Maersk’s Ruakura cold chain facility brings Golden Triangle to life

Maersk opened its state-of-the-art, integrated cold chain facility at the Ruakura Superhub today with Hamilton as a key touch point within the Golden Triangle for freight and logistics in New Zealand.

With approximately NZD 140-150 million ($87-93 million) invested in the Ruakura facility, it is Maersk’s biggest infrastructure investment in the country, says an official release.

"The new facility effectively moves the ocean inland by offering customers end-to-end supply chain management including import, export, and cross-docking services. It enables the exchanging of goods between transport modes such as rail and truck, creating a highly flexible and sufficient supply chain within the Waikato and wider New Zealand. Hamilton sits at the heart of the Golden Triangle, between Auckland and Tauranga, which sees 65 percent of New Zealand’s total freight flow through the strategic corridor. Maersk's new cold chain facility will help to enhance the region’s thriving economic and freight hub."

Vincent Clerc, CEO, Maersk says: "New Zealand has long played a vital role in the global supply chain from dairy, meat to seafood and fruits, the primary industry sector to drive the development of the country's economy. We have over the years made very significant investments in our ocean network and offer today a best-in-class experience from capacity, coverage, and reliability perspective. We have operated in New Zealand for 27 years – and we are enthusiastic about fostering sustained growth and forging these long-term partnerships with our customers."

Kylie Fraser, Managing Director, Maersk Oceania adds: "The new facility's ideal location now seamlessly links the ports of Auckland and Tauranga providing a supply chain for our customers and increasing the volume of possible imports and exports to and from New Zealand, all while retaining the quality of the products. Expansion of our product solutions into the cold store segment presents a significant opportunity for our customers to benefit from a state-of-the-art facility as we transform the New Zealand logistics landscape and connect and simplify our customer’s supply chains."

The facility will be utilised by New Zealand’s largest dairy company Fonterra, supporting their North Island production, the release added. "Other customers Maersk are excited to see at the facility include BluePrint Global/NZ Grass-Fed Butter, Mega Foods and Service Foods."

Maersk has partnered with local iwi (tribe) Waikato-Tainui as owners of the land on which the Ruakura Superhub is situated, the release added. "Through the partnership, Maersk has made a significant social investment into the region through job creation and providing Waikato-Tainui with logistics and supply-chain training systems to upskill those in the community wishing to take up a career in logistics. Historically, Waikato-Tainui ancestors would trade up and down the nearby Waikato River and the partnership with Maersk acknowledges this ancient tradition."

Tuku Morgan, Chairman, Te Arataura, executive committee of Waikato-Tainui says: "Partnering with a global logistics giant like Maersk, who could see the massive benefits and efficiencies Ruakura Superhub offered, epitomises the vision we have for the Superhub as a critical supply chain enabler and driver of regional economic development. We’re proud to partner with Maersk to support their growth and ongoing contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand which will, in turn, support us to drive the economic resilience of our 86,000-strong iwi."

The facility’s design has enabled Maersk to limit its environmental footprint with the installation of solar panels on all rooftops, using CO2 instead of ammonia in all freezers, collecting and reusing rainwater and providing electrical charging stations for cars and trucks, the release added.

Also Read:Maersk launches fully digital airfreight booking solution