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Project
BOOSTING SHOPRITE AND WEST PACK RETAIL EXPERIENCE
By Pieter-Jacques Nel( MBA, BEng Mech), Sinclair product manager / HVAC & R mechanical engineer
Sinclair Commercial Solutions, in partnership with Metro Air Conditioning Services, elevate climate comfort at Shoprite and West Pack.
This article explores how Metro Air Conditioning Services, supported by AOS Consulting Engineers, refurbished retail cooling requirements for Shoprite and West Pack sites in Pretoria with Sinclair CAC solutions – combining engineering excellence, reliable service and insights into bestpractice rooftop units.
INTRODUCTION It has been cited that customer performance and satisfaction is not a mere supplementary feature, but rather a strategic driver towards commercial performance. A study cited by Retail Sensing suggests that a mere 1 % increase in customer retail dwelling time can lead to an average of 1.3 % upliftment in sales.( Retail Sensing, n. d.). Thermal comfort has become an expected retail norm and plays a key role in shaping customer experience and overall satisfaction.
Retail comfort cooling and heating is commonly achieved with the selection of large-scale commercial HVAC rooftop units, and more common for operational floor areas which exceed an area of 250m 2, and driven by system reliability, operational resilience and energy efficiency as key selection considerations.
In 2024, Metro Air Conditioning Services, a trusted name in HVAC contracting, selected and commissioned three Sinclair Model SRF280( 280kW) rooftop units( RTUs) for major retail refurbishments in Tshwane, Gauteng: two for Shoprite and one for West Pack.
THE ROLE OF ROOFTOP UNITS IN MODERN RETAIL Rooftop units offer complete and self-contained solutions( housing critical componentry) which often eliminates complex refrigerant piping layouts, providing a centralised service location which minimises the direct impact effect on retail operations during service intervals. Plantroom locations – which are generally commissioned and distanced from the occupational cooling zone – have the added advantage that internal noise transmissions are minimised with properly insulated ductwork when compared to alternatives. Advancements in step-wise
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All images supplied by Sinclair / Metraclark
Figure 1: supply stream connected.
RACA Journal I November 2025
www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za