Events and Exhibitions
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SAIRAC and to serve on the Johannesburg centre committee , looking back , I said let ’ s give it a year and see where we go from there , little did I think in five years ’ time , I would still be a member of the Johannesburg centre committee and be the new SAIRAC president for 2022-2023 .
Over the last two years , due to the global pandemic and economic downturn , we have faced many challenges which SAIRAC and the industry had to adapt to , by providing products , solutions and new or different ways of working .
In June 2022 , we held the Frigair Expo ( which was postponed from 2021 ) and resulted in a successful event that was enjoyed by both visitors and exhibitors , where one reconnected face-to-face .
If we look at SAIRAC ’ s mandate as defined by its constitution – which is to advance the arts and sciences of refrigeration , air conditioning and the allied arts and sciences , encourage scientific research and study , the dissemination of knowledge and information amongst members , to achieve our mandate – we at SAIRAC are looking at restarting face-toface technical talks , enrichment courses and if a face-to-face technical talk / enrichment course is not possible , then to hold it virtually where applicable .
We are busy planning our Dreosti Memorial Lectures for June 2023 , as soon as the details have been finalised we will announce the event to our members and industry .
With the electrical generation issues in South Africa , the industry and consumers must look towards more energy efficient equipment and systems , this brings me back to a statement I made back in 2007 at a function where I said “ we need to look at energy efficiency in systems as energy costs would be increasing on average at a rate of at least 20 % per annum ,” little did I realise how true my statement would become 15 years later .
To meet this requirement of energy efficiency , we need to utilise more efficient refrigerants with a zero-ozone depleting potential ( ODP ) and a very low or zero global warming potential ( GWP ), and over the last few years SAIRAC has been promoting the use of natural refrigerants , namely :
4 . Robert Fox being presented with a SAIRAC file and president ’ s tie as SAIRAC ’ s incoming president by outgoing president Jaco Pieterse .
5 . Craig Hendricks ( PE centre chairman ) presenting Mike Spearpoint SAIRAC fellow and guest speaker with a thank you gift .
6 . Jaco Pieterse receiving a past president ’ s certificate from Robert Fox .
• R717 – Ammonia ( NH3 ),
• R744 - Carbon Dioxide ( CO2 ), and
• Hydrocarbons : R290 – Propane
Currently one is seeing immense strides in research and development in increasing energy efficiency in equipment and systems utilising natural refrigerants , particularly in the use of hydrocarbons .
I offer a reminder that the SAIRAC website is continually updated , which serves as focal point for information to our members and committees .
I would like to extend a welcome to the 2022-2023 national council members :
• JHB : Gregory Grobbelaar ,
• CT : Mr Archie Steyn ,
• DBN : Mr Gordon banks , ( Vice President )
• PE : Mr Craig Hendricks ,
• National Secretary : Ms Marlene Gamble ,
• National Treasurer : Mr Grant Laidlaw ,
• National Bookkeeper : Ms Moira Fullard
Our immediate past president Mr Jaco Pieterse set a goal at the commencement of his term , for SAIRAC to strive to reach the one thousand paying members mark , we will be continuing to try to achieve this goal . Let ’ s continuing building a future with SAIRAC for another 70 years . RACA
www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I October 2022 25