EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
21st celebration sets pace for the road ahead
By John Ackermann
The 21st anniversary of Heat Pump International( HPI) in Cape Town last year was truly something to remember.
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1. Dave Kloot addressing guests with his typical expression.
2. In a jovial mood, from left: Rob van der Merwe( HPI), Trevor Dyer( seated), and his son Greg Dyer of AC & R.
3. Packaged air handling units in the factory nearing completion for despatch.
4. Les Kloot in conversation with Nicola Murphy of Continental Motors.
As Dave Kloot, managing director, recalled in welcoming the many guests to the event, it could even be more than 21 years.“ What has been achieved and the many lasting relations forged with customers, consultants, suppliers as well as the strong bonding among the staff has set the pace for the future.”
HPI is currently readying its building( owned by Dave Kloot and his brother Les) to take some 140 solar panels. This will make HPI virtually independent of Eskom, except on very cloudy days and during times when they are commissioning large units. In those instances, its system will feed in the required power from Eskom. The good news is that, over the weekends when it’ s sunny— and assuming they are not working overtime— HPI will be feeding power into the grid. The Western Cape is one of only two provinces where this is allowed.
“ It is heart-warming to celebrate our 21st with a good mix of customers and suppliers / service providers,” said Dave Kloot.“ We strongly believe in treating our suppliers with the same courtesy and respect that we show our customers. It’ s only by receiving top class service from our suppliers that we can give our customers the service they expect and deserve. In this regard, we have a mantra— which you will see on our general office wall— and this is:‘ When you make a commitment, you build hope. When you keep it, you build trust.’ I would go one further and say:
‘ When you break a commitment you could very well destroy a relationship.’”
In the past, HPI relied largely on contracted labour but now has 72 permanent employees. They all belong to a trust, which owns 26 % of the equity of HPI. Each receives an equal stake, from the lowest labourer to the top managers. The company’ s average length of service is over 10 years’ service.“ We find it very difficult to get rid of staff, but when we do, all they want to do is come back again!” Dave Kloot joked.
“ Les and I are often asked,‘ When will you retire and spend more time with your wives at home?’ Our stock answer is‘ Here we are the bosses!’.”
Dave Kloot went on to pay tribute to two VIP guests who were stalwarts in shaping the company and are respected industry role players. Harry Schuurmans and Pete Turnbull were the founders of the company.
“ Without a doubt, Schuurmans is the doyen of the air-conditioning industry in the Western Cape,” said Dave Kloot. Schuurmans has had a chequered career and has been involved in many start-up companies— from air conditioning to woodwork and food, and back to air conditioning. He got together with Pete Turnbull around 1991 and they decided to float a company called Thermopak. This company eventually went into liquidation as a result of a cruel turn of events where a very large client was unable to pay its debts, and so its assets were taken over
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22 www. coldlinkafrica. co. za COLD LINK AFRICA • January | February 2017