Refrimate to Launch Solar-Powered Oxygen and Nitrogen Production from November 2026

Refrimate, a trading name of FS Oil, will begin supplying oxygen and nitrogen from its own production plant on 2 November 2026. The entire plant is solar-powered, and the company says the gases will be available at a fraction of the price of conventional industrial gas supply.

Kit-and-refill model for smaller operators

The offering is structured around a one-time kit purchase: customers buy a kit once and then return to Refrimate's plant for refills. Owner Faizal Patel explained that the kits are designed for daily use in brazing, pressure testing, and purging on refrigeration and HVAC installations. Patel stated that the initiative is aimed at technicians and smaller contractors who have struggled to make ends meet in the current economy, and that the goal is to provide more accessible, lower-cost oxygen and nitrogen solutions that lower the barriers for smaller operators who cannot afford traditional packages.

Site expansion in Randfontein

The gas plant is part of a broader infrastructure build-out. Refrimate moved into a company-owned warehouse at 33 Steyr Street, Randfontein, a site that now occupies about 10,200 m² of land, including roughly 3,600 m² of ground-floor warehouse space and additional mezzanine areas. Two further buildings of around 1,200 m² each have been completed. The expanded site consolidates what used to be five separate warehouses. The company began 12 years ago in a 170 m² facility.

Additional new product lines

Patel noted that the gas plant is one of several new lines being introduced. Others include a new generation of oil separators, a range of EC fans with a two-year warranty, and condensers designed for African conditions.

Company profile and distribution

Refrimate supplies domestic and commercial refrigeration components and parts to contractors, OEMs, panel manufacturers, franchise outlets, and independent distributors. It supports about 72 independent outlets across South Africa and dispatches an estimated 20–30 courier shipments a day from Randfontein to customers throughout South Africa and into Botswana, Zambia, Swaziland, and other southern African markets. The company acts as an agent for Danfoss, Bock, and Cubigel, and also sources components from large global manufacturers such as Huayi. Refrimate positions itself as a high-availability, trade-focused supplier working on modest mark-ups and long-term relationships rather than short-term profit.

Contractors and technicians wanting to purchase a kit or arrange refills can contact Refrimate directly.

Source: RACA Journal.