KEEPING IT COOL

Whether it’s a fridge in a refrigeration plant or a food counter in a restaurant, Acu-Temp ensures that the temperature is just right.

TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED storage, production and transport of among other things food, chemicals and pharmeceutical products is known as the “cold chain”. Once this chain breaks, problems arise because the freshness of a product can no longer be guaranteed. Acu-Temp is a proudly South African company that provides temperaturecontrol monitoring, does calibrating and repairs, and provides support services to the cold-chain industry. Garnet Christians of Jamestown, Stellenbosch is co-founder of Acu-Temp, one of the winners in an entrepreneurship competition run by Afrikaans lifestyle channel VIA (DStv channel 147). Six small- to medium-sized businesses each won airtime on VIA, as well as advertising space in Media24 magazines and newspapers. VIA created a 30-second commercial for each winner as part of prizes valued at a whopping R3 million.

Garnet had always wanted to start his own business. The biggest obstacles he encountered were start-up capital and securing the right business premises.

“Along the way there are always important lessons to be learnt. You have to understand every aspect of your business, and do thorough market research.”

Most of his clients are from the Boland and include Stellenbosch University, but this 100% black-owned company’s biggest clients are Durban-based exporters of fresh produce, which by the very nature of their business obviously rely heavily on temperature control of their goods.

Garnet is very proud that Acu-Temp is an agent for German company Ebro Xylem and the only company in SA with a certified technician who can calibrate most of Ebro Xylem’s products.

Acu-Temp also recently became the Western Cape agent for Chinese company Panran, suppliers of temperature-calibration equipment.

“It’s not easy to start your own business and manage it,” Garnet says. “You have to think of your failures as a learning curve.”

So whether you are an exporter of fruit, head up a museum with valuable artworks, or have a wine collection in your home that can only mature at the correct temperature, get in touch with Garnet – he’ll make sure everything is cool.