Discover , Learn , and Connect – Sign Up for FRIGAIR 2025 Now ! With excitement building and exhibition stands filling up fast , now is the time to get involved !
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
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Discover , Learn , and Connect – Sign Up for FRIGAIR 2025 Now ! With excitement building and exhibition stands filling up fast , now is the time to get involved !
Don ' t miss out on one of SAIRAC ’ s premier events — the FRIGAIR expo , the largest dedicated HERVAC trade exhibition in Africa , taking place from 4-6 June 2025 at the Gallagher Convention Centre , Midrand .
Since 1980 , FRIGAIR has been the industry-preferred platform for business , knowledge transfer and networking . This year promises even more excitement and growth for the HERVAC industry .
Join us and explore supplier stands showcasing the latest products , plus take advantage of these valuable opportunities :
• Three ASHRAE courses ( enrolment fee )
• SAIRAC workshops ( free )
• SAIRAC training seminars ( free )
• A first-ever FRIGAIR Skills Development Hub where skilled artisans can test and hone their skills
More details of the SAIRAC workshops and seminars will be announced as they become available – stay tuned . Reserve your spot today and be part of the industry ’ s most anticipated event !
Another drawcard to FRIGAIR 2025 will be the FRIGAIR Skills Development Hub where six contestants will pit their skills against one another in the following tasks : 1 . Electrical – three-phase motor test and star / delta wiring 2 . Hand tools 3 . Refrigeration tubing – bending , flaring , swaging and compression joints
4 . Installation – pipework , electrical , pressure testing and evacuation
5 . Commissioning – charging , evacuation , superheat , including recovery
Visitors will be able to watch and see the work of these competitors . As they will be working with dangerous gases and brazing equipment , this will require the workbenches to be positioned in such a way that visitors cannot be harmed .
Organiser Rory Macnamara is looking for volunteer judges who are highly experienced in these tasks , as well as contributions toward the materials ( list available on request ) and safety gloves and safety glasses . Of course , training centres are invited to submit names for contestants . Please contact Rory Macnamara at 079 436 1829 , who will brief you further .
EXCITING WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS COMING YOUR WAY !
Get ready for the industry ’ s most anticipated event of the year ! The final details for the SAIRAC workshops and seminars are almost locked in — so don ’ t miss out on your chance to be part of the action ! Reserve your spot today and get ready for an unforgettable experience filled with top-tier insights and industry-leading speakers .
Workshops organiser , Grant Laidlaw , has substantially increased the number of sessions , which will be finalised over the coming months . Here ’ s a sneak peek at what ’ s in store so far :
DAY 1 - WEDNESDAY
Theme : Engineering and design
Robert Fox – Senior cost and design estimator at Club Engineering and SAIRAC national president , returns to captivate the audience with his alwaysengaging insights on energy efficiency in insulated structures such as cold stores , and modelling the performance of the insulation with increasing ambient
temperatures ( climate change ).
Jannie Potgieter – Consulting engineer at Thermologika , will discuss the topic Thermal fluid system in his expert-level talk .
Dawie Kriel – Mechanical engineer with a master ’ s in thermodynamics , and general manager at Energy Partners Refrigeration ( EPR ), will share game-changing case studies and success stories on the growing field of Cooling-as-a-Service ( CaaS ).
DAY 2 - THURSDAY
Theme : Legislative , new occupations and trade testing
David Botha – Executive director of SARACCA , alongside Virginia Mtshali from SAQCC Gas , will dive deep into the impending phase-down of HFC refrigerants and the essential registration processes with SAQCC Gas , including matters around authorised refrigeration practitioners in South Africa .
Margaret Molefe – From the National Department of Forestry Fisheries and Environment ( DFFE ) and National Ozone Unit ( NOU ), will deliver an in-depth update on South Africa ’ s steps in the phase-down of HCFCs and HFCs as part of the Kigali amendment . Her topic is : South Africa ’ s progress and obligations with regard to the phase out and phase down of global warming substances and the impact on industry The Hydrofluorocarbons Phase- Out Management Plan ( HPMP ) and the phase down of HFC ’ s including the 2025 HFC freeze .
Grant Laidlaw – Owner of Airconditioning and Refrigeration Academy ( ACRA ), will address the topic : The newly implemented national Refrigeration Occupational Qualifications ; Refrigeration Mechanic with three contexts ; Ammonia , Fluorinated and hydro carbon refrigerants and carbon dioxide . The new Air conditioning and refrigeration qualification . Apprenticeships , part qualifications and skills programmes will be additional focus areas .
Gordon Banks - Vice President SAIRAC , will discuss the topic : National Trade test . Phase out of legacy trades - New Trade test against occupations ; the new External Integrated Summative Assessment ( EISA ) Applying for and what to expect .
Samuel Jacobs - Energy Partners , looks at the topic : Reimagining insurance - mitigating the risk in the cold chain .
