INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
established in South Africa by marketing products and solutions backed with technical expertise and after-sales service ,” Marques said as he took a trip down memory lane with operations director of BITZER South Africa , Torsten Steinborn .
“ For the past 30 years , BITZER South Africa has kept growing because of the support of our customers . Our growth can also be attributed to the support of our service providers in the form of bankers , marketing , IT and logistics service providers . But without our dedicated and committed employees , I doubt we could have grown at the same rate . In particular , I pay tribute to Josë , now the longest serving member of the BITZER team in South Africa ,” said Steinborn in his welcoming of guests , friends and staff to the 30th celebration .
For the celebration , guests had travelled to Cape Town from Lagos , Namibia , Johannesburg , Durban and Germany . They came to enjoy the festivities , German fare , networking , a look back on past milestones and to learn about exciting new developments .
( Left to right ) Gavin Wiffen , Johann van Breda , Rodney Taylor ( all of Eurocool ) Graham Conway ( SCM ) and Morne Hattingh ( Eurocool ).
Torsten Steinborn with Tom Zwar ( Thovo Therm , Namibia ).
“ We pay tribute to the visionary focus of Peter Schaufler to establish an international organisation based on customer satisfaction through reliable products backed with strong after-sales service . In the last five years , we have opened new offices in Nigeria , Senegal , Kenya and lastly in the Cote d ' Ivoire in 2022 . The compressor
rebuild centre established in 2013 provides clients with products repaired with genuine BITZER spares ,” said Steinborn .
“ The introduction of our first compressors for CO 2 in 2009 was well received by the market and there are now more than 1 500 BITZER compressors operating on CO 2 systems in South Africa .
( Left to right ) Clinton Thomas ( BITZER , South Africa ), Ashley Pillay ( Pro Active Refrigeration ), Greg Dyer ( AC & R Components ), Gary Dawson ( Pro Active Refrigeration ) and Enitan Abisoye ( BITZER , Nigeria ).
Graham Conway , SCM ( left ) with Jurie Benade ( Metraclark ).
In 2019 we saw the introduction of BITZER ammonia compressors packages imported as complete packages from Germany . We are confident of strong growth in the demand for our CO 2 and ammonia solutions .
“ The modernisation of our stock control and management system has improved the availability of product , wherever and whenever needed ,” said by Torsten as he continued along the path of memory lane .
“ Without past great achievements we would not be where we are today but let us dwell on the present and the future . The role of electronics in our products will gain greater importance . With a growing shortage of technical staff , technology needs to remotely diagnose faults in systems , to properly equip our technicians with spares and equipment before they are dispatched to sites if faults cannot be rectified remotely .”
In 2023 , BITZER acquired OJ Electronics A / S based in Sonderborg , Denmark to strengthen the smart electronic capabilities of all BITZER products and solutions .
Globally , Bitzer is a strong promoter of a circular economy and supports a swing towards natural refrigerants and those with a low GWP .
The yachts in the background add to the celebration .
“ Our international structure – with operations in North and South America , EMEA , Asia and Pacific – is being realigned to strengthen the regions and shift decision-making closer to our markets . We are confident that the network of established offices across Africa will soon be more fruitful .
In closing , I pay tribute to Josë Marques and thank BITZER South Africa for their strong support during the past 30 years and ask that you join me in toasting BITZER South Africa on their 30th celebration ,” said Mathias Layher , sales director of AC and Marine and Process , BITZER Kühlmaschinenbau GmbH Germany .
A jovial pair , Brian Hepburn ( Million-Air Services ) with Tom Zwar ( Thovo Therm , Namibia ).
It was his first visit to South Africa and Layher jokingly commented that he wasn ’ t sure why it took a 30-year celebration to get him to South Africa for the first time .
The setting of the Royal Cape Yacht Club on a clear night with a mild temperature , a welcoming red carpet , plenty of German fare , beer , wine and music was a fitting way to celebrate 30 years of continued growth .
Josë Marques celebrating his 30 years at BITZER South Africa .
For the celebration , guests had travelled to Cape Town from Lagos , Namibia , Johannesburg , Durban and Germany .
COLD LINK AFRICA • November 2023 www . coldlinkafrica . co . za 11