EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Continued from page 13
HITTING THE HALLS
Team ProActive also attended the Bitzer evening: Terry Isaacs (left) and Gary Dawson.
I definitely enjoyed being recognised for
my Women in HVAC&R interview I did on
the Carel blog earlier the year by Alessia
Rubatto. I was flattered.
While I was there, I ran into Anthony
Hughes of Everflo, who said a quick hello
before continuing on his mission to try and
see the whole show in a day. I would later
bump into him at the Bitzer stand again.
After the Bitzer press conference, it
was time to finally make my way to the
exhibition halls for the first time. There was
already a great buzz going — something
that was noticeable throughout the show.
Maybe it was because the European
HVAC market was booming because of
their 2018 heat waves. Maybe it was the
warmer weather itself that made everyone
feel more cheery. Who knows? But being
able to walk outside and enjoy the sun
was definitely a new experience for me
who was used to the chilly Chillventas
prior. But it was infectious.
I walked with Andrew Williams back to
the shecco stand. I had promised Lydia
Matthäus-Wiltink, shecco’s global events
manager, that I would stop by with some
hard copies of the Cold Link Africa edition
that featured the first ATMOsphere event in
Africa on the cover. It was so nice to catch
up again to see how things had been
since we last spoke at FRIGAIR.
I enjoyed meeting more members of
the shecco team while I was there. And
The Bitzer press conference was to the
point and informative. “Last year was a
very positive year for us,” reported Gianni
Parlanti, Bitzer’s chief sales and marketing
officer. Interestingly, CO 2 equipment sales
were up 35% compared to 2017.
Industrial refrigeration is a new area
this compressor specialist is focusing
on and projects around the world are
steadily picking up. During the press
conference, the team discussed this and
the various markets Bitzer is involved in,
giving feedback on where they stand and
the potential for growth. From transport
to HVAC and everything in-between.
“Inverter technology and heat pump
projects are boosting screw compressor
production,” they reported.
At the Bitzer event, from left: Marius La Grange (EP | Refrigeration Solutions); Eduan
Howard (EP | Refrigeration Solutions); Isolde Döbelin (OTTC); Richard Drinkrow (Mainstream
Refrigeration); Alex Kuzma (Woolworths); and Torsten Steinborn (Bitzer).
Team TecsaReco: Alan Brown (left) and Mohammed Mulla.
The Federal Skills Competition of German Refrigeration
Plant Assemblers (BIV) in progress.
My first official South African sighting — my
first of many. We really represented at the
2018 Chillventa and it was nice to see so
many familiar faces.
I then headed to Danfoss where I
saw even more familiar faces than I had
bargained for as team Metraclark was also
around. Not long after, the Eurocool guys
showed up too — it really seemed like the
BITZER PRESS CONFERENCE
They also reported on their various training
initiatives around the world, reiterating the
importance of training in the industry.
The latest Bitzer Refrigerant Report was
also announced (now in edition 20), as
is customary during Chillventa. It can be
downloaded at www.bitzer.de.
During the Q&A session, most of the
questions centred around refrigerant
alternatives and counterfeits.
I arrived at the venue earlier than
anticipated. I didn’t want to risk being late;
I had a great deal scheduled for this day.
I took the same tram and the same
train as during the 2012 show — almost
automatically. I no longer stared at the
map in panic, trying to make sure I didn’t
miss my stop. Things looked familiar this
time; which is a strange feeling to have in
a foreign country.
I met Steve Comstock on the escalators
to the press lounge and we headed to the
Bitzer press conference — always a good
place to start off Chillventa.
The attendant from Bitzer who was
handling the event registration looked up
when I gave her my name. “I know you
from social media,” she said and smiled.
I’m glad our news is making it out to the
world — very exciting.
It was well attended by media from
across the world and I saw a couple of
familiar faces, including Andrew Williams,
shecco’s UK editor, whom I met during
FRIGAIR 2018. I also ran into Rudy Gunst of
FCO Media in Belgium, whom I met during
MCE in Milan earlier in the year. It was
great to catch up with everyone again.
It was but the start of my ‘catching up’
sessions.
Digitising and IQ are a huge focus for Bitzer
going into the new year. At Chillventa
2018, they had no less than 20 new
products on display, as usual spending
heavily on R&D throughout the period
in-between shows, explained Bitzer CTO,
Rainer Große-Kracht.
Their main focus and strategy now is:
1. Low global warming potential (GWP)
alternatives and natural refrigerants.
2. Increasing efficiencies.
3. Improving the intelligence of products
for simplified use.
SHOWTIME !
Dave Mitchell of Consultair (left) at the Eckerle stand,
with Michael Eckerle (CEO of Eckerle) and Thomas Ullrich
(Eckerle vice-director) on right.
COLD LINK AFRICA • January/February 2019
Continued on page 17
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
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