Sub-Zero Mobile Refrigeration Solution, a unit under the Khira Group, is dedicated to building Reefer Boxes for all Kinds Of temperature-controlled applications. It provides the best solutions to the cold chain logistics sector in India. The company has an excellent record in building refrigerated vehicle bodies since 1985. Sub Zero has brought in world-class reefer box manufacturing technology from Israel with a focus on providing high-quality products at a competitive price, designed especially for the Indian market. Pawan Lohani, Senior Sub-Editor, Food Infotech Magazine, interacted with Deep Khira, Founder & CEO – Sub Zero, to discuss the company’s product portfolio and future plans.
‘The Khira Group is widely recognized in the Indian market and has been manufacturing refrigerated vehicle bodies since 1985.’ What are the innovations that you inculcated into the ‘Sub-Zero’?
While our legacy under the Khira name gave us a strong foundation, Sub Zero was born to reflect a more modern, quality-obsessed, and innovation-driven approach. We moved away from traditional materials and introduced sandwich panel construction—all aimed at improving insulation, reducing weight, and enhancing durability.
We’ve also invested heavily in process improvements, such as polyurethane injection technology, vacuum-assisted bonding, and jig-based assembly to ensure every box is dimensionally consistent and performance-tested. Our goal is not just to build a product, but to engineer a cold chain solution that lasts.
With the growing focus on Cold Chain, what has been your company’s R&D approach to this growing demand?
Our R&D approach is practical and market-driven. We’re in constant dialogue with fleet operators, OEMs, and food companies to understand evolving needs—whether it’s for multi-temperature compartments, better thermal efficiency, or easier maintenance.
We’ve launched variants like partitioned multi-temp trucks with the flexibility of transporting a range of products in the same reefer. We also conduct in-house testing for thermal performance and structural integrity, and regularly review insulation loss, weight ratios, and airflow patterns to tweak our designs. Sub Zero’s product development is fast, iterative, and always aimed at solving real logistics pain points.
Can you tell us more about your manufacturing capabilities and facilities?
Our primary manufacturing facility is located in Pune and is fully equipped for precision panel production, body assembly, and customization. We manufacture both injected and laminated panels in-house, giving us tight control over quality and insulation consistency.
The plant is designed to deliver everything from compact reefer vans to 32-ft multi-temp truck bodies. We operate with a semi-automated workflow using jigs and fixtures to ensure every truck body meets strict dimensional and performance standards. We’re currently operating at about 50% of our installed capacity, which gives us room to scale rapidly as demand grows.
What is your product range, and how is it suited for Indian conditions?
We offer refrigerated truck bodies ranging from 8 ft to 32 ft across three core construction types:
- GRP Box: Ideal for maximizing payload on LCV vehicles, including EVs
- PPGI box: Optimized ratio for strength to weight, making this ideal for a wide range of applications
- MS Corrugated Box: Heavy-duty solution for those who prefer corrugated style boxes
Our boxes are designed to withstand Indian road conditions, extreme heat, and loading/unloading wear. Features like reinforced flooring, optimized insulation thickness (up to 140mm for deep frozen), and drainage and airflow provisions ensure high performance even in harsh operating environments.
What are your future plans and your vision for growth?
We’re looking to expand both horizontally and vertically. On one hand, we’re investing in new product lines like CKD kits for local assembly in other regions and dry freight containers. On the other hand, we’re scaling our production capacity and optimizing operations for efficiency.
Our vision is to be the most trusted cold chain body builder in India and eventually expand our footprint across global markets using the CKD model.