Maersk Container Industry (MCI), a subsidiary of A.P. Moeller-Maersk, the world’s largest container shipping company, will close a transport container factory in China and instead focus on growing its cold chain business, according to a statement.
The move will see MCI pursue the Internet-of-Things (IoT) technology as it looks to transform reefer operations through the use of operational data, which it began when it recently launched the Sekstant Global Guidance Solution.
MCI is already an industry leader in reefer technology; one in three refrigerated containers used in global perishable transportation uses Star Cool container technology manufactured by MCI.
In its statement, the company says it has taken this decision due to the enormous pressure on the dry container industry, which contrasts with the growing reefer sector.
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These market pressures have meant the Dongguan container factory, which employs 2,240 people and can produce 100,000 40-foot containers a year has been idle since the beginning of December 2018.
Speaking about the decision, Sean Fitzgerald, CEP of MCI, said: “By putting all of MCI’s resources on the cold chain business will ensure sustainable growth and continued investment in the best products and services for our customers.
“Regrettably, our decision to focus on the cold chain business will impact our factory in Dongguan which has been idle since the beginning of December due to the tough market conditions.
“We are committed to taking care of our colleagues that are impacted by this difficult decision and we thank them for their dedication and hard work over the years”.
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