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INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
As further rural households connected to the
Eskom grid, the demand for Minus 40 domestic
fridges declined, new applications were sought,
and other products developed. Because of
reliability and low energy usage, many users in
the rural areas still opted for the Minus 40 after
being connected to Eskom power, but this was
not a growing market.
After a move from Atlantis to the Airport
Industrial Area in 1995, the company started
developing a range of small freezers powered
by 12vDC and rapidly gained popularity among
campers, anglers, hunters, and game lodges.
Further diversification came in 1998 when the
company bought ACB Catering Equipment.
Small chest freezer with hold over plates.
The business has been sold
but Minus 40 will continue as
before with Michael Werner
as its new owner.
WILL THEY EVER RETIRE?
Minus 40 product display at the Cape Industrial
Show in May 1990.
The 12vDC powered 80ℓ freezer with solar panel for recharging the battery.
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Minus 40 constantly produced products within
close temperature tolerances of 2°C,” said
Davison. “In 1996, we were asked to develop
a solar powered vaccine refrigerator for
the Department of Health. This led to the
development of a full range of vaccine,
pharmaceutical, and laboratory fridges and
freezers. These were built to meet World
Health Organisation specifications, where
required, and have been sold all over sub-
Saharan Africa.”
Refrigerated cabinets have also been
developed for the storing of bodies in
mortuaries. In addition, a small fridge was
developed for the cab of diesel locomotives for
storing perishables of the driver.
The list of products all developed in-house for
12vDC, 220V, and solar power is extensive, but
the time has come for retirement. Both Davison
and McMurray have decided to hang up
their Minus 40 boots and start their retirement.
The business has been sold but Minus 40 will
continue as before with Michael Werner as its
new owner.
“The company manufactured cabinets and
other equipment for restaurants and food retail
outlets. The nature of the business and industry
trends were totally different to what we were
used to and we soon decided to rationalise the
business and concentrate on specific products
allied to our core business, that is, the small-
batch production of specialised refrigeration
products,” said McMurray.
The range of products developed for highly
specialised applications continued to expand.
“Each new product was developed with
the same integrity, quality, and attention to
detail. Without any compromise to our core
principles on which we had grown the business,
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“After spending some more time on domestic
affairs, I hope to do some consulting on the
start-up of new businesses. Something that I will
really enjoy and more so if I do not have to work
at it full time,” said McMurray.
Davison has other plans. “During the
development of our products we standardised
on the Full Gauge range of controls and
products,” he said. “The reliability and
performance of these products were proven
time and time again and under the most severe
conditions. Without Full Gauge we could have
had many warranty claims from misuse in the
field, especially in the very outlying areas.
Since retiring, I have taken on a position to
provide technical support to the distributors and
users of Full Gauge controls and temperature
management systems in South Africa. I am very
excited about this, as it will keep me in contact
with the market and my many friends in the
refrigeration industry.” CLA
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COLD LINK AFRICA • July | August 2017
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
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