Thermo King celebrated 50 years of innovation and manufacturing excellence at its Arecibo, Puerto Rico facility. The company marked the milestone with a $10,000 donation to The Food Bank of Puerto Rico.
“Our people are the reason behind Thermo King Arecibo’s long success,” said Adam Wittwer, president, Thermo King Americas. “They never quit, and they are devoted to taking care of our customers and their community, no matter the obstacle. Their expertise, dedication, and creative actions are a positive force of momentum. This team has helped move the industry — and the world — forward with advanced technologies and an inspirational, passionate spirit.”
Since opening in 1974, Thermo King’s Arecibo facility has manufactured more than 1 million trailer units used to transport fresh food and medicine across North America.
The $10,000 donation to The Food Bank of Puerto Rico was made possible by Thermo King’s We Move Food program. Launched in 2018, the program is designed to increase access to fresh, healthy food by reducing waste and supporting nutrition education for families and communities that struggle with hunger and food instability.
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The team also contributes regularly to other local causes including a $13,000 donation to the United Way of Puerto Rico and the CAP Foundation for young oncology patients in 2023. They also donate and serve Thanksgiving meals to people experiencing homelessness each year.
“The Thermo King Arecibo team is special. We take pride in having produced more than 1 million refrigeration units in these 50 years, which ensure the delivery of important goods such as ice cream and medicine across North America. But that is nothing compared to the pride we have in making a difference here in our community,” said Marco Miranda Orta, plant manager. “We are resilient, committed and excited to continue making an impact for years to come.”
Thermo King Arecibo’s most recent challenge was a historic EF-1 rated tornado that severely damaged its main assembly building in May 2022.
To limit disruption to customers, the team divided trailer unit assembly into multiple buildings on its campus to assure manufacturing continuum of more than 40,000 trailer units throughout the 17 months it took to rebuild the original structure.