Maersk has announced a new 45,000 m² cold chain facility in the Waikato District, the fourth largest region in New Zealand.
Maersk believes that it will be able to provide better logistics solutions for both import and export customers by integrating the cold store with the depot and intermodal connections.
Located in the Ruakura Superhub, the new facility has easy access to the road network between Hamilton and Auckland. It is next to the new SH1 dual carriage way, which is an important transport corridor for the Waikato region.
The site is also adjacent to the Ruakura Inland Port, providing a link to the ports of Tauranga and Auckland, allowing the facility to serve both the export regions and the import markets in the North Island.
“This cold storage facility will cater to both national and international supply chains, and in conjunction with our extensive New Zealand ocean network connecting the world. We firmly believe it will enable us to be flexible and agile in our operations to ensure that we can match customers’ needs with seasonal demand,” commented Henrik Jensen, managing director of Maersk Oceania.
Maersk has entered an agreement with Tainui Group Holdings (TGH) for a long-term ground lease to build the facility, which will start operation in late 2023.
Chris Joblin, chief executive of Tainui Group Holdings, said, “Maersk’s decision to locate its new cold storage facility at Ruakura is a very significant addition to the New Zealand supply chain and how we connect to the world. For more than half of all New Zealanders who live in the ‘golden triangle’ of Waikato, Auckland, and Bay of Plenty, it also boosts the resilience of how critical food supplies are moved around the country and around the globe.”
Upon completion, the new facility will have more than 16,000 m² of fully convertible temperature-controlled space with temperatures ranging from -25°C to 15°C. Additionally, it can provide storage for over 21,000 pallets of cold chain products.
“We have seen significant growing demand from exporters, importers and local processors who rely on temperature-controlled storage in the region,” noted Tony Mildon, head of reefer at Maersk Oceania.
“With the new facility in place and its close integration with Maersk’s logistics solutions, we will offer more transparency and visibility of refrigerated cargoes and help customers build more efficient and resilient supply chains,” he stated.
The facility will feature advanced energy management including an environmentally friendly CO2 cooling plant, solar energy, rainwater harvesting and a low carbon policy for the construction, while it targets to achieve an audited 5 Star Green Star rating in New Zealand.
