The logistics industry is at a crossroads, like many industries it is facing unprecedented pressure to decarbonise. When I joined Sunswap as Chairman, I saw a company poised to lead this transformation. Today, as the first Sunswap Endurance units roll off the production line for DFDS, it's an exciting time to reflect on the journey from design to delivery and the importance of in-house manufacturing.
What initially drew me to Sunswap both the expertise of the team and the innovative, reliable product that had been painstakingly engineered to meet the decarbonisation challenge. Having spent four decades in global manufacturing and technology, across a range of sectors from Aerospace, medical devices to motorsport, I’ve learned to recognise true innovation and well-engineered, elegant solutions. Sunswap’s flagship product, Endurance, certainly meets this criteria and solves the challenge of decarbonising refrigerated transport.
Endurance is a zero-emission battery and solar-powered unit that displaces the need for diesel. It's easy to overlook the critical role that refrigerated transport plays in our daily lives - from keeping our food fresh to ensuring medicines reach patients safely. Endurance maintains this vital function while eliminating direct emissions and significantly reducing operational costs.
Manufacturing Innovation
My years of experience in global manufacturing have given me a unique insight into what it takes to scale production and meet growing demand. I joined Sunswap not just to support the company, but to drive forward our ability to manufacture Endurance units at the scale needed to meet global demand.
As for the team behind it, they bring decades of experience from renowned companies across automotive, aerospace, and technology sectors, including time at Ford, JLR, Ricardo, Collins Aerospace, and Dyson.
Sunswap started in 2020, and in just four years, they have gone from prototype to production - delivering their first production units this month. Many promising early-stage companies struggle with the transition from R&D to a fully formed Company. Sunswap have navigated this transition very effectively and are now in the scale up phase. These challenges I've navigated many times throughout my career, and I am confident that Sunswap will continue to go from strength to strength.
It is pleasing to see how Sunswap have embraced good practice with excellent systems, processes and procedures, all fully documented and clearly communicated across the factory. Health & Safety is at the forefront of everything they do and the quality of the product upper most at every stage of manufacture. A continuous improvement culture which adopts lean manufacturing principles, ensures optimal efficiencies are achieved.
Preparing for launch and scale
As the team prepare for our launch with DFDS, I'm excited to see the first Endurance units rolling off the production line. It's a testament to the team's hard work and our strategic approach to manufacturing. We're implementing scalable processes that are designed to flex and grow as the adoption of Endurance accelerates globally.
Sunswap’s recent Series B funding round, raising £17.3 million from investors including big names such as Barclays, CGF, BGF, Shell Ventures, and Move Energy, only strengthens what the team can achieve – and how quickly they can achieve it.
Looking ahead, I see enormous potential for Sunswap to drive meaningful change in the logistics industry. The journey from concept to production is never easy, but it's incredibly rewarding when you're working on something that has the potential to make a real difference.
As we continue to scale and innovate, I'm thrilled to be part of Sunswap's mission to create a more sustainable future for transport refrigeration. The road ahead is exciting, and I believe we're well-equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities it will bring.
About Mark Bryant
Mark Bryant joined Sunswap as Chairman in 2024, bringing over 40 years of experience in global manufacturing and technology. His career spans leadership roles at BGF, M&H Plastics, GE, and Druck Holdings. Mark's expertise in scaling innovative solutions and navigating international markets aligns with Sunswap's growth plans. His strategic insights are instrumental in expanding Sunswap's production capabilities to meet global demand for sustainable transport refrigeration.
About Sunswap
Sunswap is a UK cleantech company with a mission to decarbonise the global cold chain. Founded in 2020, Sunswap developed Endurance, the first purpose-built electric transport refrigeration unit powered by batteries and solar energy. Backed by investors including BGF, Barclays and Shell Ventures, Sunswap combines expertise from automotive and aerospace sectors to create sustainable logistics solution. For more information, visit www.sunswap.co.uk
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