DHL and RLCold Target Next Generation Food & Beverage Cold Chain Infrastructure

Next Generation Cold Storage Infrastructure Targets Aging Food Supply Chains

What Happened

DHL Supply Chain and RLCold have announced a strategic collaboration to accelerate development of advanced temperature-controlled infrastructure across North America.

The partnership aims to develop more than five million square feet of modern cold storage facilities designed for food and beverage supply chains.

The planned facilities focus on:

multi-temperature distribution
automation readiness
modern warehouse design
improved operational efficiency

The initiative addresses a major challenge in North American cold chain logistics: much of the existing refrigerated warehouse infrastructure is aging and requires modernization.

How It Works

Modern food cold chain facilities require more than refrigerated storage rooms.

A next-generation cold distribution center typically integrates:

Multi-Temperature Zones

Supporting:

frozen products
chilled food
controlled-temperature products

Different products require different:

temperature ranges
humidity conditions
airflow patterns

Automation Systems

Automation can improve:

pallet movement
inventory accuracy
warehouse throughput

Examples include:

automated storage and retrieval systems
robotics
warehouse control systems

Digital Visibility

Modern facilities increasingly combine:

warehouse management systems
temperature monitoring
inventory tracking
predictive analytics

This allows operators to understand both:

where inventory is located
whether products remain within required conditions

Why It Matters

Food supply chains are becoming more complex.

Drivers include:

growth of frozen food
e-commerce grocery
private-label products
consumer demand for freshness

At the same time, many traditional cold warehouses were built decades ago.

Older facilities often face:

lower energy efficiency
limited automation capability
outdated layouts
higher operating costs

Modern cold storage infrastructure can improve:

product availability
labor efficiency
energy performance
supply chain resilience

B2B Impact

For food manufacturers:

Modern cold storage improves access to:

scalable capacity
better inventory control
regional distribution

For retailers:

Benefits include:

more reliable replenishment
improved freshness
reduced inventory risk

For cold storage developers:

Future facilities will increasingly require:

automation-ready designs
energy-efficient refrigeration
digital monitoring

For refrigeration suppliers:

Demand will increase for:

high-efficiency systems
smart controls
low-GWP refrigerants

For technology companies:

Opportunities include:

AI warehouse optimization
predictive maintenance
temperature analytics

The broader trend:

Cold storage is evolving from passive warehousing into intelligent supply chain infrastructure.

BioPharma APAC

Freeze-to-Store Integration Becomes a New Direction for Biopharmaceutical Cold Chain Operations

What Happened

The biopharmaceutical industry is increasingly moving toward integrated Freeze-to-Store workflows that connect controlled-rate freezing, ultra-low-temperature storage, automated handling and digital process monitoring.

Recent industry analysis highlights that traditional biopharmaceutical manufacturing often treats freezing and storage as separate operations.

This separation can create:

additional product transfers
manual handling risks
fragmented data records
inefficient freezer utilization

For biologics, cell therapies and advanced medicines, these issues become increasingly important as production volumes increase and product value rises.

How It Works

A modern Freeze-to-Store workflow integrates several cold chain stages:

Controlled-Rate Freezing

Biological materials require carefully controlled freezing conditions.

The freezing profile affects:

product stability
ice formation
recovery performance
batch consistency

Ultra-Low Temperature Storage

After freezing, products move into:

-80°C storage
cryogenic environments
qualified biological storage systems

The storage system must maintain:

temperature uniformity
alarm management
inventory traceability

Automated Handling

Automation reduces manual movement between:

filling
freezing
storage
thawing

This can reduce:

handling errors
exposure time
batch identification risks

Digital Records

Modern systems increasingly integrate:

batch records
equipment data
temperature history
operator actions

21 CFR Part 11-compatible electronic records help support regulated manufacturing environments.

Why It Matters

Biopharmaceutical manufacturing is becoming more complex.

Growth in:

monoclonal antibodies
cell therapies
gene therapies
personalized medicines

requires more sophisticated cold chain infrastructure.

Unlike traditional pharmaceuticals, many advanced therapies have:

limited replacement availability
high production cost
strict handling requirements

A failure during freezing or storage may result in:

batch loss
manufacturing delay
clinical impact

Therefore, cold chain performance must begin inside the manufacturing facility, not only during transportation.