DAY 3 - FRIDAY
Theme : International Speakers – Innovation and Refrigerant Trends
Michael Labacher – sales manager at A-Gas Africa , will offer a global perspective on the challenges and breakthroughs in refrigerant recovery , reclamation and eco-friendly destruction , underscoring the urgent need for effective life cycle management . His topic is titled : Refrigerant usage in South Africa
Stay tuned for more updates in the April / May issue of Cold Link Africa or the April issue of RACA Journal . This is one event you don ’ t want to miss — mark your calendars and be part of the future of HVAC & R !
WE SPEAK TO EXHIBITORS TO WHET YOUR APPETITE FOR FRIGAIR 2025
In this FRIGAIR 2025 preview , we explore a number of exhibiting companies ’ plans for the upcoming exhibition and highlight how their continuous growth and innovation work hand-in-hand with their participation in an exhibition which is reshaping the HVAC & R landscape in South Africa and beyond .
ENERGY PARTNERS REFRIGERATION ’ S CUTTING- EDGE INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATION SERVICES
At Energy Partners ( Refrigeration ), we deliver sustainable , energy-efficient cooling solutions for industrial and commercial clients , specialising in a Cooling as a Service ( CaaS ) model . Through servitisation , we manage the full lifecycle of refrigeration systems — from design and installation to maintenance and energy optimisation .
Our focus is on providing reliable cooling solutions rather than just selling equipment . Using advanced technology and expertise , we minimise energy use and costs through customised , innovative solutions and our flexible CaaS offering .
At this exhibition , we are showcasing our cutting-edge industrial refrigeration services , which use machine learning to improve system reliability and efficiency . Our technology enables real-time performance tracking , detecting issues early and proactively resolving them before failures occur . By predicting system failures , we help businesses reduce downtime , optimise maintenance and improve overall efficiency .
Our AI-driven solution transforms traditional refrigeration systems into intelligent , self-monitoring assets , ensuring peak performance and cost savings . Visit our stand to see how our innovation is shaping the future of predictive maintenance and smart refrigeration management .
AERSA SHOWCASING THE GKY ACCESSORIES RANGE DUCTED UNIT
Rhuan Vivier , AERSA sales engineer , says that at FRIGAIR 2025 , the company will be showcasing the GKY accessories Range Ducted Unit , which represents a significant leap forward in design efficiency and maintenance practicality . “ Unlike traditional systems , the GKY range eliminates common issues with access hatch placements , providing seamless integration for architects and engineers during planning and maintenance stages .
“ Additionally , we will present Oxycom ’ s Oxyvap Pads — an advanced solution for enhanced cooling performance . These pads leverage marine-grade aluminum with hydrophilic and hygroscopic coatings , achieving over 90 % evaporation efficiency . This product can be utilised for supply air systems or retrofitted on dry coolers , offering up to 21 % energy savings , a 55 % improved EER , and a 22 % increase in cooling capacity , as evidenced by a recent case study ,” says Vivier .
He notes that the offerings are meticulously designed to tackle the industry ' s current challenge such as :
• Energy efficiency and sustainability : The chillers are equipped with eco-friendly refrigerants like R1234ze and R290 , as well as water-based refrigerant solutions from Oxycom . These technologies align with green building standards , offering flagship solutions for energy-conscious designs .
• Smart technology : The GKY Range enhances coordination between architectural and engineering teams , reducing design complexities and
ASHRAE COURSES
FRIGAIR will again be hosting world-class ASHRAE Global Training Centre speakers that will present three courses to run concurrently with the exhibition over the three days :
June 4 : Commissioning process in new and existing buildings This seminar covers the cost-effective application of the building commissioning process to both new construction and existing facilities , with a focus on existing facilities . You will learn the fundamentals of commissioning from pre-design to occupancy and operations .
June 5 : Effective energy management in new and existing buildings This seminar combines energy management principles from the ASHRAE Handbook — HVAC Applications , ENERGY STAR guidelines , and ASHRAE / IES Standard 100-2018 . It features case studies from a hospital , high-rise building , bank and convention centre , with insights from successful energy managers .
June 6 : Smart HVAC solutions for climate design This course , based on the ASHRAE Cold- Climate Buildings Design Guide , addresses considerations for extreme climates , including remoteness , HVAC function ( maintenance , frostbite , heat stroke ), fuel supply , high energy use , humidity variation , freeze protection , equipment overheating and climate change impacts .
improving operational efficiency . Meanwhile , the Oxycom Oxyvap Pads deliver substantial lifecycle cost benefits by optimising performance and reducing energy demands .
“ We are proud to align with the growing push towards eco-friendly and automated solutions :
“ Eco-friendly solutions : Our product portfolio includes advanced chillers and cooling systems tailored for green buildings , offering environmentally responsible cooling options without compromising performance our WGF and WGFI Systems
“ Automation and smart control : With IoT integration , our systems can adjust operating parameters to optimize efficiency based on seasonal requirements or peak power conditions . These adjustments ensure lower operational costs and improved system reliability , particularly for critical applications like cold storage .
“ Provide customers solutions that award them Sustainable development goals badges .
“ The future of HVAC and refrigeration lies in smart , connected systems . Our products are designed to embrace these advancements :
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Crowded stands at Frigair 2022 . |
COLD LINK AFRICA • March / April 2025 |
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www . coldlinkafrica . co . za
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All images supplied by © RACA Journal