Blue Cube
Blue Cube Portable Cold Stores Ltd rents and sells portable blast freezers, chillers, tempering units, and cold stores to UK enterprise customers in food and drink, pharmaceutical, logistics, and manufacturing sectors under monthly rental contracts that include 24/7 maintenance.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersStafford, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Blue Cube does
Blue Cube Portable Cold Stores Ltd is a UK-based, privately held provider of portable temperature-controlled storage solutions, founded in 2009 in Staffordshire and operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Turner & Co (Glasgow) Limited. The company rents, leases, and sells an integrated portfolio of portable blast freezers, blast chillers, tempering units, and cold stores in pallet capacities ranging from 7 to 37, with operating ranges from -26°C to +26°C. Its flagship proprietary technology, the Smart Hybrid cooling system co-developed with UK manufacturing partners, combines end and cross flow cooling and is reported to deliver at least 33% better production performance than standard units; a complementary Advanced Telemetry System provides remote, internet-browser-based monitoring with automated alarms. Customer-facing service is bundled into rentals with 24/7, 365-day nationwide breakdown cover and annual servicing, delivered through the Stafford headquarters and a second Service Depot in Tuxford, Nottinghamshire (operational from 2021).
The company's go-to-market is a direct, consultative enterprise field-sales motion organised by UK regional sales managers, with target verticals spanning food and drink (the primary segment), pharmaceuticals, storage and distribution, and manufacturing. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; the revenue mix is anchored in recurring monthly rental subscriptions, supplemented by ex-fleet and lease-to-buy sales and a managed-service wrap. Brand-level credentials include ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, SafeContractor (SSIP), F-GAS certified engineers, Food Standards Industry compliance, BRC Storage and Distribution, and Cold Chain Federation Platinum membership.
The firm has 11-50 employees, operates exclusively in the United Kingdom, and has no disclosed external funding. Recent strategic actions include the March 2022 launch of the Ultra Range (Smart Hybrid blasts plus Ultra Holding Stores), the 2018 rollout of lower-GWP HFO refrigerants, the 2021 Tuxford depot opening, SafeContractor accreditation, and an April 2022 leadership change to a new Managing Director, Alan Hunt. Named enterprise customers include Scotbeef, Rick Bestwick / Magnavale, Holmesterne Foods, Prima Bakeries, Well Pharmacy, and Daloon — evidencing multi-sector penetration but no disclosed revenue concentration by customer.
Blue Cube firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Blue Cube
- Legal name
- Blue Cube Portable Cold Stores Ltd
- Website
- https://bluecubepcs.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Blue Cube Portable Cold Stores Ltd rents and sells portable blast freezers, chillers, tempering units, and cold stores to UK enterprise customers in food and drink, pharmaceutical, logistics, and manufacturing sectors under monthly rental contracts that include 24/7 maintenance.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Blue Cube industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Refrigeration Equipment
- NAICS
- Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341)
- SIC
- Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cold Chain & Temperature-Controlled Storage Equipment (IMAHAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Blue Cube is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stafford
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Blue Cube business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Equipment Rental: Primary revenue stream from rental of portable blast freezers, blast chillers, portable cold stores, and tempering units. Flexible rental periods with monthly payments, including 24-hour, 365-day comprehensive breakdown cover and maintenance included for the entire hire period.
- Equipment Sales: Sale of ex-fleet units and lease to buy options for customers who prefer to own equipment outright.
- Service and Support: 24/7, 365-day nationwide support, maintenance, and breakdown cover included in rental contracts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Flexible rental with all-inclusive support |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Blue Cube product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Blue Cube designs, manufactures (via UK partners), rents and sells portable temperature controlled storage units including blast freezers, blast chillers, cold stores and tempering units. The portfolio features a proprietary Smart Hybrid cooling system, lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants, and advanced remote telemetry. The company primarily serves enterprise customers in the UK food & drink, pharmaceutical, logistics and manufacturing sectors through flexible rental contracts with all-inclusive maintenance and 24/7 breakdown cover.
Product overview
Blue Cube (PCS) offers a unified portfolio of portable temperature controlled storage solutions, primarily serving the UK food, pharmaceutical, logistics, and manufacturing industries through rental, lease-to-buy, and purchase options. The core product lineup includes Smart Hybrid Blast Units (combining end and cross flow cooling for 33%+ performance gains), Ultra Holding Stores (premium energy-efficient containers), Portable Blast Freezers (available in 7-28 pallet capacities with multi-functional freeze/chill/temper capabilities), Tempering Units (with advanced live diagnostics), and standard Cold Stores (14-37 pallets, -26°C to +26°C range). The portfolio is unified by shared proprietary features including an advanced remote telemetry system and UK-manufactured refrigeration. Services include flexible rental contracts with inclusive 24/7 maintenance, the Fast Blast two-week delivery service, and a dedicated in-house Service Depot. The company operates exclusively through UK-based manufacturing partners, positioning the offering as a managed service rather than a modular platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Smart Hybrid Blast Units Portable blast freezer units featuring a proprietary hybrid cooling system that combines end and cross flow benefits. Delivers at least 33% production performance improvement compared to standard units. Designed for UK food processing, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing enterprises.
