EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
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Chillventa begins long before you walk
through the large glass doors at the
NürnbergMesse centre. On paper, the
show (and its extensive number of co-
located programmes) lasted only from 16
to 18 October 2018 — 15 to 18 October
if you include the congress. But for me, it
almost feels like it started when I first got
into the industry seven years ago …
During the show, different connections
from different times crossed my path.
Some I have met only briefly before; some
I was meeting for the first time. It was
amazing to be a part of it all. The 10th
anniversary edition of Chillventa was a
milestone in every way.
A large chunk of the Chillventa story is
getting to and from Chillventa, though. It is
not always easy and hassle free, especially
not when you add visa drama and airport
security.
But it is the bit in the middle, those three
days in October, when it is finally showtime,
that makes it all worth it. Because the
industry has come out en masse from all
over the world. And they were here to get
the most out of those few days!
Events, launches, press conferences,
forums, congresses, skills demonstrations,
brunches, and tours — you need a clear
plan before going into this. Even then, be
prepared for the plan to keep changing.
THE DAY BEFORE …
It was a Monday. I had arrived on the
Saturday morning already, taking a couple
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IN THE BEGINNING
of days to enjoy the uncharacteristically
warm autumn weather in Nuremberg
before the chaotic schedule on my
printed-out itinerary officially started.
My schedule only had two to-do items
for the day: dragging my suitcases across
the city to the hotel I would call home for
the duration of the show and checking out
the congress.
It was the same hotel in the old city by
the Plärrer rail stop where I had stayed
during my first Chillventa.
By now I had already sorted out the
complicated process involved in getting a
German SIM card. Correction, activating a
German SIM card. I’m afraid my favourite
advice of buying a SIM card at the airport
and never being lost again doesn’t apply
anymore. You can no longer get a SIM
card at the airport in Nuremberg.
After checking in, I went to the
exhibition venue to finalise my press
registration and to pop by the congress to
see what is going on. It definitely seemed
busier than previous editions. Delegate
attendance was up 20%, according to the
final figures released.
That evening, desperate for some
fresh air, I sat outside the hotel, watching
the cars and the people go by. Just
as I was about to call it a night, Steve
Comstock, former ASHRAE Journal
publisher who was currently tasked with
helping the association grow its European
membership, walked by. It was a happy
reunion as I had grown accustomed to
seeing Steve at all the international events
since my first Chillventa.
He ordered us a beer and as the world
continued to walk past, we caught up and
chatted about the state of the industry
and the recent formation of the South
African ASHRAE Chapter. He invited me to
the drinks event at the US Pavilion the next
day and the European Chapter meeting
on the Wednesday. I added it onto my
printed schedule by hand.
It was almost Chillventa time and I
remember feeling more ready than in
previous years. I was excited.
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innovative, efficient solutions and
alternatives. Things are moving and it is
impressive to see where it is headed. It is
all about refrigerants. It is about the cloud
and IoT; it is about saving the environment;
it is about a lot of expensive equipment
that are truly amazing to be seen on
display. R290 was the belle of the ball
in 2018. The future does seem ‘natural’
indeed. And very, very high-tech.
Chillventa was all this and so
much more.
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1. Steve Long (left) and Tom Eelen showed me around the GEA stand.
2. Bernhard Blaeser (right), Bitzer SA managing director, showing some clients from San
Group around: Olaf Angloher (left) and Juan-Pierre van Zyl.
3. Catching up at the US Pavilion cheese and wine, Johan Gouws (left) of Tecumseh and
Sue Eltayech of Muller Industries.
4. Panasonic had an official press conference, highlighting their commitment to the
refrigeration industry specifically.
5. Team A-Gas also made it to the show. Carte Lubbe (left), A-Gas SA managing director,
with Michael Labacher, sales manager.
COLD LINK AFRICA • January/February 2019
Continued on page 15
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
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