The Journey to Bothaville
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.