My name is John van Tonder
❄️With over 35 years in the refrigeration industry, I’ve kept things cool across South Africa and beyond — from poultry plants to mega cold stores and ammonia giants! My experience includes cold storage from chilled e.g. Fruit for export to Frozen e.g. Fish for export and local
❄️Hands-on Expertise
Ammonia, CO₂ & Freon systems | Screw & reciprocating compressors | HVAC | BMS & PLC automation
❄️Big Projects, Bigger Impact
• Designed and installed ammonia systems to replace Freon at scale to ammonia
• Rolled out energy-saving upgrades
• Implemented preventative maintenance systems for 24/7 plant reliability
❄️Going Global
Optimized refrigeration plants and more across Africa and Middle East
❄️Safety & Standards Leader
Training and mentoring the next generation of artisans in safe, sustainable refrigeration practices according to legislation/codes.
I am an accredited Industrial Refrigeration Inspector and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise with the upcoming generation as well as the existing generation to encourage growth in the industry.
❄️Eta Energy Award Winner – For combining legacy and smart tech to cut energy costs and emissions in an ice plant.
Whether it’s keeping food fresh, factories running, or future tech rolling, I’m proud to be part of the coolest industry on the planet. ❄️❄️
John van Tonder
