2 minute read - 27th January 2025
Demand sees Sunswap open UK manufacturing facility
Solar and battery-powered refrigeration manufacturer Sunswap has expanded its UK production following commercial success.
The British engineering company developing zero-emission cold chain solutions has announced the expansion of its manufacturing capability with a new facility at its headquarters in Leatherhead, Surrey. The facility will produce Sunswap’s Endurance transport refrigeration units (TRUs) for UK and European markets.
While Sunswap initially partnered with third-party manufacturers, the rapid growth in orders and successful £17.3m Series B funding have enabled the accelerated development of in-house production.
The investment in UK manufacturing capabilities follows growing demand from major retailers and logistics companies, including recent agreements with global logistics providers and leasing firms such as DFDS and TIP, as well as British-based manufacturers Samworth Brothers, Staples Vegetables and Cranswick.
Solar and battery-powered refrigeration manufacturer Sunswap has expanded its UK production with the opening of a new facility in Leatherhead, Surrey / Picture: Sunswap
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The Leatherhead facility gives Sunswap complete oversight of production quality and assembly processes. Co-location with the engineering team enables rapid implementation of product improvements and swift response to customer feedback. The expanded facility will create 75 manufacturing jobs in Surrey.
Additionally, as Sunswap expands into Europe, the facility has been designed with the capacity and flexibility to scale up production as demand continues.
Each Endurance unit combines battery storage with roof-mounted solar panels that can provide up to 100% of the energy needed for refrigeration on certain chilled operations. The system enables logistics fleets to reduce CO2 emissions by 120 tonnes over a 10-year period while cutting operating costs by up to 81% compared to diesel units. Each Endurance unit enables haulage and logistics fleets to reduce circa 120 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the average 10-year lifespan of a TRU, while saving operators up to 81% of costs using traditional diesel solutions.
Sunswap’s Endurance unit combines battery storage with roof-mounted solar panels that can provide up to 100% of the energy needed for refrigeration on certain chilled operations / Picture: Sunswap
Michael Lowe, CEO of Sunswap, said: “Building our own manufacturing facility has always been core to Sunswap’s plans. The recent fundraising success and growing customer interest in Endurance has accelerated our timeline. We’re proud to invest in British manufacturing and engineering talent as we scale up production of zero-emission transport refrigeration technology.”
Helen Maguire MP, who visited Sunswap’s newly opened facility in her constituency of Epsom and Ewell, said: “Sunswap is a great example of how investment in innovative technologies is driving progress towards net zero. This key area of investment is creating jobs and supporting the transition to a greener economy. I’m delighted to have a local company here in Leatherhead showing the very best of British engineering and manufacturing.”
