Custom-built 'chiller' find favour in Africa

Containers with built-in generators in high demand ALAN PEAT THE MARKET in the perishable industry for reefer (refrigerated) containers is growing fast, with the off-take last summer season – the “hot time” for refrigerated equipment sales – up some 20% on the previous summer, according to Barron Charsley, director of Container World, SA container conversion and supply major. The primary motivation for this increasing demand, according to Charsley, is that reefer containers are the most cost-effective solution for cold-storage requirements – especially in the agricultural and fishing industries, and for distributors of chilled or frozen products. The market growth is not purely confined to the domestic market, with an equally thriving demand growth in the other overborder countries in Southern Africa. The other obvious advantage is that they are completely portable, and the site preparation and installation is simple. “It’s simply a matter of connecting it to a power source, and it’s up-andready- to-go,” Charsley added. Market requirements are across-the-board, with options from a choice of chillers, holding and cold rooms, and blast freezers. “We have to offer a whole range of units,” said Charsley, “with the basic unit the standard 20-foot (6-metre) or 40-ft (12-m) reefer container – a lot of which we sell to perishable producer companies like Parmalat and Clover. “There is also a considerable domestic and overborder market for new custom-made chillers and cold rooms for storing such products as fish, chicken and red meat. Our custom built units are specifically developed for harsh operating conditions in Africa,” he said, “being structurally robust and with minimum maintenance requirements. They also have easy-to-understand controls, and built-in protection against electrical supply fluctuations.” These, Charsley added, are finding demand as far north as Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria and the DRC. A Container World niche market that is currently developing rapid growth is standard 20-ft (6-m) and 40-ft (12-m) reefer containers with a built-on generator set. These, said Charsley, are being bought for loading with perishable cargo in SA, and then transported overborder. “The client can then retain them as cold storage facilities at their destination, or can sell them off and recover much of the purchase and transport costs.” A complete range of blast freezers is also much in demand in the perishable industry, designed to bring fresh meats down to freezing temperature within 24-hours.