Swiss Airtainer

What Swiss Airtainer does

Swiss Airtainer is a Swiss hardware-technology company founded in 2019 and headquartered in Yverdon-les-Bains that designs, manufactures, and rents an active temperature-controlled air cargo container unit-load device known as the SAT RKN for pharmaceutical cold-chain logistics. The container integrates 16 onboard IoT sensors, dual independent heating and cooling systems, six lightweight high-energy batteries, solar panels for self-sustaining on-tarmac operation, and two-way GSM communication for real-time tracking and GDP/ALCOA-compliant data capture; at 390 kg tare weight the design is approximately 40% lighter than competing active RKN units (635+ kg), which the company states reduces CO2 emissions per shipment by 45-48%. Customers and qualified partners include major airlines and logistics providers (Emirates, Swiss World Cargo, Saudia Cargo, Delta Cargo, Air Canada, DHL) and multiple large pharmaceutical shippers; distribution is enterprise-direct plus a rental/lease model, with each container distributed post-acquisition exclusively through Envirotainer's global product portfolio following the August 2025 strategic acquisition.

Revenue is generated through rental of containers (rather than direct sale) to pharmaceutical companies, airlines, and logistics providers, priced via custom quotes per use/rental period; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market combines enterprise field sales and sequential airline qualification programs with regulatory approvals (EASA 2023, FAA) serving as gating milestones before each airline network can deploy the container. EASA and FAA certifications, the IATA Air Cargo Innovation Award 2023, and Solar Impulse Foundation endorsement underpin credibility. The company received approximately 5 million CHF in Swiss federal startup grants (Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation and Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation) and a pre-round A private-investor round in September 2024 prior to acquisition by Envirotainer in August 2025; following the deal Swiss Airtainer continues as a subsidiary/brand focused on scaling production capacity and accelerating R&D for the SAT RKN platform.

Name

Swiss Airtainer

Legal name

Swiss Airtainer

Website

https://swissairtainer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Swiss Airtainer designs, rents, and supports the SAT RKN, a lightweight IoT-enabled, solar-assisted active temperature-controlled air cargo container for pharmaceutical cold-chain logistics, now distributed exclusively by Envirotainer post-acquisition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Cold Chain Air Cargo Containers

NAICS

Air Transportation (481), Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation (481212)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Refrigerated Air Cargo Carriers & Charters (TLADAHAC)

Keywords

• Active temperature-controlled containers
• Pharmaceutical cold chain logistics
• Air cargo ULD containers
• Cold chain transport solutions
• GDP-compliant logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Yverdon-les-bains

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Container Rental/Leasing: Swiss Airtainer rents or leases its active temperature-controlled containers to pharmaceutical companies, airlines, and logistics providers. The business model is rental-based (not direct product sales), with containers deployed across airline networks globally. The company previously sought investment to finance production of containers.
2. RKN Container Rental: The business model is renting containers, not selling them. Swiss Airtainer rents its RKN containers to logistics partners and pharmaceutical companies, charging per use/rental period. The CEO confirmed in China: 'the container is only to rent' — business model is rental, not sale.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Swiss Airtainer develops, manufactures, and rents the SAT RKN, the lightest active temperature-controlled air cargo container (ULD) for pharmaceutical logistics. The container features a 390 kg tare weight, 16 onboard IoT sensors with real-time two-way GSM tracking, solar-powered self-sustaining energy, dual independent heating and cooling systems, and GDP/ALCOA-compliant digital controls. Revenue is generated through a rental/leasing model deployed to pharmaceutical companies, airlines, and logistics providers, with Envirotainer holding exclusive global distribution rights following the August 2025 acquisition.

Product overview

Swiss Airtainer offers a single product line focused on active temperature-controlled air cargo containers for pharmaceutical and cold chain logistics. The core product is the SAT RKN container, which represents an active RKN unit-load device (ULD) with advanced IoT-enabled features, solar power integration, and significant weight reduction. The company positions its offering as a sustainable alternative to traditional passive or active temperature-controlled containers, emphasizing CO2 emission reductions of 45-48%. Swiss Airtainer was acquired by Envirotainer in August 2025, with Envirotainer receiving exclusive global rights to distribute the SAT RKN as part of its product portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SAT RKN Active Temperature-Controlled Air Cargo Container The SAT RKN is an active temperature-controlled ULD (unit-load device) RKN container designed for the air transport of pharmaceutical products, vaccines, and biologics. It offers a 390 kg tare weight (40% lighter than the lightest competitor), 1,188 kg max payload, 2.4 m3 internal volume, 4C to 25C precise temperature control within an ambient range of -30C to +50C, 16 onboard IoT sensors for real-time tracking and alerts, solar-powered self-sustaining energy with over 60 hours of endurance, dual independent redundant heating/cooling systems, and GDP-compliant digital controls. It is EASA and FAA certified and rented (not sold) to pharmaceutical companies, airlines (Emirates, Swiss World Cargo, Saudia Cargo, Delta Cargo, Air Canada), and logistics providers (DHL).

