INTERNATIONAL NEWS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Bitzer opens Nigerian training centre
B
itzer has joined forces with the industry stakeholders in the IIT’s training
Institute for Industrial Technology room with Bitzer equipment.
The IIT is a project of the non-profit
organisation African Development
youth in Nigeria. Foundation. It addresses the problems
On 25 January 2019, Bitzer Nigeria of youth unemployment and poverty in
and the IIT, a local refrigeration and Nigeria by offering technical vocational
air-conditioning training centre in education and training to young
Lagos, Nigeria, cut the ribbon and locals. To be able to do so, it also offers
celebrated the commencement of a technical services to the industry.
fruitful partnership. Bitzer sponsored one Bitzer has been present with an
of its Ecostar condensing units as well as own office in Nigeria since early 2017.
HVAC accessories and tools. With its office in Lagos, the specialist
Together with First Class Group
for refrigeration and air-conditioning
(FCGL), a local Nigerian contractor, technology has established a presence
Bitzer supported in the installation of an closer to users in West Africa and
air-conditioning cycle for the institute. strengthens its support for business
Future collaboration will include the partners and users in the region.
enhancement of the IIT’s refrigeration The company is also in the process
and air-conditioning curriculum as well of building a service centre and
as providing training for external HVAC warehouse in Lagos.
CLA
(IIT) in support of the fight against
poverty and unemployment among the
From left: Bernhard Blaeser, managing director Bitzer South Africa; Harjeet Chhatwal, sales
and marketing development manager at Bitzer Nigeria; Olumide Akinjo, director of the IIT;
and Gianni Parlanti, Bitzer sales and marketing officer and member of the board, next to the
sponsored Ecostar condensing unit.
Industry mourns tragic loss of
Carrier’s Eric Prieur
E
ric Prieur, Carrier’s director of cold
chain sustainability, has been
named as a passenger on Ethiopian
Airlines Flight 302 that crashed on 10
March, killing all 157 people on board.
Prieur was travelling to the UN
Environment Assembly in Nairobi where
he was due to make a presentation on
behalf of the Food Cold Chain Council
on food loss and waste.
A statement on the UTC website says:
“Carrier joins the world in mourning the
loss of those aboard Ethiopian Airlines
Flight 302. We are deeply saddened
to share that our colleague and friend,
Eric Prieur, director of Carrier cold chain
sustainability, was among those on board.
In his role, Eric travelled the globe to
identify and implement new solutions to
reduce food waste and ensure more fresh
food reached people around the world.”
Mourning his loss, the US Air
Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration
Institute (AHRI) said: “He had great
energy and passion on the topic of
sustainability and increased Carrier’s
level of participation and leadership on
a global scale. AHRI offers its deepest
condolences to his colleagues, friends,
and family.”
Prieur was appointed Cold Chain
sustainability director at Carrier
Transicold and Refrigeration Systems
in 2015. He previously spent eight
years as UTC’s strategic planning and
communication director. CLA
COLD LINK AFRICA • May 2019
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
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