🧊 Eli Lilly announces $27B investment in US drug manufacturing

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

In today’s edition:

• Eli Lilly announces $27 billion investment in four new US drug plants

• Jamaica invests $124 million in cold storage facility for farmers

• Clearwater Capital acquires SnoLink Logistics through business rescue deal

• Overhaul and Zebra Technologies partnership enhances cold chain visibility

News

Eli Lilly announces $27 billion investment in four new US drug plants Eli Lilly has unveiled plans to invest at least $27 billion to build four new US drug manufacturing plants, marking the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing expansion in US history.

• This investment will more than double the company's domestic spending since 2020 to over $50 billion.

• The expansion is expected to create 3,000 permanent jobs for engineers, scientists, and technicians, plus 10,000 construction jobs.

• Three facilities will produce active pharmaceutical ingredients for medications like Mounjaro and Zepbound (diabetes and weight-loss drugs), while the fourth will expand injectable drug production.

• The company is currently accepting proposals from states and plans to select locations later this year, with facilities operational within five years.

• This expansion aims to meet growing demand in the obesity drug market (projected to reach $150 billion annually by the early 2030s), address drug shortages, and reduce dependence on compounded alternatives. (Eli Lilly)

Jamaica invests $124 million in cold storage facility for farmers The Jamaican government is building a $124-million cold storage facility in Kirkvine, Manchester through the Jamaica Social Investment Fund's Rural Economic Development Initiative II. This facility will benefit over 1,500 local farmers and producers.

• The project includes two retrofitted 40-foot containers providing 135 m³ of cold storage and another container offering 67 m³ of dry storage.

• A dedicated processing area will handle weighing, washing, sorting, and grading of produce.

• The facility will be powered by a solar system and feature rainwater harvesting capabilities with a 4,700-gallon storage tank.

• The Content Greenhouse Cluster, operating since 2018, has already produced 45,000 pounds of various crops from 20 greenhouses.

• This new facility is expected to store over 160,000 pounds of produce over eight months, significantly reducing post-harvest losses while strengthening the agricultural supply chain and sector resilience. (Fresh Plaza)

Clearwater Capital acquires SnoLink Logistics through business rescue deal Clearwater Capital has purchased Etlin International's temperature-controlled storage and logistics division, SnoLink Logistics, through a business rescue arrangement.

• Harish Mehta, Clearwater Capital's Executive Chairman, described the acquisition as strategic, noting they've had interest in this sector for years.

• He emphasized that the deal provides "a reliable and trustworthy route to market" in South Africa's evolving supply chain, while creating new opportunities for importers of temperature-sensitive products.

• All 480 SnoLink employees will retain their positions under the new ownership. The company plans nationwide expansion to increase capacity by 43 percent, including a new facility in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, with construction scheduled to begin in 2026.

• Christopher Nulliah will continue as SnoLink Logistics' Managing Director, expressing excitement about this "new chapter" under Clearwater Capital's ownership. (CAJ News Africa)

Overhaul and Zebra Technologies partnership enhances cold chain visibility Overhaul has partnered with Zebra Technologies to create an integrated supply chain solution that combines Zebra's advanced tracking devices, sensors, and RFID technology with Overhaul's real-time risk monitoring platform.

• This collaboration provides companies with comprehensive supply chain intelligence through a single integrated system.

• Key capabilities include end-to-end visibility, enhanced security and risk management, and advanced temperature monitoring specifically for cold chain logistics.

• Overhaul CEO Barry Conlon highlighted how Zebra's precision hardware enhances their risk management platform, delivering unprecedented insights and control capabilities for customers.

• The integrated solution offers industry-specific applications across multiple sectors - pharmaceutical and food logistics, transportation, and retail. (Fleet Owner)

Other headlines

Lineage, Inc. reported strong Q4 2024 financial results with 9.8% adjusted EBITDA growth and initiated 2025 guidance with projected capital deployment of over $1.5 billion for acquisitions and development.

GXO's business in Poland has been named to the Forbes Diamonds 2025 list of companies with the fastest-growing value over the past three years.

Frontier Scientific Solutions appointed Kevin Nash as President of European Operations to oversee expansion, strengthen transportation networks, and support growing demand for specialized life sciences logistics solutions across Europe.

Americold partnered with Dematic to upgrade cold chain operations with enhanced wireless connectivity, voice-picking systems, and RF devices across its Australian facilities.

Lindsay Australia has acquired GJ Freight, a Western Australian integrated logistics and packaging company with six sites and over $20 million in annual revenue, as part of its expansion strategy.

Indian startup Enhanced Innovations has developed Phloton, a solar-compatible active cooling vaccine carrier with a 14-hour lithium battery backup, designed to prevent spoilage during last-mile transport by maintaining temperatures between 2-8°C.

DG McArdle International has added a limited edition DAF XG+ 530 75 Years Truck Production Special Edition to its fleet, the only such anniversary model in Ireland, joining over 30 existing DAF tractor units in their temperature-controlled transport operation.

Haeger&Schmidt Logistics and Ultra-Brag AG have equipped their 'Blue Arrow Line' Rhine barges with Identec Solutions' 5G Reefer Runner technology for continuous 24/7 monitoring of temperature-sensitive cargo.

That’s it for today!

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