By John Ackermann
In 1995, amid the shift in South Africa’s refrigeration industry away from ozone-depleting CFCs, Marine Refrigeration & Engineering was born.
The year 1995 was a significant milestone in South Africa’s refrigeration industry. In terms of the Montreal Protocol, it was the last year that ozone depleting CFC refrigerants were allowed to be imported. The CFC production plant in Vereeniging had already been shut down and new HFC refrigerants were rapidly being introduced on the market. The same year, on 1 April, saw the birth of Marine Refrigeration and Engineering (MRE) in a small office in Cape Town Harbour. The office was adjacent to those of SA Stevedores and had the visionary Dennis van der Westhuizen at the helm of MRE.
Thirty years down the line, MRE is the largest South African owned refrigeration contracting company. From a very small fish to a large fish in a small pond is a noteworthy achievement but from a small fish to a large fish in a very large pond can only be described as praiseworthy and beyond the forecast of many industry role players.
The celebration held in the Cape Town premises and workshop was vibrant, spectacular and brought the family pride in the MRE employees to the fore. It showcased the engineering capacity of the company. The wide selection of scrumptious eats, beverages, a barista, flowers and the MRE logo on biscuits, turned the normally busy workshop into a buzzing theatre with the many MRE staff taking care of a wide selection of long-standing loyal clients and primary service providers.
The event organiser, Luci Dalaney of Luxe Events (Durban based), excelled without omitting the finest detail, for example the MRE logo onto the froth of cappuccinos.
The flag of MRE has always been flown high, even in its infancy, and MRE were regular attendees at Southern African Refrigerated Distribution Association (SARDA) breakfast meetings, formal FRIGAIR banquets and industry events. The anniversary celebration strengthened three decades of collaboration between staff, clients and supportive service providers.
Diversification has been the key to the expansion and growth of the MRE Group. After being a one-man band for six months based in the Cape Town harbour, Dennis was joined by Sandro Bicarri. A focus on refrigeration contracting in the marine sector was not going to achieve the dream of a refrigeration and engineering company. With their experience in ammonia refrigeration, the two set their sights on the industrial refrigeration sector and scoured all avenues to gain service work, plant modifications or installation contracts. No job was too small or too big to whet their appetite.
The expansion to a national network of branches across South Africa, large design and installation projects, now landmarks, installation contracts across Africa, in-house assembly of large compressor packages and MCCs is now history as the MRE team tackles the global challenge to improve the energy efficiency of refrigeration plant and reduce life cycle costs for each plant installed for their strong base of loyal clients.
In his welcoming address to the celebration guests, Sandro Bicarri shared the journey of MRE, “a story of vision, determination and excellence”. Bicarri continued: “The company’s inception was a testament to Dennis’s foresight and ambition to own his own engineering company. Six months after its establishment, I joined Dennis in this exciting venture. Together, we developed the company with a passion for solid engineering and a commitment to high service standards. The name Marine Refrigeration and Engineering was derived from the involvement of some of our early shareholders in minor marine repairs and stevedoring operations. However, it soon became apparent that the marine work was minimal, and our true expertise lay in the field of our experience in industrial refrigeration. Within the first year, Chris Mangnall joined as the service expert, but in the early 16-hour days we all carried toolboxes in our vehicles.
“One of the entertaining start-up stories that occurred comes to mind. After our exciting start we proudly went to see the leading consultant of this era, W-S & B, to announce our arrival. One of the partners Piers Steynor went on to describe how we were the ‘new young kids on the block’ and that we unfortunately could not tender to their origination as we had no track record. He said we need to go out there and prove that we could do it, but at the same time, do not approach any of our ‘our clients’. We often thank him for these words of advice. We had all come from a very good background of design and supply with Cool Engineering and this just accelerated our growth with new and existing clients. Interestingly, within a couple of years we received a call from Piers asking us to come and see him about a new project.
“In our 30-year history we have strategically worked for certain consultants but in the last 15 years this has become less and less. The modern world-wide trend is for one supplier to design, install and commission. MRE has always proudly followed and promoted this concept. Our sincere thanks go to all of our clients for their continued support and commitment. We wish for many more years of continued support and their friendship.
“Two years after starting, we outgrew the harbour facility and moved to our new factory in Longclaw Drive, Montague Gardens and the staff grew every year as we become more active. There are too many staff members to name but we thank all of the MRE team for your commitment, hard work and we are proud of all the installations built and serviced by your team effort.
“A number of years of continual growth meant that we had to move once again to our current facility which we choose for our 30th celebration,” said Bicarri. “MRE are not scared of travel as we worked in the last three decades throughout Africa and the Indian Ocean islands providing refrigeration requirements for many different industries. To name a few countries that we have worked in: Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe. “MRE is now an established leader in our industry and the largest South African owned refrigeration entity with a national footprint. I am pleased to introduce some of our national team: MRE Gauteng led by Jason Riley and Charles van der Walt; the MRE KwaZulu Natal team led by Grant Delaney; and our Port Elizabeth office operated and led by Greg Green.
“The modern MRE is the one you see today and is the future. Younger skilled and qualified people are vital for continuity and growth. I introduce one of them: Gian Loreti, our fellow director and shareholder to add to our 30th celebration,” said Bicarri. “Baie van ons kliente is Afrikaans sprekend en is hier om saam met ons te vier. Daarom gaan ek van my tyd by MRE in Afrikaans vertel. Ons krag is samewerking. Elke Maandag oggend sit ons saam met Stephen Long om die week se werk te beplan en enige probleme op te los onder Stephen se leiding. Stephen se kennis is nie net teoreties nie, maar is gebaseer op jare se praktiese ondervinding. “My tyd saam met MRE is nie dertig jaar nie, maar saam met ons baie nuwe jong professionele lede sal die kwalitiet van diens aan ons kliente aanhoudend verbeter.”
Gwen, an employee of 12 years, paid tribute to MRE, in particular Dennis, for his compassion and contribution to the welfare of all staff, their families and education of their children. “Many of the extramural activities and initiatives undertaken at schools of our children have been strongly supported by MRE in many ways besides financial support.
“When COVID impacted on our lives, Dennis had dialogue with us all and gave an undertaking that none of our families would suffer undue hardship. True to his word, we all came out well on the other side of the pandemic,” she said.
After a boisterous toast to MRE and its staff, Dennis thanked all the staff that worked diligently in the planning, set up and success of the 30th celebration. His gratitude was extended to all the clients and friends you had taken the time to share in the celebration. “May our next 30 years build more lasting friendships and contribute towards the positive growth of our clients.
“Finally, my heartfelt thanks to all the MRE staff and the support of their families for our sustained growth during the last three decades and may we be blessed for decades to come.”