INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
PROJECT
maintain temperature room temperatures
in the event of a loss of grid power. During
the Eskom load shedding in July, the daily
diesel cost went up to R80 000.
The Covid-19 pandemic has
presented its own problems, while having
to cope with increased volumes of citrus.
Additional management has been
employed to check staff periodically for
Covid-19 symptoms during every shift.
“Our choice of
Richmond Park was a
wise move and we also
enjoy our unspoilt view
of Table Mountain.”
– Steve Oosthuizen.
Each operational shift has a staff
complement of 35, who come from
different areas, for example Du Noon,
Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain. To
minimise the risk of infection during
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public transport, CFC have hired
dedicated transporters. “Our staff have
shown resilience and a high level of
commitment during these challenging
times. We also have a WhatsApp
group to alert us to any of our staff
being infected. With this system we
can be sure that each staff member
is taken care of and receives medical
attention in the shortest possible time.
The WhatsApp group also keeps staff
updated of any changes in lockdown
regulations. All these interventions have
prevented any interruptions in our
operations and has kept all our staff
employed and healthy,” says Steve
Oosthuizen, managing director, Cape
Fruit Coolers.
According to Oosthuizen, “The
construction of our new Richmond Park
facility was by far the best project that
we have undertaken and largely due
to the expertise, co-ordination and
performance of the engineering team.
Each played their part and had no
hesitation to go the extra mile. Without
their co-operation the tight schedule
would not have been met.”
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3
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1. Ammonia from the accumulator drum is circulated by two horizontal pumper drums.
2. In the forced air-cooling tunnels, pallets are stacked on fixed galvanised racking.
3. A variety of cooled fruit is dispatched from CFC to the container terminal in the Port of
Cape Town.
4. The central ammonia refrigeration plant room has three Mycom screw compressor
packages and room for further expansion.
5. Managing director, Steve Oosthuizen, is proud of the new state-of-the-art complex in
Richmond Park.
COLD LINK AFRICA • October 2020 www.coldlinkafrica.co.za 19