B2B Impact

For pharmaceutical manufacturers:

Integrated workflows can improve:

batch consistency
storage utilization
process visibility

For CDMOs:

Flexible Freeze-to-Store platforms may improve support for multiple customers and product formats.

For cold storage providers:

Demand will increase for:

ultra-low temperature facilities
automated storage
digital monitoring

For equipment suppliers:

Future systems will require:

high-efficiency ULT refrigeration
automated handling
validated monitoring

For software providers:

The market opportunity includes:

digital batch tracking
temperature analytics
predictive failure detection

The broader trend:

Pharmaceutical cold chain is moving from isolated equipment toward integrated manufacturing-to-storage ecosystems.

Source: BioPharma APAC

Integrated Freeze-to-Store Workflows Could Remove a Critical Bottleneck in Biopharma Cold Chains

Private-label cold chain packaging with branded gel packs, insulated bag, ice brick and carton — Private-label cold chain packaging formats for branded coolant, delivery bags and insulated cartons.

What Happened

BioPharma APAC has published a new expert interview examining how biopharmaceutical manufacturers can integrate controlled-rate freezing, ultra-low-temperature storage, automated material handling and digital process monitoring into a continuous freeze-to-store workflow.

The discussion focuses on a growing manufacturing problem: biologics, biosimilars and advanced therapies are moving toward larger batch sizes, while freezer capacity, ultra-low-temperature storage space and facility footprints often remain fixed.

According to expert contributor Markus Fürhapter, many manufacturers and contract development and manufacturing organizations still operate freezing and ULT storage as separate processes. This can create repeated transfers, fragmented material flow, batch splitting and additional manual handling before frozen drug substance reaches long-term storage.

The article presents the RoSS.BLST controlled-rate blast freezer and RoSS.ULTF storage platform as components of a wider workflow that may include automated aseptic filling, freezing, ULT storage, thawing and standardized transport between process stages.

The source says the proposed workflow is designed to accommodate full batches exceeding 200 liters and multiple bottle and bag formats. It also reports that the RoSS.BLST platform provides approximately 30% more usable chamber capacity than comparable blast-freezer configurations. These are supplier statements presented through an expert interview and should be verified through application-specific technical qualification before procurement.

How It Works

Controlled-rate freezing is a critical transition between biopharmaceutical production and frozen storage.

Bulk drug substance cannot simply be placed into a low-temperature room without considering the speed, uniformity and reproducibility of the freezing process. Variations in airflow, container position, fill volume, freezing duration and thermal history can create different conditions across the same batch.

An integrated freeze-to-store model begins by matching the output of the filling operation with the capacity of the freezing and storage systems. Instead of dividing a batch into smaller groups because the freezer or storage racks cannot accept the complete volume, the equipment and material-flow system are designed around a common batch architecture.

The approach described in the BioPharma APAC interview uses harmonized dollies, racks and loading systems to move containers between filling, freezing, storage and thawing. Maintaining a common handling concept can reduce repacking, container redistribution and manual intervention between process stages.

The freezing platform uses recipe-driven protocols and controlled airflow to improve temperature distribution and batch-to-batch consistency. A validated recipe can define parameters such as loading configuration, target temperature, ramp profile, hold time and completion criteria.

The storage stage must then be aligned with the freezing stage. A high-capacity blast freezer creates limited value if the ULT warehouse cannot immediately receive the finished batch, or if frozen containers must wait in an uncontrolled transfer area.

A complete workflow therefore needs coordinated freezer capacity, storage positions, transport equipment, loading interfaces and operating schedules.

Container compatibility is another important factor. CDMOs may process different bottle sizes, single-use bags and customer-specific packaging formats. A container-agnostic handling system can reduce the need to design a different internal logistics process for every product.

Digital process control connects the physical workflow with the quality record.

The interview states that the freezing platforms use recipe-driven protocols designed to support 21 CFR Part 11 requirements. Connected systems may capture the selected recipe, operator activity, batch identity, equipment status, freezing conditions, alarm history and process completion data.

Electronic records are most valuable when they remain associated with the correct batch throughout freezing, ULT storage, thawing and downstream shipment. A temperature record without a reliable batch relationship may be difficult to use during release review or deviation investigation.

Why It Matters

Biopharmaceutical cold chains begin before the product enters a transport shipper.

