Today, February the 16th, a new hands-on training facility dedicated to refrigeration and cold-chain skills is entering into operation in Burkina Faso, at the premises of New Cold System SARL, thanks to a joint initiative promoted under the aegis of Centro Studi Galileo (CSG) and supported by a group of Italian companies active across the HVAC/R value chain. The project has been developed by Dr. Madi Sakandé, CSG trainer and President of U-3ARC, with the goal of strengthening local technical capacity through properly equipped didactic laboratories.
At the core of the facility are five didactic cold rooms, assembled to replicate real-world systems and maintenance scenarios while remaining suitable for training activities. The cold rooms are built around key components supplied by the participating companies, including Dorin semi-hermetic compressors, LU-VE air condensers and unit coolers (evaporators), and Frigor Box International modular mini-cells. Control and electrical management are supported by PEGO refrigeration panels, while the refrigerant circuit and service components include a broad set of Castel valves, filters and fittings. Instrumentation for training and diagnostics is complemented by WIGAM pressure gauges and service tools, ensuring that practical exercises can cover commissioning, measurement, fault-finding and safe servicing routines. The initiative also benefited from the essential contributions of other companies from the refrigeration supply chain, which provided key components, materials and technical support for the construction and equipping of the five educational cold rooms.
The initiative is designed as a practical “information and training centre” for technicians working on refrigeration and cold-chain applications—an area considered strategic for food preservation, medicine and pharmaceutical storage, and the broader development of resilient supply chains. Beyond equipment donations, participating companies have also contributed financially to ensure the facility can operate, deliver training and support local schools with structured programmes and laboratory infrastructure. Alongside CSG, the initiative is supported by ATF – Associazione dei Tecnici del Freddo, with a view to reinforcing competence building and standard-setting pathways aligned with the sector’s evolving technical and regulatory requirements. New Cold System srl, also present in Italy (Bologna), is hosting the hub and supporting the local implementation.
The project follows a clear operational logic: promote Italian refrigeration excellence in Africa, create pilot installations, train local manpower to operate and maintain systems without relying on external assistance, and progressively support market development through qualified skills and reliable infrastructure. In practical terms, the facility is expected to function both as a training venue and as a reference point for field technicians, enabling more consistent maintenance practices and better long-term performance of installed cold-chain assets.
By bringing together complementary competences—from components and compressors to heat exchangers, control systems, tools and cold-room construction—the initiative positions training as the enabling factor for sustainable cooling deployment, with immediate impacts on service quality, safety and system reliability in the region.