🧊 Americold opens first import-export hub in partnership with CPKC

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

In today’s edition:

• Americold opens first import-export hub in partnership with CPKC

• Celsius Logistics enters pharma cold supply chain

• DoKaSch Temperature Solutions expands US presence

• Coastal Group opens $41.8M Missouri cold storage facility

• Birmingham to host major global conference on sustainable cooling

News

Americold opens first import-export hub in partnership with CPKC Americold Realty Trust has opened a new $100+ million Import-Export Hub in Kansas City, Missouri, developed in partnership with Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC).

• The 335,000 sq ft facility represents Americold's first location on the CPKC rail network and serves as a key hub for the Mexico Midwest Express, North America's only single-line rail service for refrigerated goods between the US and Mexico.

• The facility features on-site USDA inspections to eliminate border delays, load capacity exceeding 50,000 pounds per container, and a 300-mile service radius.

• The hub supports food flow across North America, serving as a strategic consolidation point for longer-haul shipments, including Canada-to-Mexico routes.

• This facility is part of Americold's broader network of Import-Export Hubs being developed through strategic partnerships to modernize cold chain infrastructure. (Americold)

Celsius Logistics enters pharma cold supply chain Celsius Logistics has launched Celsius+, a specialized pharmaceutical cold chain division with a ₹50 crore ($6 million) investment to address India's growing pharma logistics needs.

• The Mumbai-based startup will allocate ₹35 crore ($4.2 million) toward deploying 100 new refrigerated vehicles along key pharmaceutical corridors and ₹10-15 crore ($1.2-1.8 million) for building a pharma courier system targeting urban and semi-urban markets.

• The company aims to achieve ₹100 crore ($12 million) in Annual Recurring Revenue from this vertical within 18 months and plans to hire 30-40 specialized team members with pharma logistics expertise.

• Celsius+ will offer real-time tracking, continuous temperature monitoring, and AI-enabled route optimization while ensuring compliance with Good Distribution Practices.

• The company plans to partner with leading pharmaceutical companies and extend services to over 100 cities across India by year-end. (ET Manufacturing)

DoKaSch Temperature Solutions expands US presence DoKaSch Temperature Solutions has opened a new US service station in Atlanta, Georgia, operated in collaboration with SEKO Logistics.

• Located near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and close to Southeast life science clusters including Raleigh-Durham, the facility expands DoKaSch's global network for time-critical pharmaceutical logistics.

• The strategic positioning ensures high availability of Opticooler temperature-controlled containers for immediate deployment, reducing lead times for pharmaceutical manufacturers and forwarders.

• This allows rapid access to containers at short notice, maintaining the integrity of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals during global transport.

• The station builds upon DoKaSch's successful partnership with SEKO Logistics, previously established in Dublin, ensuring consistent service standards across multiple locations while supporting the company's mission to deliver reliable, sustainable cold chain solutions internationally. (CAAS)

Coastal Group opens $41.8M Missouri cold storage facility Coastal Group has opened a $41.8 million cold storage facility in Foristell, Missouri, strategically located along Interstate 70 about 40 miles west of St. Louis.

• The 125,000 sq ft warehouse offers 15,500 pallet positions with 55,600 sq ft of freezer space and 29,300 sq ft of cooler space, replacing a previous facility 15 miles north.

• The location provides significant logistical advantages, with 70% of the U.S. population reachable within a 10-hour drive, enabling faster turnaround times, reduced freight costs, and broader market access.

• The facility reflects growing demand in the sector, with Missouri's freight tonnage volume expected to increase 20% by 2045, and numerous cold storage facilities being constructed nationwide. (Transport Topics)

Birmingham to hosts major global conference on sustainable cooling The University of Birmingham is hosting "Sustainable Cold-Chain for the Global South," a major international conference on October 28-29, 2025, addressing the urgent need for clean, affordable, and resilient cold-chain systems in developing countries.

• The free conference brings together academics, development agencies, NGOs, industry leaders, and investors to tackle barriers and identify practical solutions for sustainable cooling infrastructure.

• Toby Peters, Professor of Clean Cold, emphasizes that progress remains slow despite cold-chain infrastructure's critical importance for food and health security and climate goals.

• The conference will explore accelerating deployment of clean cooling technologies vital for food security, health systems, and climate resilience, featuring real-world insights from colleagues working in Africa and India.

• A special evening reception will be held in the university's historic Great Hall, featuring dinner and a photo exhibition showcasing cold-chain innovations and community impact. (University of Birmingham)

Other headlines

Maersk reported strong Q2 2025 results with 2.8% revenue growth and raised its full-year guidance due to resilient market demand outside North America, despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties and rate pressures.

ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG has implemented Austria's first fully automated rail-based reefer container monitoring system at Wolfurt Terminal in collaboration with IDENTEC SOLUTIONS, enabling 24/7 digital monitoring of 54 refrigerated containers.

ColdStar Logistics has opened a new 33,000 sq ft temperature-controlled distribution hub in Visakhapatnam, India, with over 3,500 pallet capacity and AI/ML-driven logistics software to serve marine, pharmaceutical, and FMCG sectors across the region.

Sunswap has deployed its first solar-powered refrigerated trailers in the EU through a partnership with TIP Group and Dutch logistics company DLG, marking the UK company's European expansion.

Cold Chain Technologies is eliminating 82 jobs at its Franklin, Massachusetts headquarters as it shifts manufacturing and distribution operations to facilities in Fort Worth, Texas, and Lebanon, Tennessee, while keeping its corporate office and labs in Massachusetts.

Fonterra has launched its first electric refrigerated truck, a Volvo FE Electric with a 256kWh battery and 200km range, to deliver dairy products across Auckland as part of its sustainability initiative to reduce supply chain emissions.

Reefer Van Network launched an on-demand portal for expedited cold-chain bookings, Trinity Logistics introduced a load verification tool to combat freight fraud, and Shiplify debuted an ROI calculator to provide transparency on accessorial charges in logistics billing.

That’s it for this week!

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