If bulk drug substance is frozen inconsistently, moved through too many manual handoffs or stored in an unsuitable configuration, downstream logistics cannot correct the original process variation. The transport cold chain may perform perfectly while the material has already experienced unnecessary risk inside the manufacturing facility.

This is especially important for biologics and advanced therapies, where batch value can be high and replacement may require substantial manufacturing time.

An integrated workflow can reduce the number of custody transfers between filling, freezing and storage. Fewer interventions may lower the probability of container damage, labeling errors, incorrect rack placement and incomplete batch records.

The approach also addresses facility utilization.

Adding ultra-low-temperature storage is capital-intensive. It may require specialized insulation, refrigeration equipment, backup power, alarm systems and environmental monitoring. Manufacturers operating in established facilities may have little physical space available for additional freezer rooms.

Higher-density storage and better coordination between freezing and storage can help increase effective capacity without expanding the building at the same rate as production volume.

Energy and sustainability are also becoming part of ULT infrastructure decisions.

The expert interview notes that natural-refrigerant and air-cooled technologies can reduce the global-warming impact associated with refrigeration. It also argues that higher storage density, fewer handling steps and lower maintenance requirements can improve both environmental performance and total cost of ownership.

These benefits should be assessed through actual operating data. Energy performance will depend on setpoint, room conditions, loading frequency, insulation, equipment utilization and the complete refrigeration architecture.

The broader technical shift is from optimizing individual machines to optimizing the full material journey.

A faster blast freezer is not necessarily the best solution if it creates a queue at storage. A larger ULT room is not enough if containers cannot be moved into it safely and quickly. The strongest performance comes from balancing filling rate, freezing capacity, storage density, thawing demand and internal logistics.

B2B Impact

For biopharmaceutical manufacturers, freeze-to-store design should begin with a complete process map.

The assessment should identify every container movement from filling through freezing, storage, sampling, thawing and distribution. Each manual transfer should be evaluated for time, temperature exposure, contamination control, ergonomic risk and documentation requirements.

Manufacturers should also compare nominal freezer capacity with usable qualified capacity. Internal racks, airflow requirements, container spacing and validated loading patterns can reduce the volume available in routine production.

For CDMOs, flexibility is particularly important.

A facility may need to support multiple customers, batch sizes and primary-container formats. Standardized transport racks and container-agnostic handling can simplify operations, but each product still requires validated freezing and thawing conditions.

A common platform must not be interpreted as a universal process recipe. Protein concentration, formulation, container geometry, fill volume and product stability can all affect suitable freeze-thaw parameters.

For quality and validation teams, the complete workflow should be qualified rather than treating the freezer and storage room as unrelated assets.

Relevant work may include equipment qualification, loaded temperature mapping, airflow studies, recipe verification, alarm challenges, power-failure testing, transfer-time studies and confirmation that electronic records remain attributable to the correct batch.

Data integrity controls should cover user access, recipe approval, audit trails, time synchronization, record retention, backup and recovery. Integration with manufacturing execution, laboratory and warehouse systems should be tested rather than assumed.

For facility engineers, capacity matching is central to the investment decision.

The freezing system, ULT storage, backup equipment and emergency-transfer capacity should be sized around credible production scenarios. A single point of failure may create a larger risk when the workflow becomes more centralized.

Redundancy plans should define what happens if the blast freezer, ULT room, automated handling system or digital platform becomes unavailable. Manual recovery procedures must remain usable even when normal automation is offline.

For cold chain equipment suppliers, customers will increasingly evaluate workflow compatibility rather than machine specifications alone.

Suppliers may need to demonstrate how racks, dollies, containers, software and monitoring interfaces operate together. Service response, replacement parts, remote support and preventive maintenance are also part of the cold chain design.

For pharmaceutical logistics providers, greater integration inside manufacturing facilities can improve outbound shipment readiness.

A batch that has been frozen, stored and released through a standardized process may be easier to transfer into a validated transport system. However, the interface between plant storage and external logistics still needs controlled staging, shipper preparation, chain of custody and shipment-level monitoring.

The main lesson is that biopharmaceutical cold chain performance is determined by the continuity of the process.

Freezing, ULT storage and transport should not be designed as isolated technical functions. They should operate as one traceable system that protects product integrity from the end of manufacturing through final distribution.

