NEWS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
In memory of
Gerard Wilhelm (Geep) Brouwer
G
eep Brouwer (born 15 July 1932),
who was well known throughout
the industry, sadly passed away
on 9 January 2018.
Geep Brouwer came to South Africa
from the Netherlands in 1962 on a three-
year contract to provide support to
Western Province Engineers, who were
agents for Grasso, the Dutch compressor
manufacturer. He soon fell in love with
South Africa, in particular Cape Town,
and it was here that he met Margaret.
They married and became lifelong
partners, companions, sporting mates,
and friends. Geep never returned to live
in his country of birth.
From Western Province Engineers,
he then joined Grenco, a division of
Grasso. After leaving the employment
of Grasso, he founded GW Brouwer
Consulting in 1968, and gained the
respect by many as Mr Geep Brouwer,
the industrial refrigeration consultant.
Together with his assistant, Tom Doak,
and later Norman Robinson, Geep
established a 50-year-long relationship
with the South African Breweries
(SAB). His professional ethics and
technical expertise cemented the
SAB relationship and he was engaged
on their projects in many countries,
including Poland, Austria, Russia,
Uganda, and Angola.
The practice later partnered with
Peter Worthington-Smith and became
Worthington-Smith and Brouwer (WSB).
By John Ackermann
Before his semi-retirement in 2010, the
practice was acquired by the WSP Group.
Besides SAB, Geep was consulted
by leading poultry producers, dairies,
abattoirs, and food producers. By 2010,
his practice had undertaken 1 700
assignments and had formed lasting
relationships with many of the clients,
including Nestle, Unilever, Clover, Astral,
Early Bird Farms, and Festive chickens.
Jules Gazet joined Geep in 1982, later
becoming an associate and then a
partner.
“Geep Brouwer was very precise and
constant without ever being boring. With
him, one knew exactly what to expect.
He had a constant drive to provide
clients with the best possible technical
solution. Geep was not only a mentor
and strong partner, but a valued friend
with whom I enjoyed many a social
beer,” Gazet said in his tribute at the
memorial service held at the Noordhoek
Manor, Cape Town.
“My father was a strong character,
honest, and had high professional ethics.
I was very fortunate to work with him as
a colleague under his guidance. On
many occasions, we would travel to and
from sites and debate what would be
the best technical solution for the client.
It would not be about the cheapest, but
a lasting solution that would satisfy the
client. The high regard and respect that
my father had, both locally and abroad,
is a legacy that we are very proud of,
and I will strive to follow in his very large
footsteps,” said David Brouwer.
Although a highly respected icon,
Geep kept to himself and, as he replied
during an interview in 2011, “I am not
one to be in the limelight but have
focused on creating sound and lasting
technical solutions for my clients. For
many years, I have been involved in the
drafting of standards and in particular,
SABS 0147, and through its change to
SANS 10147. Contributions of this nature,
I feel, is of greater value and adds to the
development of the industry.”
Geep was a keen sportsman who
played hockey and participated in
competitive rowing, which was also a
favourite pastime of Margaret, who sadly
passed away in 2016.
During the past 30 years, Geep has
responded favourably to requests to
participate in FRIGAIR conferences as
a speaker and panellist. He also served
as a judge in the selection of the winner
of the Southern African Refrigerated
Distribution Association (SARDA) Global
Cold Chain 2015 Peter Worthingt