NEWS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
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CRS gets QCTO green light
for training
C
ommercial Refrigeration
Services (CRS) in Johannesburg
has received its accreditation
certificate from the Quality Council for
Trades and Occupations (QCTO) to
train and access the three HVAC&R
qualifications registered by the South
African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
To apply for the accreditation, CRS
developed a quality management system
for training purposes, after which they
built the training centre and synthetic
refrigerant legacy trade test plant.
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By Ilana Koegelenberg
A LENGTHY PROCESS
When Rudi Botha (CRS training manager)
initially started at the company, it only had
the Woolworths CO 2 plant, which is a CO 2
trade centre with Danfoss components.
CRS then built another CO 2 trade centre
with Emerson components. Both trade
centres are over 60kW in size.
CRS then proceeded to build a 5kW
CO 2 system using Carel components and
three 5kW synthetic refrigerant systems for
domestic appli cations.
The merSETA Education Training Quality
Assurance (ETQA) and National Artisan
Moderation Body (NAMB) proceeded to
do an accreditation inspection in July 2018.
After waiting for the approval, CRS
received its letter of accreditation in
January 2019.
TRAINING IN-HOUSE
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Why take on training in-house, though?
When interviewing qualified refrigeration
mechanics for positions available, CRS
found that some only have one year of
working experience but are in possession of
a valid, recent trade test certificate. During
the interview, the candidates could not
identify the components in the commercial
refrigeration plant, while others only had
working experience in air conditioning but
also possessed the current refrigeration-
mechanic trade test.
Even the candidates that they
employed with more experience, who
received their trade test in the early 1990s,
are also experiencing difficulties with the
current technology in refrigeration systems
using synthetic refrigerants, never mind
CO 2 systems.
“As an organisation, we see the benefits
for our industry in training our people
in current technologies using synthetic
refrigerants before being exposed to CO 2 ,”
explains Botha. In other words, candidates
would be required to have a legacy
trade test (synthetic refrigerants) before
commencing training in CO 2 .
New apprentices will be enrolled
on the Occupational Certificate:
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Refrigeration Mechanic (occupational
code 642702) qualification as a pilot with
merSETA to ensure that the modules of
the qualification are in line with industry
standards. The apprentice will receive a
part-qualification certificate once they
have successfully completed the modules
conducted in the workplace. 1. Apprentices doing the Induction Module
1 training, clockwise: Jonathan van Zyl,
Maifala Koketso Rachel, Siphosethu Diko,
and Kyle Jordaan (trainer).
CLASS OF 2019 4. Apprentice Siphosethu Diko stripping a
twin pack system, working with hand
tools to learn about the components.
So far, CRS has already enrolled 10
unemployed apprentices for 2019, of
which five are placed at CRS and five
at Matador.
They undergo added training on
Saturdays according to the training schedule
and will be enrolled for three years.
Year 1: Spend time in the factory
learning all about manufacturing, from
the beginning of building structures and
getting components together, to the
completed pack ready for installation.
Year 2: Spend time with the installation
team, learning how to fit and install an
entire system for the client.
Year 3: Spend time with the service
department learning about possible snags,
services, and maintenance required to
keep the packs running.
COLD LINK AFRICA • March/April 2019
2. Apprentice Jonathan van Zyl (left)
learning about the different components
available in stores from store clerk,
Mboweni Rasimphi.
3. Welcoming new apprentice Durandt
Dekoker to the CRS team.
5. Rudi Botha, training manager at CRS.
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CRS CO 2 training centre.
Apprentices will swap between
companies (CRS and Matador) annually
to gain working experience on different
components and types of projects,
becoming all-rounders in the commercial
and industrial refrigeration trade.
FUTURE PLANS
“After completing the three-year
experience with the 10 apprentices,
integrating the occupational qualification,
we will then be in a position to train larger
groups internally and for the industry,”
says Botha. “Right now, it’s CRS’s priority to
receive the occupational qualifications to
be purposeful for the industry and to get
our current employees qualified.” CLA
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
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