Grocery Gazette

M&S Electric Fleet Expansion Highlights the Future of Low-Carbon Food Cold Chain Transport

What Happened

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has expanded its electric vehicle deployment across its food logistics network as part of its wider sustainability strategy.

The initiative focuses on reducing emissions from food distribution operations while maintaining the reliability required for temperature-controlled retail supply chains.

For food retailers, transport represents a significant part of cold chain environmental impact.

Refrigerated delivery vehicles must maintain product temperatures while operating across:

urban delivery routes
store replenishment networks
distribution center connections

The transition toward electric transport introduces new opportunities and challenges for refrigerated logistics.

How It Works

Traditional refrigerated delivery vehicles typically combine:

diesel-powered vehicle engines
transport refrigeration units
fuel-based energy systems

Electric cold chain vehicles introduce a different operating model.

The vehicle powertrain and refrigeration system can potentially operate with lower emissions, especially when electricity comes from renewable sources.

Key technology areas include:

Electric Vehicle Platform

Provides:

zero tailpipe emissions
quieter urban operation
lower fuel dependency

Refrigeration System Integration

The refrigeration unit must maintain:

chilled temperatures
frozen conditions where required
stable operation during delivery stops

Route Optimization

Electric refrigerated vehicles require careful planning around:

driving distance
charging availability
delivery density
refrigeration energy demand

Cold chain delivery is more challenging than ordinary transport because energy is consumed not only for movement but also for maintaining product temperature.

Why It Matters

Food retailers operate some of the most complex cold chain networks.

A single distribution system may include:

chilled food
frozen products
fresh produce
dairy
prepared meals

The logistics network must balance:

delivery frequency
product freshness
energy consumption
customer expectations

Reducing transport emissions without affecting temperature performance is therefore a major industry challenge.

Electric refrigerated transport can help address:

urban air pollution
carbon emissions
fuel cost volatility

However, successful deployment requires more than replacing diesel trucks.

Companies must also consider:

charging infrastructure
vehicle range
refrigeration energy demand
route planning

B2B Impact

For food retailers:

Electric cold chain vehicles can support sustainability targets while maintaining customer service levels.

Important evaluation factors include:

route suitability
charging infrastructure
refrigeration reliability

For logistics providers:

Fleet electrification creates demand for:

electric refrigerated trucks
efficient refrigeration systems
digital fleet management

For refrigeration suppliers:

Future systems will require:

low-energy transport refrigeration units
battery integration
intelligent energy management

For technology providers:

The combination of:

vehicle telematics
temperature monitoring
energy tracking

will become increasingly important.

For packaging suppliers:

More efficient transport does not eliminate the need for thermal protection.

Packaging solutions will continue supporting:

delivery temperature stability
reduced refrigeration load
last-mile resilience

Final Insight

The future of food cold chain transportation will not be defined only by keeping products cold.

It will require balancing:

temperature integrity
operational reliability
energy efficiency
carbon reduction

Electric refrigerated fleets represent a major step toward a lower-carbon cold chain ecosystem.

Maersk

Maersk Builds Integrated Cold Chain Route for Chilean Produce Exports to the US East Coast

What Happened

A.P. Moller – Maersk has launched an integrated cold chain solution connecting Chilean origin operations with US East Coast import infrastructure.

The solution was developed together with fresh produce supplier Oppy and the Port of Wilmington, creating a coordinated model covering:

origin handling in Chile
ocean transportation
US port operations
fumigation
inland transportation
cold storage

The initiative addresses a long-standing challenge for regulated produce entering the United States: limited fumigation capacity at key gateways.

For commodities such as Chilean grapes, regulatory treatment requirements can create delays that reduce remaining shelf life and increase supply chain uncertainty.

By integrating multiple logistics steps into one coordinated solution, Maersk aims to improve speed-to-market, transparency and reliability for temperature-sensitive agricultural cargo.

How It Works

Fresh produce cold chains involve far more than refrigerated transportation.

A typical export journey includes:

harvesting
packing
pre-cooling
inland movement
port handling
ocean reefer transport
customs procedures
inspection or fumigation
final distribution

Each stage affects product quality.

For regulated products, fumigation can become a major bottleneck.

Even if the reefer container maintains temperature correctly, cargo may lose commercial value if it waits too long for required regulatory treatment.

The Maersk solution integrates these steps into a coordinated workflow.

The model combines:

Origin Management

Ensuring produce enters the cold chain correctly after harvest.

