Serco Johannesburg expands service

Bitzer heads to

West Africa

HVAC Expo

Serco facility

The new Serco repair facility in Boksburg , Gauteng .

From 10 to 12 July , compressor specialist Bitzer headed to Lagos , Nigeria , to showcase its product range , including its most important innovations , at the 2018 West Africa HVAC Expo .

Bitzer was a principle on the stand of one of their Nigerian agents , First Class Group Limited . At their stand in Hall 1 , visitors were able to experience compressor models relevant for the African continent .

This was only the second HVAC show to be hosted here ( the first having taken place last year ) and Bitzer sees potential for it , in time , to grow into a key HVAC & R trade fair for Africa .

Bernhard Blaeser , managing director Bitzer South Africa , states , “ We see high growth potential for refrigeration and air conditioning in Africa , which is why we ’ re maintaining various offices in Africa , from where we can better support our business partners and users in the particular region . The West Africa HVAC Expo 2018 is a great opportunity for us to solidify our business here .”

Bitzer opened an office in Nigeria in early 2017 , reporting to Bitzer South Africa and getting organisational support from there .

At the expo in Lagos , Bitzer exhibited a selection of product solutions for the West African markets , including its Ecoline semihermetic reciprocating compressors , its CSH compact screw compressors , and Ecostar condensing units . They won the ‘ best booth ’ award for their exhibit .

At this year ’ s show , there was a lot of general interest from various HVAC & R training institutes , as well as the Nigerian Association of Refrigeration and Air- Conditioning Practitioners ( NARAP ). Visitors included a selection of end users , consultants , contractors , and installers . All and all a good show for Bitzer , who had good business-to-business meetings at the show with some potential industrial processcooling partners , as well as interested potential new agents in Nigeria . CLA

Local truck body and trailer manufacturer Serco has upgraded and expanded its Boksburg repair facility to further improve service delivery to customers .

Serco managing director Clinton Holcroft says the investment in infrastructure and facilities , which significantly increases the factory ’ s undercover area , is yet another indication of Serco ’ s confidence in and commitment to the future of the South African economy and reflects the company ’ s determination to keep raising the standards of service it offers customers .

The impressive extensions comprise 10 full-length trailer bays , each measuring 18m × 6m — a total of 1 080m ² of extra workspace .

One of the bays is fully equipped to function as a spray booth and includes extraction ducting , fans , inlet filters , and flameproof LED lighting .

Meanwhile , three of the enclosed bays operate as a steel shop for the construction of subframes and other steel structures .

The remaining six bays are used for repairing insulated and dry freight bodies and trailers .

Three-phase and single-phase power sockets as well as compressed air outlets have been installed in all work areas .

Over and above this , a paved area of 2 400m ² has been added to service an additional 20 vehicles in fully serviced outside work bays .

Holcroft said a great deal more undercover working space is now available . “ This will help service delivery — particularly when the weather is poor ,” he said .

The area previously used for repairs will now be used for storage of materials , which will free up additional space in the new body manufacturing factory , also located on the property .

“ The increase to our existing facilities in Johannesburg will help us improve turnaround times for repairs and increase the volumes we can handle . With rising business confidence in South Africa , and Johannesburg being the logistics hub of the country , we believe Serco is well placed to handle the business increase and we are optimistic about the tremendous potential available ,’’ said Holcroft .

The expansions in Johannesburg follow extensions to Serco ’ s Durban factory premises and the introduction of injected polyurethane ( PUR ) foam panel manufacturing technology .

Said Holcroft : “ The significant investments made by Serco over these past few years reflect a commitment to offer the latest technology to the industry while striving to increase service delivery .” CLA

Photos by Bitzer

The Bitzer stand which won them the ‘ best booth ’ prize at this year ’ s West Africa HVAC show .

At the stand , from left : Harjeet Chhatwal , sales and marketing development manager , Bitzer Nigeria ; Bernhard Blaeser , managing director , Bitzer Kühlmaschinenbau South Africa ; and Viola Huth , business development manager – Africa , Bitzer Kühlmaschinenbau GmbH , Germany .

Cold Link Africa Cold Link Africa_Sept_digital | Page 5