🧊 Largest temperature-controlled facility for life sciences in North America announced by FSS

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

In today’s edition:

• Frontier Scientific Solutions announces construction of largest GMP temperature-controlled facility for life sciences in North America at Wilmington International Airport

• Logistics tech AI platform Elixia Inc. disrupts cold chain logistics with a tech-driven marketplace

• Swissport expands air cargo operations in Australia & NZ

• Organon Pharma to test cold thermal energy storage

News

Frontier Scientific Solutions announces construction of largest GMP temperature-controlled facility for life sciences in North America at Wilmington International Airport Frontier Scientific Solutions has begun construction of North America's largest GMP temperature-controlled facility dedicated to life sciences at Wilmington International Airport (ILM) in North Carolina.

• The new facility aims to streamline the transportation of temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products between North America and Europe.

• The facility will operate within a Free Trade Zone (FTZ), enabling duty deferral and efficient customs processing for international distribution.

• According to COO Leandro Moreira, this development represents a significant advancement in revolutionizing the life sciences supply chain, while ILM Airport CEO Jeff Bourk emphasizes its importance for both the industry and North Carolina.

• Frontier Scientific Solutions, which already operates facilities in Wilmington, NC, and Shannon, Ireland, specializes in temperature-controlled logistics for the life sciences industry. (link)

Logistics tech AI platform Elixia Inc. disrupts cold chain logistics with a tech-driven marketplace Elixia Inc., an Indian Logistics Tech AI Platform, has launched Elixia Connect, a new marketplace for cold chain logistics, building on its successful dry cargo platform.

• The system aims to revolutionize temperature-controlled transport across India by connecting over 2,000 shippers with hundreds of transporters.

• The platform features real-time tracking, automated temperature monitoring, and predictive analytics to optimize routes and reduce waste.

• Founded by Sanket Sheth, Elixia targets a 4x revenue growth within a year and expects thousands of transactions in the first quarter post-launch.

• The platform addresses industry challenges like fragmented networks, unpredictable pricing, and limited vehicle availability.

• Backed by investors including RVCF, Jito JIIF, and Motilal Oswal Trust, Elixia has raised over $2 million to support its expansion across India and the Middle East. (link)

Swissport expands air cargo operations in Australia & NZ Swissport International is expanding its air cargo operations with new facilities in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, and Auckland, New Zealand.

• The Melbourne facility at Tullamarine Airport offers 9,366 sqm of space with direct airside access and temperature-controlled storage (2-8°C and 15-25°C) for perishables and pharmaceuticals.

• In Sydney, a renovated facility provides over 4,500 sqm of handling area with express delivery capabilities.

• The Auckland facility, opening in March 2025, will feature advanced X-ray technology.

• The expansion began with Vietjet and Batik Air as launch customers, later adding LATAM Airlines.

• Swissport currently serves 29 airlines across 18 airports in Australia and New Zealand, handling over 226,000 flights and 10.16 million passengers in 2024, with a workforce of 3,600 aviation professionals. (link)

Organon Pharma to test cold thermal energy storage Organic Heat Exchangers (O-Hx) is partnering with Organon Pharma for a three-month trial of its EnergiVault cold thermal energy storage system at Organon's Cramlington manufacturing site.

• The system features a phase-change material reservoir that can store energy from off-peak electricity and release it during high-tariff periods, while also capturing waste heat for space heating and hot water.

• The trial aims to demonstrate how EnergiVault can improve chiller efficiency, enhance thermal capacity during peak demands, and better integrate renewable energy sources.

• If successful, the companies plan to develop a customized commercial solution, potentially involving multiple units.

• According to O-Hx's product director, while the technology is versatile, it's particularly suited for pharmaceutical applications.

• Organon's Utilities Lead highlights the system's potential to work with existing refrigeration systems and store energy from their on-site wind turbines and future solar installations. (link)

Other headlines

Maersk reports its third-best financial year with record high EBITDA, driven by higher container demand and freight rates, leading to a proposed dividend of DKK 1,120 ($156) / share and a new $2 billion share buyback program.

M&S is deploying innovative refrigerated electric-powered wagon and drag vehicles in partnership with Gray & Adams, aiming to convert 50% of its fleet to this sustainable transport solution within three months.

Delta Development Team is field-testing prototype large-scale refrigerated Tricon containers designed for military and commercial use, featuring advanced temperature control, multi-power compatibility, and standardized ISO compliance for blood storage and pharmaceutical transport.

Ndustrial has launched Nsight Fleet, a platform that manages transport electrification infrastructure and enables third-party logistics sites to power electric refrigerated trailers from multiple carriers.

Nationwide Produce has added seven Schmitz Cargobull SK.O COOL refrigerated trailers featuring FERROPLAST panels to its fleet, offering enhanced payload capacity and durability for its fresh food delivery operations.

Direct Relief and Eli Lilly are expanding their cold chain infrastructure program with a $4.3 million investment to install 600 medical-grade refrigerators across healthcare facilities in low and middle income countries, building on their successful first phase of 151 refrigerators in 18 countries.

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services has joined the "Move to -15" coalition, which aims to reduce carbon emissions by raising frozen cargo temperatures from -18°C to -15°C, potentially preventing 17.7 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually.

Trump's new 10% tariff on Chinese imports could increase generic drug prices and cause shortages in the U.S., as China is a growing manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients with 219 API facilities in 2023, up from 134 in 2021.

That’s it for today!

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