Key controls include:

product temperature
packaging condition
loading schedule
container preparation

Ocean Reefer Transport

Maintaining controlled temperature during international shipping.

Important factors include:

reefer equipment reliability
temperature monitoring
power availability
transit planning

Port and Inland Integration

Coordinating:

container discharge
regulatory processes
fumigation
trucking
cold storage

This reduces unnecessary waiting between logistics providers.

Why It Matters

Fresh produce supply chains are highly time-sensitive.

A shipment can technically remain within temperature limits but still lose market value because:

shelf life decreases
arrival timing changes
retail promotions are missed
quality expectations are not met

For premium fruits such as grapes, berries and stone fruit, speed and predictability are critical.

The challenge is increasing because global produce networks are becoming more complex.

Exporters must manage:

climate variability
port congestion
regulatory requirements
changing consumer demand

An integrated cold chain model helps reduce uncertainty by connecting multiple operational steps.

The value is not simply faster transportation.

It is better coordination between:

growers
exporters
ports
carriers
customs services
cold storage operators

B2B Impact

For produce exporters:

The solution can improve:

export reliability
inventory planning
customer confidence

However, exporters still need strong control over:

harvest timing
pre-cooling
packaging
container loading

For shipping companies:

The competitive advantage is shifting from vessel capacity toward integrated logistics solutions.

Customers increasingly expect:

visibility
coordinated inland services
exception management

For ports:

Cold chain capability becomes an important differentiator.

Ports supporting agricultural exports need:

reefer plug capacity
cold storage
inspection infrastructure
rapid handling procedures

For cold storage operators:

Integrated routes increase demand for:

import staging
temporary storage
quality inspection
redistribution services

For technology providers:

Future produce logistics will increasingly combine:

IoT monitoring
shipment visibility
predictive analytics
digital documentation

The broader trend:

Global reefer logistics is evolving from transportation services into integrated temperature-controlled supply chain management.

Reefer Trends

Maersk’s Integrated Reefer Solution Targets More Reliable Chile–US Produce Supply Chains

What Happened

Maersk has introduced an integrated cold chain solution connecting Chilean exporters with customers on the US East Coast.

The initiative focuses on improving the movement of temperature-sensitive cargo by coordinating multiple logistics stages, including ocean transportation, inland connections, terminal operations and digital shipment visibility.

The solution targets one of the most important challenges in fresh produce exports: maintaining product quality across long international supply chains.

Chile is a major exporter of temperature-sensitive agricultural products, including:

cherries
grapes
blueberries
stone fruits
other fresh produce

These products depend heavily on reliable reefer logistics because shelf life decreases rapidly when temperature control is interrupted.

How It Works

A modern reefer export chain involves multiple connected stages:

farm harvesting
packing facility operations
pre-cooling
refrigerated inland transport
port handling
ocean reefer shipment
destination delivery

Failures often occur not during the main transportation leg, but during transitions between these stages.

For example:

delayed container loading
extended terminal dwell
insufficient reefer plug availability
customs delays
inland transport disruption

can reduce remaining shelf life even when the container refrigeration system operates correctly.

The integrated solution approach focuses on coordinating these handoffs.

Key elements include:

Reefer Equipment Management

Ensuring refrigerated containers maintain required conditions during ocean transport.

Inland Logistics Coordination

Connecting farm, packhouse, port and destination distribution operations.

Digital Visibility

Providing better information about shipment location, status and potential delays.

The objective is to allow supply chain participants to react earlier when risks appear.

Why It Matters

Fresh produce logistics is becoming increasingly demanding.

Exporters face pressure from:

shorter customer delivery windows
higher quality expectations
increased competition
climate variability

A shipment arriving several days late may still technically be refrigerated, but the commercial value may decline because remaining shelf life has been reduced.

For premium fruits such as cherries and berries, timing is critical.

The value of an integrated cold chain approach is therefore not only preventing temperature excursions.

It is protecting:

freshness
market timing
customer satisfaction
export value

B2B Impact

For agricultural exporters:

Integrated reefer solutions can improve:

export reliability
shipment visibility
customer confidence

However, exporters still need strong control over:

harvest timing
pre-cooling
packaging
container loading

For shipping companies:

Cold chain capability becomes a service differentiator.