- Ultra Holding Stores The most energy efficient refrigerated containers and holding stores in the UK. Features a cooling system exclusively developed for Blue Cube by UK manufacturing partners. Suitable for warm rooms, chillers or freezers.
- Portable Blast Freezers Extensive range of portable blast freezers and blast chillers with three pallet width configuration. Multi-functional units allowing blast freeze, chill, and temper operations. Available in 7, 19, 23, and 28 pallet capacities.
- Tempering Units Portable cold store and tempering units that safely and rapidly bring frozen foods to the correct temperature. Features advanced live diagnostics software. Standard pallet sizes from 7 up to 28.
- Cold Stores (Portable Cold Stores) Portable temperature controlled storage units available in 14, 22, 31, and 37 pallet capacities. Operating temperature range from -26°C to +26°C for frozen, chilled, and ambient storage applications. Can be ground based or elevated to loading dock.
- Rental Services Flexible rental packages for temperature controlled storage solutions. No minimum hire term with contracts as flexible as needed. Includes 24/7, 365-day comprehensive breakdown cover, maintenance, and annual servicing.
- Fast Blast Service Two-week turnaround service for blast freezer delivery, with a current record of four-day delivery. Units work faster than standard equipment allowing customers to freeze more products in same time.
- Service & Maintenance
Companies that use Blue Cube
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Blue Cube technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Blue Cube partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Turner & Co (Glasgow) LimitedcoreParent company of Blue Cube Portable Cold Stores Ltd. Provides investment and strategic support for Blue Cube's growth and expansion initiatives.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Blue Cube competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Thermo King (Trane Technologies): Global manufacturer of transport refrigeration and cold-chain solutions under Trane Technologies. Overlaps with Blue Cube in commercial/industrial refrigeration equipment, though focused on transport rather than portable stationary cold storage.
- Aggreko: Global leader in temporary temperature control and power rental. Aggreko competes indirectly with Blue Cube in industrial/commercial chiller and cold-room rental for events, manufacturing, and food/pharma customers across multiple geographies.
- Carrier Refrigeration: Global commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturer (Carrier Global). Competes with Blue Cube's blast freezing and cold storage offering, particularly in food retail and food service applications, but with a much broader product portfolio.
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems: Global manufacturer of commercial and industrial refrigeration and HVAC equipment. Competes with Blue Cube in industrial chillers and refrigeration equipment, particularly serving food processing and cold chain customers in Europe.
- Daikin Applied (UK): Major global HVAC and refrigeration manufacturer with UK operations. Competes with Blue Cube in commercial and industrial refrigeration, including chillers and cold-storage systems for food and pharma customers.
Emerging players
- Sure Chill: UK-based cold-chain technology company specializing in vaccine and pharmaceutical-grade refrigeration. Comparable to Blue Cube in serving pharmaceutical cold storage needs, though focused on medical/life-sciences applications specifically.
Direct peers
- ICS Cool Energy: UK-based specialist in rental of temporary chillers, air conditioners, and heat pumps to industrial and commercial customers. Highly comparable to Blue Cube's rental-led, consultative UK model serving food, pharma, and manufacturing end markets.
- Williams Refrigeration: UK-based commercial refrigeration manufacturer serving hospitality, catering, and food retail. Comparable to Blue Cube's blast chillers and cold storage units, though with a primarily sales-led rather than rental-led model.
- Hubbard Products: UK manufacturer of commercial refrigeration equipment including blast chillers and cold rooms for food service, retail, and pharmaceutical customers. Direct competitor to Blue Cube's blast freezer and cold storage portfolio in the UK market.
Regional players
- Cold Cube (Netherlands): Netherlands-based provider of portable cold storage and freezer rental solutions. Highly comparable product offering to Blue Cube (portable blast freezers, cold stores), but operating primarily in Continental Europe rather than the UK.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Blue Cube social profiles
Digital presenceBlue Cube compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Blue Cube financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Blue Cube leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Blue Cube funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Blue Cube M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Blue Cube
What does Blue Cube do?
Blue Cube designs, manufactures (via UK partners), rents and sells portable temperature controlled storage units including blast freezers, blast chillers, cold stores and tempering units. The portfolio features a proprietary Smart Hybrid cooling system, lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants, and advanced remote telemetry. The company primarily serves enterprise customers in the UK food & drink, pharmaceutical, logistics and manufacturing sectors through flexible rental contracts with all-inclusive maintenance and 24/7 breakdown cover.
Is Blue Cube a public or private company?
Blue Cube is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Blue Cube founded?
Blue Cube was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Blue Cube based?
Blue Cube is headquartered in Stafford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Blue Cube make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Equipment Rental is the primary driver. The others are equipment Sales and service and Support.
Who are Blue Cube's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Thermo King (Trane Technologies), Aggreko, Carrier Refrigeration, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems and Daikin Applied (UK). Sure Chill is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are ICS Cool Energy, Williams Refrigeration and Hubbard Products. Cold Cube (Netherlands) is listed as a regional player.
Does Blue Cube have an API?
No public API is recorded for Blue Cube.
What industry is Blue Cube in?
Blue Cube's product category is Industrial Refrigeration Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAKAJ, Cold Chain & Temperature-Controlled Storage Equipment. Its NAICS code is 33341 and its SIC code is 3585.