EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Industry celebrates
OTTC’s 25th anniversary
By John Ackermann
What a better way to celebrate a 25th anniversary than the unveiling of a
life-size CO 2 cascade training plant, a diploma graduation, presentations to
sponsors, and hearty fare, with a large delegation of visitors from Germany,
students, past students, and industry role players from across South Africa.
The long-awaited CO 2 plant.
T
he OTTC training college, started
in 1992 by Peter Döbelin in a small
garage adjacent to his home, was
also the first training institution in South
Africa to have a life-size ammonia
plant for its many students who have
graduated with a diploma in ammonia
refrigeration. The OTTC course is the
only course offered in South Africa for
ammonia service technicians.
CO 2 PLANT
It took more than nine months for the new
state-of-the-art R134a/CO 2 cascade system
18
Happy celebrations among old friends, from left: Willy Loffler of ThermoFin, Isolde Döbelin, and
Karsten Beermann of IKKE, Germany.
to be built. The design, construction, and
commissioning of the plant was done
by Christian Richter of Germany, with
the assistance of his father who has on
occasion travelled to South Africa. Richter,
a winner of the Euro Skills Competition,
has also completed an OTTC Ammonia
Diploma course during one of his stays at
the college.
“The college is very grateful for the many
companies, both locally and in Germany,
that have sponsored all the components
and material for the CO 2 plant, which will
benefit our many students, not only from
South Africa, but also from neighbouring
countries in sub-Saharan Africa,” said Isolde
Döbelin before presenting each sponsor
with a certificate of appreciation.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AND
GOING STRONG
After Kurt Johannsen, OTTC trainer,
presented his students with diplomas in
ammonia and practical refrigeration, it was
time to celebrate and think back on the
past 25 years of the college.
“The college was started by my
husband, Peter, to provide support to
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
artisans and give them the skills needed
to safely attend to all types of refrigeration
and air-conditioning plants,” said Döbelin.
“Peter’s expertise was highly regarded by
his peers and he was passionate about
refrigeration. He wanted all his students to
follow in his footsteps and become masters
in the art of refrigeration.”
WORLDSKILLS
“For the past 25 years, OTTC has strived to
motivate our students to continue with a
lifelong career towards the best possible
level of expertise in practicing the art of
COLD LINK AFRICA • July | August 2017