Customers increasingly expect:

real-time visibility
proactive alerts
coordinated inland services

For cold storage operators:

Export growth creates demand for:

pre-cooling facilities
consolidation centers
temperature-controlled staging

For packaging suppliers:

Long-distance produce exports require:

ventilation control
moisture management
pallet stability
thermal protection

For technology providers:

Future reefer networks will combine:

IoT monitoring
AI prediction
route optimization
digital documentation

The broader trend:

Ocean cold chain is moving from container transportation toward integrated supply chain management.

Pharmaceutical Commerce

AI Is Moving Pharmaceutical Cold Chains from Monitoring to Prediction

What Happened

Pharmaceutical cold chain logistics is undergoing a transformation as companies move beyond traditional temperature recording toward predictive analytics, automation and real-time decision-making.

Recent industry analysis highlights that modern pharmaceutical supply chains increasingly require continuous in-transit monitoring, predictive risk identification, automated warehouse operations and stronger digital connectivity between logistics partners.

The shift reflects a fundamental change in cold chain management.

Historically, companies focused on proving that products remained within temperature limits after delivery.

The emerging model focuses on identifying risks before product integrity is compromised.

(pharmaceuticalcommerce.com)

How It Works

Traditional cold chain monitoring typically relies on:

temperature loggers
shipment records
manual review after delivery

While these systems remain important, they provide limited ability to prevent failures during transportation.

Modern digital cold chains combine multiple data sources:

real-time temperature sensors
GPS location data
shipment milestones
weather information
customs delays
warehouse conditions

AI-based systems analyze these inputs to identify potential problems.

Examples include:

predicting temperature excursion risk
identifying high-risk transportation lanes
recommending alternative routes
prioritizing delayed shipments
triggering intervention before failure occurs

For example, if a pharmaceutical shipment experiences unexpected airport delays in a high-temperature environment, predictive systems can estimate whether the passive packaging system still has enough thermal protection time remaining.

The system can then recommend actions:

expedited handling
alternate routing
coolant replacement
priority unloading

This changes cold chain management from reactive response into proactive control.

Why It Matters

Pharmaceutical products are becoming increasingly sensitive.

The growth of:

biologics
vaccines
cell and gene therapies
specialty medicines

creates greater requirements for:

temperature precision
traceability
documentation
intervention capability

A single excursion may result in:

product quarantine
regulatory investigation
financial loss
patient treatment delays

At the same time, global pharmaceutical supply chains are becoming more complex.

A shipment may involve:

multiple countries
multiple logistics providers
air and ground transportation
different regulatory environments

This makes manual monitoring increasingly difficult.

Digital platforms provide a way to manage complexity.

B2B Impact

For pharmaceutical manufacturers:

Cold chain strategy should increasingly include:

predictive analytics
digital shipment visibility
automated exception management

For logistics providers:

Competitive advantage will move beyond transportation capacity.

Customers will expect:

real-time monitoring
proactive alerts
documented intervention processes

For warehouse operators:

Automation can reduce:

manual handling errors
door-open exposure
inventory mistakes

AI systems can also improve:

storage allocation
workflow planning
labor efficiency

For packaging suppliers:

Digital visibility can improve packaging design.

Companies can understand:

where thermal failures occur
actual shipment exposure
required protection duration

For technology providers:

Future platforms will likely integrate:

IoT sensors
AI prediction
digital twins
regulatory documentation

The broader industry trend:

The pharmaceutical cold chain is evolving from a temperature-control system into an intelligent risk-management network.

Cold Chain News

StoreLogs and GreenChill Systems Demonstrate New Path for Lower-Carbon Reefer Operations

What Happened

StoreLogs has announced the successful completion of a collaborative trial with GreenChill Systems focused on reducing emissions from refrigerated trailer operations.

The project evaluated a new refrigeration technology approach under real operating conditions, demonstrating the potential for lower-carbon performance in temperature-controlled transport.

The trial is significant because refrigerated transport remains one of the most energy-intensive parts of the cold chain.

While cold storage facilities have increasingly adopted energy-efficient refrigeration and renewable power solutions, transport refrigeration units continue to represent a major challenge due to mobile operation requirements.

How It Works

Refrigerated trailers rely on transport refrigeration units (TRUs) to maintain product temperature during movement.

