MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Thermo King has held a special dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newly renovated research and development facility at its Minneapolis headquarters. The Frederick McKinley Jones Research and Development Center is named after an instrumental figure in the founding of Thermo King.

A self-taught, African-American engineer who was born in 1893, Jones overcame prejudices and diversity his entire life to design and build electronic innovations that forever impacted the world. His commitment to making ideas reality helped create the transport refrigeration industry. Jones developed the first transport refrigeration unit in 1938, the same year Thermo King was then founded. Thermo Kings $7.1 million dollar investment in the companys quality and reliability testing capabilities, which includes facility updates and new equipment, is a tribute to Freds dedication to creating innovative, reliable products, the company said.

“Fred Jones exemplified the values of Thermo King. He was a man with integrity, courage and was respectful of others. He was a team player who focused on being innovative,” said Ted Fick, president, Transport Solutions Americas. “These are values Thermo King strives to uphold today through its products, services and commitment to customers and the transport refrigeration business.