Cold Link Africa July/August 2017 | Page 47

The problem, of course, with setting up a training centre is it needs the industry’ s input, both financially and technically.
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
FEATURE
Continued from page 45
to the use of hand tools, the basic electrical theory, thermodynamics, and practical stuff. After that the application starts to become more specific to the refrigerant type.
Several facilities have the freon equipment and plant, but currently only OTTC has a functioning ammonia plant; however, they are not doing trade testing on ammonia.
The problem, of course, with setting up a training centre is it needs
The problem, of course, with setting up a training centre is it needs the industry’ s input, both financially and technically.
the industry’ s input, both financially and technically. To do it right we need the skills and the equipment.
As someone has to drive this, I am taking it upon myself to leave a legacy to an industry that is very close to my heart— but I need help from the industry.
I am currently looking at a basic design of a plant that will be easy to build, run, and maintain. It will be designed to operate in tandem with the air-conditioning equipment that forms part of ACRA’ s current training schools. A full curriculum for the ammonia apprentice training is some way off as we are looking at the concept now, but it forms a major part of the project planning.
I am available to any interested party who has parts and equipment available, or who wishes to collaborate with this long-overdue enterprise. I will be in touch. CLA
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew Perks is a subject matter expert in ammonia refrigeration. Since undertaking his apprenticeship in Glasgow in 1960, he has held the position of contracts engineer, project engineer, refrigeration design engineer, company director for a refrigeration contracting company, and eventually owning his own contracting company and low temperature cold store. He is now involved in adding skills to the ammonia industry, is merSETA-accredited, and has written a variety of unit standards for the South African Qualifications Authority( SAQA) that define the levels to be achieved in training in our industry. Contact Andrew on + 27( 0) 83 397 6241 or at andrew @ andrewperks. co. za.
Sudoku Answers from page 7.

COLD LINK AFRICA • July | August 2017 www. coldlinkafrica. co. za 47