BUSINESS AND TRAINING |
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN |
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exhibitions who recognised him as the " newspaperman " from Cape Town . “ One memorable encounter was in Nuremberg , where I was introduced to a reader from Estonia who expressed his appreciation on receiving The Cold Link . Many used to send me a letter thanking me for sending their copy .”
Ackermann fondly remembers receiving a book and kind letter from the same Estonian reader . He used it as the cover of the pamphlet promoting the 2009 Dreosti Memorial Lecture , honouring the influential first president of the SAIRAC ." These personal touches and recognition of industry leaders were important aspects of my work .
" I was a one-man operation , competing with a larger family-run business ," Ackermann recalls . This rivalry brought challenges , but Ackermann remained dedicated to his publication .
The sale of the Cold Chain introduced new dynamics . " The new owners approached me through a broker in 2014 , interested in buying The Cold Link to consolidate the market ," Ackermann says . " We spoke about it for quite some time , while being unaware of who the interested party was - but eventually , I was introduced to IMD .” As Ackermann was president of SAIRAC , Cold Chain had to photograph and profile him , knowing full well he was editor of their rival newspaper , giving him a chuckle .
A crucial part of the deal was the merger of The Cold Link and Cold Chain . " They wanted to consolidate into one publication .
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Ackermann ' s business , which has been operational for 38 years , focuses on importing and distributing Parker RS and Herl controls and valves for ammonia refrigeration .
I insisted The Cold Link name be retained , and to differentiate it the publication was rebranded as Cold Link Africa . I stayed on as the editor for a period to ensure a smooth transition and enjoyed being part of the IMD team and family .”
Ackermann reflects on his experience with the publishing and editorial responsibilities . " Publishing was extremely hard work . I enjoyed writing about the industry , but it was challenging balancing it with other activities ," he admits .
Ackermann observes the significant changes in the organisation of industry conferences . " We used to have a committee of six people meeting regularly to organise
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The bound technical papers presented at the Frigair conference along side Cooling Expo 92 .
everything , from speakers to social events ," he recounts . This meticulous planning ensured comprehensive conferences featuring international speakers and a variety of programmes .
His role with The Cold Link involved extensive travel , allowing him to attend various international exhibitions . " I used to go to the IIAR Expo in America nearly every second show , and to IKK in Germany which later became Chillventa ," he says . These events were crucial for expanding the network of readers for The Cold Link .
He also attended events like the Cold Chain conference in Singapore , the South African then-Department of Trade sent him
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A pamphlet advertising the 2009 Dreosti Memorial Lecture .
to a show in Bangkok , Thailand , and he also attended the RAC Exhibition in the UK .
Ackermann concludes : “ As an industry activist , I have always been a strong supporter of the SA Skills competition and canvassed support from around the country and sponsorships to meet the cost of the competitions .
“ In 2007 I was honoured to be a technical observer in the South African team that competed in the World Skills competition held in Japan . It was an amazing experience and an eye opener to what was achieved during the competition . It also gave me an opportunity to visit industrial refrigeration plants in Japan , including a -31 ° C plant .” CLA
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