight old buildings with three new facilities totalling 34,000 square meters of warehouses and offices.

• The redevelopment, launched in 2022, increases storage capacity by 30% and adds 10,000 sq m of temperature-controlled space.

• The development features BREEAM-Excellent certification, incorporating wood construction to reduce CO₂ emissions, solar panels, electric heat pumps, geothermal storage, and water management systems, making the site fossil fuel-free.

• Five logistics operators will occupy the space: Nippon Express (10,000 sq m), DSV Air & Sea NV (12,600 sq m), Hazgo (2,000 sq m), EV Cargo, and Deny Cargo (2,500 sq m), focusing primarily on pharmaceutical and temperature-controlled logistics services. (STAT Times)

Cold Chain Technologies proves sea freight viability for pharmaceutical transport Cold Chain Technologies (CCT) successfully demonstrated that ocean freight can transport temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals through a challenging project with Kuehne+Nagel and Teva Pharmaceuticals.

• The test shipment travelled from Germany to Australia, one of the world's most demanding sea routes, maintaining perfect product integrity despite significant setbacks.

• The journey, originally planned for 60 days, extended to 10 weeks due to multiple complications.

• The Suez Canal closure forced rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope, adding a week, a power outage occurred in the Indian Ocean, and arrival during Australia Day caused four additional days of delay in Sydney Harbour's 40-degree heat.

• CCT's Enshield thermal blanket proved crucial to success, using leak-proof phase-change material technology to maintain the required 2-8°C temperature range throughout.

• The successful test validates sea freight as a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to air cargo, producing five times less CO₂ emissions. (AJOT)

Other headlines

Emergent Cold Latin America partners with The Global FoodBanking Network to provide free cold storage, equipment, and technical support to food banks across 11 Latin American countries to help them store and distribute more perishable foods.

Reefers Technologies is developing a retrofit waste-heat recovery system that captures heat from truck engines to power refrigerated trailers, eliminating the need for separate diesel engines and reducing fuel costs and emissions.

US Cold Storage successfully deployed FourKites' AI agent Alan during an eight-week pilot, achieving 87% automation success and 96% accuracy in appointment scheduling while processing over 600 shipments and saving 36-40 hours of manual work.

Oman's Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones awarded a consultancy tender to develop an integrated cold chain cluster in Duqm to enhance the country's non-oil export capabilities and position the zone as a regional logistics hub.

Hydropac partners with Mobile People.Powered.Logistics to provide carbon-neutral delivery for all temperature-controlled packaging shipments, advancing its sustainability goals in cold chain logistics.

Lineage wins Temperature Controlled Storage Operator of the Year at the 2025 TCS&D Awards for exceptional customer service, high satisfaction scores, and sustainability leadership in the UK cold storage industry.

That’s it for this week!

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