Scaling reefer innovation: From prototype to production
The logistics industry is at a crossroads. Like many industries, it is facing unprecedented pressure to decarbonize. When I joined Sunswap as chairman, I saw a company poised to lead this transformation. Now, as the first Sunswap Endurance units roll off the production line for DFDS, it’s an exciting time to reflect on the journey from design to delivery and the importance of in-house manufacturing.
What initially drew me to Sunswap was both the expertise of the team and the innovative, reliable product that had been painstakingly engineered to meet the decarbonization challenge. Having spent four decades in global manufacturing and technology, across a range of sectors from aerospace and medical devices to motorsports, I’ve learned to recognize true innovation and well-engineered, elegant solutions. Sunswap’s flagship product, Endurance, meets this criteria and solves the challenge of decarbonizing refrigerated transport.
Endurance is a zero-emission battery- and solar-powered unit that displaces the need for diesel. It's easy to overlook the critical role that refrigerated transport plays in our daily lives, from keeping our food fresh to ensuring medicines reach patients safely. Endurance maintains this vital function while eliminating direct emissions and reducing operational costs.
Manufacturing innovation
My years of experience in global manufacturing have given me a unique insight into what it takes to scale production and meet growing demand. I joined Sunswap not just to support the company, but to drive forward our ability to manufacture Endurance units at the scale needed to meet global demand.
As for the team behind it, they bring decades of experience from renowned companies across automotive, aerospace, and technology sectors, including time at Ford, JLR, Ricardo, Collins Aerospace, and Dyson.
Sunswap started in 2020, and in just four years, it has gone from prototype to production, delivering the first production units this month. Many promising early-stage companies struggle with the transition from R&D to a fully formed company. Sunswap navigated this transition effectively and now is in the scale-up phase. I’ve navigated these challenges many times throughout my career, and I am confident Sunswap will continue to go from strength to strength.
It is pleasing to see how Sunswap embraced good practice with excellent systems, processes, and procedures, all fully documented and clearly communicated across the factory. Health and safety is at the forefront of everything we do, and the quality of the product upper most at every stage of manufacture. A continuous-improvement culture that adopts lean manufacturing principles ensures optimal efficiencies are achieved.
Preparing for launch and scale
As the team prepares for our launch with DFDS, I’m excited to see the first Endurance units rolling off the production line. It’s a testament to the team’s hard work and our strategic approach to manufacturing. We’re implementing scalable processes that are designed to flex and grow as the adoption of Endurance accelerates globally.
Sunswap’s recent Series B funding round, raising £17.3 million ($22.4 million) from investors, including big names such as Barclays, CGF, BGF, Shell Ventures, and Move Energy, only strengthens what the team can achieve, and how quickly they can achieve it.
Looking ahead, I see enormous potential for Sunswap to drive meaningful change in the logistics industry. The journey from concept to production is never easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding when you’re working on something that has the potential to make a real difference.
As we continue to scale and innovate, I’m thrilled to be part of Sunswap’s mission to create a more sustainable future for transport refrigeration. The road ahead is exciting, and I believe we’re well-equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities it will bring.
