By Eamonn Ryan. Refrimate expands with new Randfontein warehouse to support growing HVAC&R chain market. FS Oil, trading as Refrimate, has opened a new warehouse at 33 Steyr Street and is planning a future manufacturing facility in Randfontein, consolidating its operations and creating room for further growth in the HVAC and refrigeration sector.
Refrimate.
is oxygen plant equipment, specifically for
contractors and technicians who are battling with
the high cost of industrial gases.
Owner Faizal Patel says the move from rented premises to a company-owned property is a strategic step to improve security, simplifying control over stock, logistics and customer service across South Africa and the wider region. “Refrimate started 12 years ago in a modest 170m² facility. The company has since grown to occupy approximately 10,200m² of land, with about 3,600m² on the ground floor and additional mezzanine space. Two further buildings of around 1,200m² each have also been completed. This expanded footprint allows Refrimate to bring what used to be five separate warehouses into a more centralised operation,” says Patel.
A key driver behind the move has been stock availability and lead-time reduction for HVAC and refrigeration contractors and OEMs. Refrimate supplies domestic and commercial refrigeration components and parts nationwide, and into neighbouring SADC countries. Customers include: Refrigeration and HVAC contractors, OEMs and panel manufacturers, franchise outlets and independent distributors. From the new Randfontein hub, Refrimate dispatches an estimated 20–30 courier shipments per day, supplying customers throughout South Africa and into Botswana, Zambia, Swaziland and other southern African markets. The larger, consolidated facility is intended to hold deeper and broader stock of key refrigeration and HVAC components, improve order turnaround times, and support country-wide and regional delivery from a single, better controlled site.
Refrimate’s core business lies in supplying components and parts for refrigeration and HVAC applications, rather than complete systems. The company offers a wide range of domestic and commercial refrigeration spares and components, and acts as an agent for several major international brands, including Danfoss, Bock and Spain-based Cubigel. In addition, Refrimate sources components from large global manufacturers such as Huawei, one of the world’s largest producers of domestic compressors. The company positions itself as a high-availability, trade-focused supplier, aiming to provide competitively priced alternatives without compromising on quality. Patel is critical of historically high margins in the market and says Refrimate’s model is based on modest mark-ups and long-term relationships with both suppliers and customers, rather than on short-term profit. Beyond pricing, Patel stresses service and responsiveness as central to Refrimate’s value proposition. The company supports contractors who are bound by strict service-level agreements with national retail chains and other clients, often requiring response within five hours. Refrimate has a reputation for after-hours assistance, with Patel recounting instances of opening for emergency collections on public holidays and even assisting customers located 400km away at 02:00AM to prevent major stock losses, for example in poultry operations. The business supports around 72 independent franchise-type outlets across South Africa.
“The additional space at Randfontein gives us the platform to introduce new product lines and eventually move into local manufacturing. One of the key areas we’re focusing on is oxygen and nitrogen plant equipment, specifically for contractors and technicians who are battling with the high cost of industrial gases. Our aim is to provide more accessible, lower-cost oxygen and nitrogen solutions that lower the barriers for smaller operators who simply can’t afford the traditional packages,” says Patel. He adds: “We’re bringing in a new generation of oil separators that can return virtually all the oil back to the compressor, which boosts reliability and overall system efficiency, especially on larger or more complex plants. There’s still a big education gap in the market, so we plan to demonstrate these units in operation so contractors can see the benefits for themselves. At the same time, we’re launching our own range of EC fans, manufactured by specialist suppliers, with a two-year warranty. They’re designed for high energy efficiency and reliability, and can run as either AC or EC units with the right speed controllers, giving contractors a cost‑effective, energy‑saving alternative to existing brands. We’re also developing condensers specifically for African conditions, with robust steel construction and improved airflow to cope with high ambient temperatures, dust, and the kind of cramped, poorly ventilated plant rooms where regular cleaning and perfect airflow just don’t happen in real life.” For the HVAC and refrigeration industry, Refrimate’s new Randfontein facility means deeper stock and greater product depth, a stronger logistics base for national and regional supply and a growing portfolio of value‑driven, technically focused solutions – from EC fans and oil separators to future gas equipment and condensers tailored to local conditions. As the sector continues to face cost pressures, efficiency demands and tough operating environments, Refrimate is positioning the new warehouse as both a logistical hub and a launchpad for practical innovations designed for African realities.