The following presentation was delivered at the 2023 GCCA Cold Chain Conference in Cape Town , by Rocco van Vuuren , director : Logistics Facility Design , on the topic ‘ Navigating modernisation and technology considerations in HVAC & R ’.
ASSOCIATIONS
The purpose behind the ‘ dice ’ Edited by Eamonn Ryan
The following presentation was delivered at the 2023 GCCA Cold Chain Conference in Cape Town , by Rocco van Vuuren , director : Logistics Facility Design , on the topic ‘ Navigating modernisation and technology considerations in HVAC & R ’.
The purpose of the metaphorical dice goes beyond the typical randomness associated with rolling dice . Instead , the dice serves as a catalyst for thought , urging us to contemplate the grey areas and envision the potential future influences of automation on the HVAC & R industry . Acknowledging talks from the morning session , the focus will be on early adopters and industry pioneers in technology , shedding light on their initiatives and advancements .
There is a need to look beyond the HVAC & R environment . With many warehouses and logistics facilities operating in shared spaces , it becomes crucial to bridge insights from various sectors . By doing so , the aim is to bring valuable perspectives back to the cold chain and explore potential innovations .
LOOKING OVER THE WALL
It can be complex to discuss modernisation trends without first considering ambient environments – where technological developments typically originate . This is the ‘ intralogistics ’ environment , whereby insights from the broader industry provide a forward view into potential advancements that may impact HVAC & R in the coming years .
Understanding that not all global trends may be directly applicable locally , it is important to adopt an African view on these insights . Drawing from my experiences , including a visit to Germany , there is a
Lizelle van der Berg , past director , GCCA Africa , introducing the speaker .
Images by © Cold Link Africa
Part of the presentation . necessity to adapt international perspectives to align with the unique needs and challenges of the African context .
As to what early adopters are currently exploring , there is a need to demystify acronyms like AMR ( Autonomous Mobile Robots ) and AGV ( Automated Guided Vehicles ) which , at this stage , is not so new – but both of which play a role in enhancing efficiency and automation within logistics . In addition , there is the concept of assisted lifting and ergonomic solutions as part of modernisation efforts in the HVAC & R space . What is driving all these trends towards automation is e-commerce .
BEYOND THE WALLS : EXPLORING ENERGY STORAGE AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES
As we navigate the landscape of modernisation and technology considerations in HVAC & R , I invite you to think beyond the conventional and consider how global trends can be shaped to fit the unique challenges and opportunities within Africa . The topic receiving the most widespread attention both in South Africa and in fact internationally , is energy storage ; as well as battery-powered electric vehicles . The dice has been rolled , and the industry is poised for exciting transformations .
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