Thermo King has received the Cold Chain Sustainability Award – Technological Breakthrough: Sustainable Partnership Project for its collaboration with KDM Solutions and Blue Cube PCS on portable cold stores for the UK. The project combines KDM Solutions’ ready-to-operate cold stores with Thermo King’s electric Advancer A-500E trailer refrigeration unit for rental applications operated by Blue Cube PCS.
According to the companies, the project was developed in response to Blue Cube PCS’s requirement for a fireproof, low-energy cold store that would be fully operational on arrival. KDM Solutions used composite panels with insulation performance verified through in-house and third-party testing, while Thermo King adapted the Advancer A-500E, originally engineered for trailer refrigeration, for cold storage use.
Testing showed the A-500E used around 50% less grid power over 24-hour periods than alternative equipment. The companies also said the unit could operate on an inconsistent UK power grid without on-site surveys or commissioning, while remote diagnostics and control through Thermo King TracKing enabled settings changes and defrosts without engineer visits. Other reported features included airflow and temperature management across the full 16-metre (52.5-ft) store length and a 48-volt system operating below the 55-volt threshold.
Blue Cube PCS has already deployed multiple A-500E-refrigerated cold stores supplied through KDM Solutions, and the partners expect demand to grow through 2026. Thermo King is also training KDM Solutions engineers to carry out installation, commissioning and servicing to manufacturer standards. The companies said reducing long-distance engineer travel is expected to save around 5,000 kg (about 11,023 lb) of CO2 in 2025, with each avoided callout cutting emissions by a further 50 kg (about 110 lb) on average.
“Winning this award is a significant recognition of what can be achieved when industry partners work with a shared purpose,” said Jon Jerrard-Dinn, Rental and Strategic Segments Sales Manager at Thermo King UK. “This collaboration shows that sustainability gains are strongest when manufacturers and operators understand the applications’ specific requirements and innovate together.”
