🧊 Lineage grows cold storage network in Western Australia

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

In today’s edition:

• Lineage grows cold storage network in Western Australia with acquisition of Fremantle City Coldstores

• RealCold selects Blue Yonder to optimize warehouse operations across growing cold chain logistics etwork

• Cold Chain Refrigeration expands to include CO2-based refrigeration systems

• US-developed drug formulation could eliminate cold storage for some vaccines

News

Lineage grows cold storage network in Western Australia with acquisition of Fremantle City Coldstores Lineage, the world's largest temperature-controlled warehouse REIT, has acquired Fremantle City Coldstores (FCC) in Western Australia.

• The facility offers 42,000 cubic meters of space with 8,000 pallet positions and is strategically located less than 10 km from Fremantle Port, Western Australia's largest cargo hub.

• FCC primarily serves meat and seafood customers, featuring six blast cells with 250,000kg freezing capacity and rooftop solar installations.

• The acquisition strengthens Lineage's presence in Western Australia, complementing their existing Perth facility.

• This brings Lineage's Australian network to 15 facilities, supporting their strategic growth plans in the Asia-Pacific region.

• Globally, Lineage operates over 480 facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, totaling 84 million square feet and 3.0 billion cubic feet of capacity. (link)

RealCold selects Blue Yonder to optimize warehouse operations across growing cold chain logistics network RealCold, a cold chain service provider founded in 2022, is implementing Blue Yonder's Warehouse Management system to optimize operations across its growing network.

• Operating five facilities with two more planned for 2025 and another for 2026, RealCold selected Blue Yonder's SaaS solution for its cold chain expertise and scalability.

• The implementation, supported by Netlogistik, will enable faster customer onboarding, enhanced visibility into warehouse processes, data-driven insights for improved productivity, and customizable workflows to meet diverse customer needs.

• RealCold CEO Keith Goldsmith emphasized the solution's ability to manage varied operations while integrating with existing infrastructure. (link)

Cold Chain Refrigeration expands to include CO2-based refrigeration systems Cold Chain Refrigeration Pte Ltd is expanding its Singapore operations to include CO2-based refrigeration systems, featuring R-744 technology with a Global Warming Potential of 1.

• The systems offer superior energy efficiency, waste heat recovery, and safety advantages due to CO2's non-toxic, non-flammable properties.

• The technology achieves a Coefficient of Performance of 6.5-7.0 and enables customized cooling solutions across various industries, including ice skating rinks and food distribution.

• Benefits include precise temperature control, lower energy costs, and alignment with corporate sustainability goals through reduced environmental impact. (link)

US-developed drug formulation could eliminate cold storage for some vaccines Pennsylvania State University researchers have developed an oil-based formulation for protein-based medicines that eliminates the need for cold storage.

• The solution replaces traditional water-based formulations with perfluorocarbon oil, maintaining stability at temperatures up to 90°C.

• Tests on mice showed no adverse effects across five different unrefrigerated drugs.

• This breakthrough could significantly reduce the costs of the cold chain, which currently accounts for 80% of vaccination costs.

• While promising for making vaccines more accessible, particularly in developing countries, Imperial College London experts note that further research is needed to address protein aggregation issues over time that could affect drug efficacy. (link)

Other headlines

Lineage (NASDAQ: LINE) will release Q4 and full-year 2024 financial results on February 26, 2025, with an earnings call scheduled for 8:00 AM ET. A live webcast of the call will be available on ir.onelineage.com.

Sunswap, a UK-based manufacturer of solar-powered refrigerated trailer units, opens new Leatherhead facility to produce Endurance transport refrigeration units, following £17.3m Series B funding and increased demand from major logistics companies.

GIZ and Thermo King are developing a €2.9M proof-of-concept for R290 (propane) maritime refrigerated shipping containers, aiming to validate safety standards and performance by April 2026 while targeting 10% better efficiency than R134a units.

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture launches Agricultural and Fisheries Logistics Office to modernize supply chains through real-time monitoring systems, cold storage infrastructure, and AI integration, aiming to reduce post-harvest losses.

China's Huaihua International Land Port launched cold chain rail operations in January 2025, with direct freight trains from Laos and Thailand delivering fresh fruit via the China-Laos railway for distribution to major Chinese cities.

Natural Offset Farming, an Israeli startup, has developed portable, autonomous cooling units using liquid CO2 to reduce post-harvest losses and extend produce shelf life directly in the fields, targeting farmers in developing regions.

That’s it for today!

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