🧊 One Frio launches pan-European cold storage platform

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

In today’s edition:

• One Frio launches pan-European cold storage platform following seven strategic acquisitions in the Netherlands, UK and Ireland

• Emergent Cold LatAm expands Guatemala operations in Palín and Xela

• Sunswap enters French market through Chereau partnership

• Western Railway launches first refrigerated train from Sanand

• Why refrigerated airfreight is the new gold rush in the Americas

News

One Frio launches pan-European cold storage platform following seven strategic acquisitions in the Netherlands, UK and Ireland One Frio officially launched as a new European cold storage platform following acquisitions of established businesses including Grolleman Coldstore, NedCool, McCulla Ireland, and Coenen Boxmeer.

• Founded by Aermont Capital and Orchard Capital, the company combines real estate investment expertise with operational capability to develop refrigerated storage networks across key European logistics corridors.

• The platform operates seven facilities strategically positioned near logistics hubs in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Ireland, employing approximately 500 people.

• CEO and co-founder Aric Adams emphasized building operational excellence with regional insight to enable seamless product movement across Europe.

• One Frio distinguishes itself through hands-on partnerships, automated storage systems, integrated logistics, and data-driven approaches. (One Frio)

Emergent Cold LatAm expands Guatemala operations in Palín and Xela Emergent Cold LatAm, Latin America's largest temperature-controlled logistics provider, inaugurated expansions at its Palín and Xela facilities in Guatemala, adding over 12,000 pallet positions equivalent to 12,500 tons of food storage capacity.

• The expansion brings the company's total national capacity to 32,000 pallet positions across three facilities.

• The Palín facility gained 9,000 positions, leveraging its strategic location between Guatemala City and Puerto Quetzal.

• The Xela (Quetzaltenango) expansion strengthens the company's presence in Guatemala's second-largest city and regional hub.

• Emergent Cold LatAm entered Guatemala through an acquisition in May 2022 and completed its first Palín expansion in September that year.

• The company also operates a third facility in Villa Nueva, collectively reinforcing Guatemala's importance in the company's regional strategy. (Emergent Cold LatAm)

Sunswap enters French market through Chereau partnership Sunswap, British manufacturer of electric transport refrigeration, announced its French market entry through partnership with Chereau, Europe's leading refrigerated vehicle manufacturer.

• The collaboration, showcased at Solutrans 2025 in Lyon, makes Sunswap Endurance technology available through Chereau's established production and distribution network.

• Endurance eliminates diesel in transport refrigeration using battery storage and roof-mounted solar panels for frozen, chilled, and multi-temperature applications.

• Operators achieve up to 81% reduction in operating costs and 35% savings in total cost of ownership.

• The system arrives with commercial validation from operators including DFDS, TIP Group, Tesco, and Ocado.

• This marks Sunswap's second European expansion outside the UK, following Netherlands deployments. (Cold Chain News)

Cold chain push: WR launches first refrigerated train from Sanand Western Railway launched its first-ever refrigerated train service from Sanand in Ahmedabad division, marking a significant advancement in Gujarat's cold-chain logistics network.

• Flagged off by divisional railway manager Ved Prakash, the dedicated reefer container rake made its inaugural run from Sanand to Pipavav Port.

• The Business Development Unit of Ahmedabad division will now formally accept temperature-sensitive goods for rail transport, providing multimodal connectivity for industries.

• Ajit Shah, president of the Sanand Industries Association, highlighted the significance of this service for the fast-growing industrial estate, which currently hosts 17 pharmaceutical companies, with 35 more planned, alongside food and beverage units and multinational bottling plants.

• The refrigerated train service strengthens supply chains for temperature-sensitive sectors and is expected to accelerate industrial growth in the region. (The Times of India)

Why refrigerated airfreight is the new gold rush in the Americas Cold chain logistics in Latin America is experiencing explosive growth, with the regional market valued at $26.48 billion in 2024 and projected to grow at 20.6% annually through 2033.

• Transportation represents the largest segment, driven by Colombian flowers, Chilean salmon and berries, Brazilian proteins, and pharmaceutical products from manufacturing hubs in Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Brazil.

• The Global Cold Chain Alliance reports over 36 million cubic meters of refrigerated storage across 16 countries, with major providers like Emergent Cold, Frialsa, and SuperFrio driving expansion.

• Key airports in Miami, Bogotá, Lima, Santiago, and São Paulo are upgrading multi-temperature zones and pharmaceutical corridors.

• However, challenges persist including regulatory fragmentation, high investment costs, talent shortages, and climate-related grid instability threatening the sector's ambitious growth trajectory. (Air Cargo Week)

Other headlines

Solidus integrates BlakBear's wireless freshness sensors into its fibre-based packaging to track real-time food spoilage through gas and temperature monitoring, replacing static expiry dates with dynamic shelf life data transmitted via Bluetooth/RFID.

Lucas Systems launches pallet matching technology that uses data science to optimize cold storage warehouse operations, reducing travel time and increasing productivity by 15-30% for refrigerated and frozen goods distributors.

Schmitz Cargobull unveils its new S.CU dc90 transport refrigeration unit with R454A refrigerant, 6% higher cooling capacity and 10% lower fuel consumption at SOLUTRANS 2025 in Lyon.

Moverpacific Logistics Corp. acquires six new 40-footer reefer containers with gensets and state-of-the-art temperature monitoring to expand cold chain capabilities for food and pharmaceutical sectors.

Daimler Truck launches second phase of Mercedes-Benz GenH2 fuel-cell truck trials with five partners (Hornbach, Reber Logistik, Teva Germany, Rhenus, DHL Supply Chain) for one-year real-world logistics testing across Germany using liquid hydrogen fuel.

That’s it for this week!

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