Quantifiable outcome

• 48% CO2 emissions reduction per container compared to conventional containers
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Delta CargocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 December 2024Delta Cargo qualified the SAT RKN container under their Specialized Pharma – Approved Containers product. Delta is the first U.S. passenger airline to approve the SAT RKN, enabling logistics partners of life science companies to transport the container across Delta's global wide-body fleet within their Pharma Approved Station Network. Delta Cargo has IATA CEIV pharma certification.
• SinoSwiss TechnoPark (Chongqing)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 September 2023Swiss Airtainer participated in the Sino-Swiss startup pitching competition at the SinoSwiss TechnoPark in Chongqing, China, winning first place. Swiss Airtainer received 2 years of free office space (500 sqm) as a competition prize. The TechnoPark is operated by Fenshare-Holding.
• Saudia CargocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2023Saudia Cargo completed a diligent and efficient qualification process for the Swiss Airtainer SAT RKN container for their Specialized Pharma service. The lightweight and sustainability-focused container reduces fuel burn, CO2 emissions, and overall carbon footprint for Saudia Cargo's operations.
• Swiss World CargocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 April 2023Swiss World Cargo collaborated with Swiss Airtainer on the maiden flight of the active temperature-controlled container between Zurich and San Francisco. Swiss World Cargo is committed to sustainability and supporting initiatives that boost technology development and scale climate technologies.
• B.P.L.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 April 2023B.P.L. partnered with Swiss World Cargo and Swiss Airtainer for the first joint shipment of the self-sustaining airfreight container for life-saving medicine. B.P.L. is a Switzerland-based company committed to exploring innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint in cold chain logistics.
• Solar Impulse FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 October 2022Swiss Airtainer became a member of the Solar Impulse Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting clean and renewable energy solutions. The Foundation endorsed Swiss Airtainer's innovative approaches to reducing carbon emissions and integrating sustainable practices within air cargo operations.
• European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)coreOthersEASA certified Swiss Airtainer's active temperature-controlled RKN container for use in air cargo. EASA approval, along with FAA approval, was critical in facilitating rapid adoption of Swiss Airtainer's containers by airlines and logistics providers globally.
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)coreOthersFAA approved Swiss Airtainer's active temperature-controlled RKN container for use in air cargo. FAA approval, along with EASA approval, was critical in facilitating rapid adoption by airlines and logistics providers, particularly in the U.S. market (Delta Cargo being the first U.S. airline to approve the container).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Envirotainer: Global leader in active temperature-controlled air cargo containers for pharmaceuticals. Now the parent company of Swiss Airtainer after the August 2025 acquisition; directly comparable product portfolio (Releye RKN, RAP e2) and identical customer base of airlines, freight forwarders, and pharma shippers.
• CSafe Global: Major provider of active and passive temperature-controlled shipping solutions for the pharmaceutical industry. Competes head-to-head with Swiss Airtainer in the active container category serving similar airline and pharma shipper customers.
• Sonoco ThermoSafe: Global provider of temperature-assured packaging for pharma, biotech, and clinical trials. Offers both passive and active containers as well as thermal covers — overlapping with Swiss Airtainer's pharma cold chain air freight offering.
• Pelican BioThermal: Specializes in temperature-controlled packaging for the life sciences industry with reusable and single-use parcel and pallet solutions. Comparable customer base and shared focus on GDP-compliant cold chain distribution.
• va-Q-tec: German provider of high-performance vacuum insulation panels and passive temperature-controlled shipping containers serving pharma and biotech logistics. Competes with Swiss Airtainer on energy-efficient cold chain air cargo solutions.
• SkyCell: Swiss-headquartered provider of IoT-enabled hybrid containers for pharmaceutical air freight, also targeting the temperature-controlled pharma air cargo segment. Highly comparable technology stack, customer base, and Swiss origin.

Broad incumbents

• Cryoport Systems: Specialty logistics provider focused on temperature-controlled supply chains for cell and gene therapies, vaccines, and biologics. Adjacent service offering with broader cryogenic logistics focus overlapping with Swiss Airtainer's high-value pharma freight.
• DHL Global Forwarding (Life Sciences): Major freight forwarder offering temperature-controlled air freight services for life sciences customers. Swiss Airtainer is also a DHL partner; DHL operates competing cold chain capabilities alongside acting as a customer.
• FedEx Custom Critical: Time-critical and temperature-controlled shipping services within FedEx serving pharmaceutical customers. Operates in the broader pharmaceutical cold chain space and offers competing active container capabilities.

Emerging players

• Sensitech (Carrier Corporation): Provider of temperature monitoring and visibility solutions for cold chain logistics. Overlaps with Swiss Airtainer's IoT sensor and real-time tracking layer, though Sensitech focuses on monitoring hardware/software rather than full active containers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swiss-airtainer

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Swiss Airtainer