In the early hours of Sunday, 10 May, four Minus40 employees set out from our factory in Cape Town with a trailer full of refrigeration equipment and a long drive ahead of us. Our destination was NAMPO Park, just outside Bothaville in the Free State, where we would exhibit at NAMPO Harvest Day for the very first time.

Between 12 and 15 May 2026, more than 80,000 visitors passed through the gates of South Africa’s largest agricultural expo. Farmers, vets, distributors, suppliers, technicians, manufacturers, and families from across Southern Africa gathered in one place to connect, learn, and showcase the industries that keep the country fed and moving.

Minus40 was proud to be the only dedicated refrigeration manufacturer exhibiting at the show. In many ways, that reinforced something important to us: refrigeration often operates quietly in the background, but it plays a critical role in modern agriculture, veterinary healthcare, and vaccine distribution.

NAMPO’s 2026 theme, “Resilience through Innovation”, could be felt throughout the week — not only in the technology on display, but in conversations around reliability, efficiency, adaptability, and long-term sustainability in agriculture.

Conversations That Stuck With Us

Over those four days, we learned far more from face-to-face conversations than we ever could through emails or phone calls. More than anything, NAMPO reinforced something important to us: farming is not just a profession, it’s a way of life.

One of the highlights of the week was meeting long-time owners of Minus40 camping fridges, some of whom inherited their units from their parents. Many of these fridges have been running reliably for decades with only basic maintenance and the occasional replacement part. Those conversations were a powerful reminder that durability and long-term support still matter deeply to our customers.

Cold Chain Challenges in Agriculture

This year’s NAMPO also reflected some of the very real challenges currently facing the agricultural sector. Due to transport restrictions relating to Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), there was a noticeable absence of cloven-hoofed animals at the show. The impact of the outbreak was a major topic of discussion throughout the week, including during a Nation in Conversation panel featuring Minister John Steenhuisen alongside leaders from across the agricultural industry.

As efforts continue to vaccinate affected livestock, maintaining an effective cold chain remains a critical part of the solution.

That reality was reinforced on our own stand when a major South African agricultural wholesaler purchased one of our B340/220H Vaccine Fridges directly off the floor. With more than 40 Minus40 units already deployed in depots around the country, they understood from experience the importance of reliable vaccine storage — especially during power outages. Rather than taking chances with beverage coolers and generators, they chose equipment specifically designed to protect temperature-sensitive vaccines.

Protecting Vaccines Beyond the Fridge

Alongside our fridges, we also showcased our range of Vaccine Cooler Boxes. While they are versatile enough for everyday use, their primary role is protecting temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals and samples while moving between the fridge and the field. Vaccines are vulnerable to three major threats — freezing, heat, and light exposure — and our cooler boxes are designed to help protect against all three. Depending on the box size and correct ice pack configuration, they can maintain cold temperatures for between 27 and 83 hours.

Across the show, one theme kept resurfacing: agricultural businesses are under increasing pressure to do more with less. In that environment, dependable equipment, practical innovation, and strong local support become more important than ever.

Built in South Africa, Supported Across Southern Africa

Another encouraging takeaway from the event was how many visitors expressed a preference for local manufacturing and local support. All Minus40 products are manufactured at our Cape Town facility, and we work with authorised technicians across Southern Africa to provide ongoing service and support where it’s needed most.

Did you know? Our Sales Manager, Duncan Crafford, is a certified refrigeration technician, starting his career at Minus40 in the factory! Feel free to put him through his paces when you talk to him.

Looking Ahead

We returned from NAMPO energised, encouraged, and full of ideas for the future. On the journey home, we delivered the newly purchased B340/220H and stopped in to visit several customers along the route to check that their equipment was performing as intended. Because at the end of the day, refrigeration is about far more than machinery.

Behind every cold chain conversation is something bigger: healthy people and livestock, protected vaccines, functioning rural healthcare, and livelihoods that depend on reliability.

This may have been our first NAMPO Harvest Day, but it certainly won’t be our last.

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One of the highlights of the exhibition for us was unveiling our new B70-M Vaccine Fridge, our smallest vaccine fridge yet, designed specifically for mobile healthcare applications. With options for both 12V DC and 220V AC, the B70-M has proven to be a versatile solution, suited for mobile clinics, ambulances, and other remote healthcare setups. Not only does it feature a 70L storage capacity and 19-hour holdover time, but it’s also equipped with a secondary temperature display that remains active during power outages – ensuring vaccines remain stored at the ideal temperature at all times.

In addition to the strong interest in our new vaccine fridge, our mortuary cabinets were also a focal point of attention. Healthcare providers and institutions expressed strong interest in our reliable, durable mortuary cabinets as critical equipment for hospitals and mortuaries. We had valuable discussions with organisations committed to enhancing facilities, especially those focused on providing dignified and secure solutions for deceased patients.

Our vaccine cooler boxes also drew significant attention, as attendees explored the potential of portable vaccine solutions that maintain efficacy over long distances. Each of these products exemplifies our commitment to advancing accessible, high-quality healthcare equipment for a variety of critical applications.

Throughout the event, we engaged with healthcare providers and organisations dedicated to improving healthcare in underserved areas. These meaningful discussions underscored the importance of reliable cold chain and mortuary solutions in maintaining effective healthcare delivery, particularly in challenging and remote locations.

The conference provided invaluable networking opportunities, allowing us to connect with partners and potential clients who share our commitment to innovative, practical healthcare solutions. We are incredibly grateful for the chance to contribute to this dynamic healthcare community, and we look forward to seeing how our B70-M Vaccine Fridge, vaccine cooler boxes, and mortuary cabinets can support healthcare providers across Africa in the months to come.

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