Unlike stationary cold storage systems, trailer refrigeration faces several additional challenges:

limited energy availability
changing ambient temperatures
frequent door openings
variable driving conditions
strict temperature requirements

A refrigerated trailer may operate in:

summer heat
winter conditions
urban delivery environments
long-distance highway routes

The refrigeration system must continuously adjust to maintain the cargo setpoint.

Newer technologies aim to improve efficiency through:

improved refrigeration cycles
lower energy consumption
reduced emissions
smarter control systems

The StoreLogs and GreenChill trial evaluated performance under practical operating conditions rather than only laboratory testing.

This is important because refrigeration efficiency in real logistics depends on:

loading patterns
route conditions
ambient temperature
driver behavior
delivery frequency

A technology that performs well in controlled testing may produce different results in daily fleet operations.

Why It Matters

Cold chain transportation creates a unique sustainability challenge.

Food and pharmaceutical logistics cannot simply reduce cooling demand because product integrity must be protected.

The industry therefore needs solutions that reduce environmental impact while maintaining:

temperature stability
delivery reliability
product safety

Transport refrigeration is particularly important because vehicles often operate continuously across large geographic areas.

A small improvement in energy efficiency across thousands of trailers can create significant cumulative benefits.

The transition toward lower-carbon refrigeration is also being accelerated by:

stricter emissions regulations
customer sustainability requirements
rising fuel costs
corporate carbon reduction targets

For logistics companies, improving refrigeration efficiency can reduce both emissions and operating expenses.

B2B Impact

For refrigerated carriers:

New refrigeration technologies may provide opportunities to reduce:

fuel consumption
maintenance costs
carbon emissions

However, fleet operators must evaluate:

reliability
service availability
lifecycle cost
spare parts support

For food manufacturers and retailers:

Lower-carbon transportation options can help meet sustainability goals without changing product temperature requirements.

However, sustainability improvements must not compromise:

shelf life
delivery consistency
food safety

For refrigeration equipment suppliers:

Demand is increasing for:

high-efficiency TRUs
alternative refrigerants
smart controls
remote monitoring systems

For fleet management platforms:

Future refrigerated fleets will increasingly combine:

refrigeration data
vehicle telematics
route information
energy consumption data

This enables operators to optimize both logistics performance and environmental impact.

The broader industry trend:

The next generation of refrigerated transport will be measured not only by temperature performance, but also by energy efficiency and carbon intensity.

Logistics Manager

Regional Airports Become Strategic Nodes for Temperature-Controlled Cargo Networks

Custom insulated delivery tote with dividers, coolant pockets, shoulder strap and delivery backpack samples — Custom insulated delivery bag with a divided payload chamber, fitted coolant pockets and reinforced carrying system.

What Happened

Glasgow Prestwick Airport has reported its seventh consecutive year of profitability, highlighting continued development of its cargo and logistics capabilities.

The airport recorded £3.9 million in profit for the year ended March 2026, reflecting stronger operational performance and continued demand for specialized logistics services. The airport is increasingly positioned as a regional cargo hub supporting industrial, food and temperature-sensitive supply chains.

For cold chain operators, the development is significant because regional airports are becoming increasingly important alternatives within temperature-controlled logistics networks.

Traditionally, pharmaceutical and perishable air cargo has concentrated around major international gateways. However, regional cargo airports can provide additional flexibility by reducing congestion, improving handling speed and supporting specialized supply chains closer to production areas.

How It Works

Air cargo cold chains depend on multiple controlled transfer points.

A temperature-sensitive shipment may move through:

production facility
refrigerated truck
airport cargo terminal
security screening
aircraft loading
destination handling center

Each stage creates potential exposure risk.

Regional airports with suitable infrastructure can provide:

temperature-controlled storage
faster cargo handling
reduced terminal congestion
shorter ground transportation routes

For perishable products such as seafood, fresh food and specialty agricultural goods, reducing time between refrigerated transport and aircraft loading can help protect product quality.

The airport environment must also support operational coordination.

Cold chain cargo requires:

controlled storage areas
trained handling personnel
temperature monitoring
rapid transfer procedures
reliable documentation

A cargo terminal without appropriate cold chain procedures can become a weak point even when upstream production and packaging are well controlled.

Why It Matters

Global cold chains are becoming more distributed.

Companies increasingly need multiple logistics options because of:

port congestion
air capacity changes
seasonal demand
geopolitical disruption
extreme weather

Regional airports can provide resilience by adding alternative routes.

