A new hands-on training facility focused on refrigeration and cold-chain skills entered into operation on Feb. 16 in Burkina Faso, at the premises of New Cold System SARL. The initiative was 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 was developed by Dr. Madi Sakandé, a CSG trainer and President of U-3ARC, with the stated goal of strengthening local technical capacity through equipped didactic laboratories.
The facility is centred on five didactic cold rooms designed to replicate real-world systems and maintenance scenarios while remaining suitable for training. The cold rooms include Dorin semi-hermetic compressors, LUVE air condensers and unit coolers (evaporators), and Frigor Box International modular mini-cells, with PEGO refrigeration panels for control and electrical management. The refrigerant circuit and service components include Castel valves, filters and fittings, while WIGAM pressure gauges and service tools support commissioning, measurement, fault-finding and safe servicing exercises.
Organisers describe the hub as a practical “information and training centre” for technicians working on refrigeration and cold-chain applications, an area cited as strategic for food preservation, medicine and pharmaceutical storage, and resilient supply chains. In addition to equipment donations, participating companies also contributed financially to support operations, training delivery and structured programmes for local schools, including laboratory infrastructure.
Alongside CSG, the initiative is supported by ATF – Associazione dei Tecnici del Freddo, with the aim of reinforcing competence-building and standard-setting pathways aligned with evolving technical and regulatory requirements. New Cold System srl, also present in Italy (Bologna), is hosting the hub and supporting local implementation.
According to the project outline provided, the initiative aims to create pilot installations, train local manpower to operate and maintain systems without external assistance, and support market development through qualified skills and reliable infrastructure, with the facility expected to serve both as a training venue and a reference point for field technicians.
