Sunswap expands UK manufacturing
22nd January 2025
UK: Sunswap, the UK pioneer in combined solar and battery technology for refrigerated trailers, has expanded its manufacturing capability with a new facility at its headquarters in Leatherhead, Surrey.
The facility will produce Sunswap’s Endurance transport refrigeration units for UK and European customers.
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.
Sunswap says that while it had initially partnered with third-party manufacturers, the rapid growth in orders and successful £17.3m Series B funding has enabled accelerated development of in-house production.
The company maintains that the Leatherhead facility gives it complete oversight of production quality and assembly processes, while the co-location with the engineering team enables rapid implementation of product improvements and swift response to customer feedback.
The facility, which will create 75 manufacturing jobs, has been designed with capacity to scale up production as European expansion continues.
“Building our own manufacturing facility has always been core to Sunswap’s plans,” said Michael Lowe, CEO of Sunswap. “The recent fundraising success and growing customer interest in Endurance has accelerated our timeline.”
Local MP Helen Maguire recently visited Sunswap’s newly opened facility, joined by the leadership team from Sunswap’s investors at the Clean Growth Fund and Barclays organised by the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association.
Founded in 2020, 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.
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