INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
CONTRIBUTORS
air travel has been vastly reduced and with
little impact on productivity.
Virtual meetings have also become
the order of the day, and will most likely
become the norm after the Covid-19
pandemic, although not beneficial to the
many staff that are employed in the airline
and hospitality industries. A long-term side
effect, which will have lasting benefits,
is the reduction of the vast carbon
emission from the thousands of aircrafts
that crossed the global skies every day.
Because of the pandemic, the long-term
target of limiting the increase in global
warming by 2050 by less than 1 o C, could
now be achieved.
The lockdown of the construction
industry in March 2020, brought new
challenges, not thought of before in so
far as the warranty and guarantee period
of partially completed projects. The new
supermarkets in the Richmond Corner
shopping centre in Cape Town is to name
but one of many. New refrigeration racks
and other equipment had been installed
ahead of the planned opening which
was then halted by the lockdown, and
the equipment left standing for at least
3 moths. As to when the warranty and
guarantee period will commence will be a
matter of negotiation.
The media has been filled with news of
many facilities that have been converted
to providing essential medical equipment
and social services. Clothing factories
have been converted to manufactures of
masks and Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE), and a certain brewery has even
been converted into a soup kitchen to
feed the homeless.
The refrigeration industry has also
played a part. The high-tech technology
and equipment of laser cutters, automatic
benders and CNC machines in the
manufacturing plant of Mainstream
Refrigeration has produced hundreds of
extractors and air filtration units with UV
light sterilisation for private hospital groups
and dispatched units to destinations across
the country.
The servicing of refrigeration systems in
supermarkets and retail food outlets has
also required that all service technicians
adhere strictly to safety protocols. Testing
of body temperatures and the completion
of detailed questionnaires, wearing of
masks, gloves and distancing of staff have
been essential protocol. Every store owner
has the constant fear of having the store
locked down and all trading stopped
due to any staff or service provider being
tested positive.
Sadly, there have already been
casualties in the refrigeration and air
conditioning sector, mainly among the
small contractors who service hospitality
outlets, restaurants, bars, and fast food
outlets. The duration of the lockdown has
Construction at Richmond Corner was suddenly shut down on 23 March and gradually
restarted when South Africa changed to level 3 of lockdown.
been devastating. Many homeowners
have been cautious about service
providers coming into their homes
to repair domestic refrigerators and
have resorted to buying new or have
changed their lifestyles to cope without
refrigeration.
On the positive side, the refrigeration
industry has demonstrated high levels of
resilience and has worked timeously to
keep the food supply chain and health
care facilities operational. A change in
approach toward service delivery and
productivity that has emerged because of
lockdown, will have far reaching benefits
for those that have responded positively.
Many of the changes have also
reduced the impact of refrigeration and
comfort cooling on the environment.
Designers and engineers have had the time
to closely consider the energy usage and
environmental impact of new and existing
systems. In this regard, participation in
webinars has played a vital role and could
become the way of life, long after the end
of lockdown.
CLA
COLD LINK AFRICA • September 2020 www.coldlinkafrica.co.za 33