Metraclark hosts series of customer events

By Eamonn Ryan

Metraclark recently hosted a customer event in Benoni, Gauteng, as part of a nationwide roadshow aimed at highlighting its product range, strategic partnerships, and proactive approach to industry challenges.

At the heart of Metraclark’s offerings are quality brands like ebm papst, Danfoss, Carrier, Maksal Tubes, Sinclair, A Gas and Copeland. “All the brands you see here tonight represent what we strive to offer our customers daily,” remarked Metraclark operations manager Johan Jooste.

“Our e-commerce platform allows 24/7 access to our extensive product catalogue, ensuring swift transactions and support,” he noted. A new customer account and payment remittance portal on their website was introduced. This tool enables customers to manage their accounts in real-time, minimising errors and ensuring accurate transaction processing.

Acknowledging the global shift towards sustainable practices, Metraclark is at the forefront of integrating environmentally friendly technologies. Jooste highlighted their capability in CO₂ technology, ranging from small-scale units to systems with capacities up to 6Mw. This initiative underscores their proactive stance in adapting to regulatory changes and advancing eco-friendly HVAC solutions. 

A-Gas leading the charge in sustainable refrigerant management

A-Gas South Africa took the spotlight to underscore its pivotal role in transforming refrigerant management and advancing environmental sustainability within the HVAC industry.

Central to A-Gas’ presentation was their pioneering approach known as ‘Lifecycle Refrigerant Management’. A-Gas stressed the importance of enhancing the circularity of refrigerants, especially in light of phasing out high-GWP (Global Warming Potential) refrigerants like HCFCs (Hydrochlorofluorocarbons).

In 2023 alone, A-Gas facilitated the recovery of over 8.6 million tons of CO2 equivalent refrigerants, highlighting their significant contribution to environmental conservation—equivalent to removing 1.8 million cars from the road or planting a million trees.

Sinclair’s HVAC innovation

Sinclair offers a diverse product lineup tailored to meet residential, light commercial, and industrial HVAC needs. The Sinclair product range includes: split series; multi-split units; rooftop units; VRF systems; chillers; caravan units; as well as a range of multi-functional controllers and group controllers, along with advanced backnet solutions, ensuring compatibility and scalability across various installations.

Maksal: Leading the way in copper tubing for HVAC solutions

Dave Ronquest, Maksal sales and marketing director highlighted the company’s longstanding commitment and achievements in manufacturing high-quality copper tubing for the refrigeration, air conditioning and plumbing industries.

Maksal, headquartered on the East Rand and with a history dating back to the 1940s, has been a cornerstone in South Africa’s copper tubing market.

The manufacturing process at Maksal begins with high-quality copper cathode plates sourced directly from mines. Initially utilising extrusion press technology, Maksal later transitioned to the more efficient cast and roll method in 2016. This upgrade not only enhanced production throughput but also significantly reduced energy consumption by eliminating large furnaces in favour of smaller, more efficient ones.

In December 2023, Maksal implemented another significant upgrade, further boosting their daily production capacity to 200km of tubing/day.

Maksal’s copper tubing for refrigeration and air conditioning applications adheres to ASTM 280-88 and 743-88 specifications, ensuring global recognition for its reliability and performance. The tubing undergoes annealing processes to ensure ease of installation.

While prioritising the local South African market, Maksal also exports a substantial portion of its production globally. Ronquest noted their competitive edge in international markets, including the Middle East, where Maksal has established itself as a trusted brand despite competition from larger manufacturers.

EBM Papst: Innovating air movement solutions for a sustainable future

The company’s enduring partnership with Metraclark, spanning over 30 years, underscores its commitment to providing reliable solutions not only in South Africa but across the African continent. ebm papst’s product portfolio focuses on enhancing efficiency and reducing environmental impact, particularly in HVAC applications.

Danfoss: Leading the way in sustainable HVAC solutions

Kavir Sewlall, sales leader: Danfoss SA overviewed operations on the company’s 90th anniversary. Among Danfoss’s product range are its heat exchangers, including gas-kitted, micro channel and brazed plate variants, acquired through the integration of Sondex. He emphasised recent innovations like the smart store solution deployed in Denmark. This initiative showcases Danfoss’s capability to not only develop advanced controllers but also integrate them into sustainable applications, such as energy-positive supermarkets.

Copeland: Pioneering the future of compressor technology

In July of last year, Blackstone Investments acquired a majority stake in Emerson Climate Solutions, marking a pivotal moment as Copeland emerges as an independent brand. Subsequently, Blackstone completed the acquisition of the remaining shares, consolidating Copeland’s global presence under its banner.

The strategic focus for Copeland moving forward revolves around strengthening its position as a global leader in compression technologies. This includes enhancing industrial solutions, advancing controls, monitoring systems, and emphasising energy management in the refrigeration sector.

Key initiatives align with global trends such as electrification, focusing on efficient energy use, and the adoption of low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants like R-290. Moreover, Copeland is actively involved in decarbonisation efforts, exploring solutions such as biomethane and hydrogen blending to meet evolving environmental regulations and enhance consumer health and comfort standards.

Carrier: A legacy of innovation and commitment to excellence

Carrier’s legacy dates back to 1889 with the introduction of the first centrifugal chiller. Over the next 120 years, Carrier has pioneered the world’s first patent for air conditioning in 1902. In 2020 and 2023, Carrier was named the number one air conditioning company in the US and earned top rankings from prominent media outlets like Time magazine and Forbes. The company’s groundbreaking achievements extend across various sectors, including commercial, residential, industrial and even aerospace. Carrier was the first to air-condition ships, revolutionising maritime comfort, and introduced the first mobile air conditioning system for buses. During World War II, Carrier contributed significantly by air-conditioning land assault vehicles, showcasing its versatility and impact on global mobility solutions.

Carrier remains at the forefront of environmental responsibility with initiatives to adopt natural refrigerants like R-32 and R-290. These efforts align with global trends towards sustainable HVAC solutions, ensuring products are not only efficient but also environmentally friendly.