EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
AFTER-SHOW PROCEEDINGS
Meeting the guys from Thovotherm in Namibia. From left: Tom Zwar; Lothar Zwar; Ilana
Koegelenberg; Gernoth Spaet; and Torsten Steinborn (Bitzer).
TIME FLIES – DAY 3
It was the last day and time was quickly
running out to tie up all the loose ends.
There were still people to see and stands
to visit. But then again, there always
would be. The show was simply too big.
This time I arrived at the Messe Centre
with the Russian journalists. By now, all
the press had formed almost a little
community within the show. I no longer felt
lost or alone. Mind you, I never did this time
around. Everyone was so welcoming.
I worked my way through Hall 6,
swinging by Hall 7 again just to catch the
last few stands I had missed. It was such a
big hall after all.
I then stopped by Carel to briefly
chat to new managing director, Fred
Penhall, and capture some photographic
evidence of him in a suit.
Then arrived another moment I had
been waiting for — or rather, the one
The Bitzer press conference in progress.
I dragged my tired feet away from the
halls for the day to meet up with Steve
Comstock for the European ASHRAE
Chapter meeting near the press lounge.
This was when I managed to
meet Steve Gill, outgoing Institute of
Refrigeration (IoR) president (and so many
other titles). We had connected over
LinkedIn a while back and were in regular
contact regarding industry issues and
promoting his cause to the local industry.
Steve Gill is involved with many things, one
being establishing World Refrigeration Day
as of next year and I helped him spread
the word online.
This was one of my favourite moments
of the show and I obviously could not let
the opportunity slip to have a selfie with
the ‘two Steves of ASHRAE’ as I titled them.
This meeting was long overdue and did
not disappoint.
ASHRAE members from across the
continent attended to share ideas on how
ASHRAE could best serve its European
members. The meeting was led by Costas
Balaras, ASHRAE director for this region,
who is an incredible speaker, full of
energy. Each member around the room
had a chance to introduce themselves
— from Romania and the Netherlands, to
Indonesia, Ireland, and even Spain.
After the meeting, we headed to the
‘official’ after-business Chillventa party in
the foyer. Steve Gill told me that calling it
‘official’ did not make it sound like fun, but
it was. We took the bus and went around
to grab a table while Steve Comstock and
Costas Balaras met us there later for a few
drinks and to chat informally about the
state of HVAC&R globally as a whole and
the work ASHRAE is doing.
Steve Gill introduced me to all the
industry journalists he could find at the
event and it really does seem that he
knows everyone. I met the UK journos and
even some guys from the Russian press.
I tried my Afrikaans on the Belgians and
realised just how similar it was to Flemish —
much to everyone’s amusement.
It was a slow, long walk to the subway
station at the end of another busy, yet
rewarding day. This time my train went all
the way to my stop.
history of importing these brands to South
Africa and we made plans to meet up
again in South Africa.
With my last bit of energy, I tackled the
remaining stands in Hall 5 that I had not
marked off yet on my floor plan.
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
The US Pavilion cheese and wine in progress.
22
All ears at the press trade lunch where the global HVAC&R media gathered to hear the stats.
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
COLD LINK AFRICA • January/February 2019