For food exporters, this can improve access to international markets.

For pharmaceutical logistics, regional gateways can reduce unnecessary handling and shorten the distance between manufacturing sites and qualified transport infrastructure.

The value of a regional airport is therefore not only cargo volume.

It is the ability to provide reliable, specialized handling for products where timing and temperature directly affect product value.

B2B Impact

For food exporters:

Regional airports can provide additional options for:

seafood exports
fresh produce
chilled products
specialty foods

However, exporters should evaluate:

cold storage availability
cargo handling procedures
airline connectivity
temperature monitoring capability

For pharmaceutical companies:

Airport selection should consider:

GDP compliance
temperature-controlled staging
emergency procedures
shipment visibility

For freight forwarders:

Regional airport growth creates opportunities for specialized cold chain services combining:

refrigerated pickup
airport handling
documentation
final-mile delivery

For cold chain technology suppliers:

Demand may increase for:

airport cold rooms
IoT monitoring
temperature alarms
cargo tracking platforms

The broader trend:

Cold chain networks are moving from single-gateway dependence toward more flexible regional logistics ecosystems.

TechRadar Pro

Nichirei Cyberattack Shows Why Cold Chain Security Must Include Digital Infrastructure

What Happened

A cyberattack affecting Nichirei Co., one of Japan’s largest frozen food manufacturers and cold chain operators, has highlighted a growing vulnerability in modern temperature-controlled supply chains.

The incident disrupted parts of Nichirei’s IT systems, affecting refrigerated warehouse operations, frozen food distribution processes and customer supply activities.

KFC Japan was among the companies reporting supply impacts linked to the disruption, with potential menu restrictions and operational challenges caused by reduced availability of certain products.

Nichirei stated that no customer or personal information leakage had been confirmed, but the company did not disclose detailed technical information regarding the attack.

The event demonstrates that cold chain reliability now depends on both physical refrigeration systems and digital operational infrastructure.

How It Works

Modern cold chain networks are increasingly software-driven.

Large refrigerated logistics operations rely on interconnected systems including:

Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
Transportation Management Systems (TMS)
Inventory databases
Automated storage systems
Customer ordering platforms
Refrigeration monitoring systems

These systems coordinate:

product location
inventory availability
order release
warehouse picking
transportation scheduling
customer communication

A cyberattack does not necessarily need to damage refrigeration equipment to disrupt cold chain operations.

A warehouse freezer may continue maintaining temperature, but operators may lose the ability to:

locate inventory
release shipments
update stock availability
coordinate deliveries
communicate accurate supply information

This creates a different type of cold chain failure.

The product may remain physically protected while the logistics system supporting that product becomes unavailable.

Why It Matters

Historically, cold chain risk management focused mainly on:

refrigeration reliability
temperature excursions
transportation delays
packaging failures

However, digitalization has changed the risk landscape.

A modern refrigerated warehouse is effectively a combination of:

Thermal infrastructure
Logistics software
Data systems
Automated operations

Failure of any one layer can affect supply continuity.

This is particularly important for frozen food networks because many customers operate with limited inventory buffers.

Restaurants, retailers and foodservice companies often depend on predictable replenishment schedules. A disruption lasting several days can create:

product shortages
menu limitations
emergency sourcing
customer dissatisfaction

The Nichirei incident shows that cybersecurity should now be considered part of cold chain integrity.

A cold chain is not fully resilient if it can maintain temperature but cannot control inventory movement.

B2B Impact

For cold storage operators:

Cybersecurity should become part of facility risk management.

Important measures include:

network segmentation
system backups
access management
employee cybersecurity training
disaster recovery procedures

For food manufacturers:

Supplier qualification should include digital resilience.

Companies should evaluate whether logistics partners have:

backup operating procedures
cybersecurity controls
recovery plans
alternative communication methods

For 3PL providers:

Customers increasingly expect both physical and digital reliability.

A modern cold chain provider must protect:

product temperature
inventory accuracy
shipment visibility
operational data

For automation suppliers:

Connected warehouses create new cybersecurity requirements.

Automation systems, sensors and warehouse robots must be protected against unauthorized access because they directly affect physical operations.

For cold chain software companies:

Future platforms will need:

encrypted communication
cybersecurity monitoring
backup systems
automated recovery functions

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