NEWS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
import anything from abroad. After the
war, in 1918, things picked up again.
In 1918, Grasso produced the first
ammonia refrigeration compressor.
George Ferguson then joined the
company and he developed the first
rotating compressor, suitable for both
refrigeration and compressed air.
The company was sold in 1937, as
the only heir to the family business
decided to become a lawyer
instead. The new owners managed
to rescue the struggling company
and successfully steer it through the
Second World War. The Dutch army
was mobilised in 1939 and as a result,
army stocks had to be replenished.
The Grasso factory then received
orders to undertake the production of
equipment for the army.
In 1940, the Dutch army surrendered,
and Germany occupied the territory.
Times were tough and they had no
choice but to accept orders from
the German civil industry. In 1944,
German tanks took cover in the Grasso
premises, using the business as a kind
of fortress. The building was heavily
damaged, and production came to
a halt. It would take until 1947 for the
company to full recover and resume
production full speed.
After the Second World War, the
demand for cast iron was so great that
foundries were unable to deliver in time
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The historical (and iconic) Grasso building.
Because the building is a historical site, it has kept the war damage
from the Second World War on its exterior walls.
VISITING THE FACTORY
and in sufficient quantities. As a solution, In 1992, the GEA Group took over Grasso started instead welding the Grasso, resulting in strong international compressor frame from sheet steel. The growth, more environmentally friendly always heard that ‘the compressor is the
company quickly grew and expanded products, and great expectations for heart of any system’. I’ve always been
its product range. the future… interested in how these machines work.
Since day one in the industry, I’ve
COLD LINK AFRICA •
OCTOBER 2019