Tony Dowell the current managing director formed Southern Sales & Services LTD some 15 years ago. Tony gained vast experience in the electric motor rewind industry while working for a large motor rewind company.

His work in this business often brought him into contact with various semi hermetic and open compressors, which he enjoyed re-manufacturing. Tony realized that there was a great need in the market for a business to remanufacture open compressors for the transport refrigeration industry and was keen to start his own business. This he did working on his own out of his garage at home. With a great deal of hard work, determination and help from some friends in the industry Tony slowly became recognised and the business grew.

Premises were acquired first in Shirley Southampton but where soon outgrown. In 1996 the company moved to the present Chandlers Ford premises which were extended to accommodate an even larger compressor rebuild shop in 1997.

Southern Sales & Services Ltd, who employ a staff of 12, are now well known throughout the industry as a major supplier of high quality remanufactured compressors and are highly respected. The company sought and was approved for ISO 9001 in 1998 and has recently achieved the new 9001/2K standard. This standard embraces the running on the company in general as well as the entire compressor rebuild process.

The company grew stronger and started to supply replacement parts for the transport refrigeration industry, which was a natural progression for the business as the customer base already existed from sales of remanufactured compressors. The company was offered and took on the agency for BOCK compressors in 1992 and there has been a steady growth in the sales of new compressors and condensing units of various duties.

In 1997 the company realised the need for a technical manager to support the products that the company sold and Jules Freeman filled this role. Jules brought further skills to the company, which allowed additional products and services to be added to the growing list that the company could now offer.

The company became an agent for CPS tools in 1999 and then became the main distributor for CPS automotive tools and equipment for the South of England.

"The range of tools are great, they offer value for money and are hard wearing which is what you need on the field. I test everything we sell personally if I would not use it myself then I wouldn't want to sell it!" says Jules.

Most of the equipment thankfully seems to meet Jules's approval after being Jules tested.

Tony had foreseen the potential growth in the Car air conditioning service and repair sector due to the ever increasing number of vehicles that were emerging with A/C fitted as standard. The company did start to undertake some service work but Jules soon reconised that it would be far more beneficial to the company to provide training in refrigeration instead. An initial non-accredited vehicle A/C course was put together and delivered from the company's premises. Later a small training room was built which is still in use today. The course was highly successful but Jules recognised that it was important for students to have the opportunity to gain the now industry standard C&G 2078 Refrigerant handling certificate.

Jules and a former manager of the company under went C&G assessor and internal verifier training and assessment and gained centre approval in 2000 initially offering the C&G 2078. Airparts Europe approached Jules at the centre with the view to offering the 6048 in the South of England. "Paul approached me and said "now your a C&G centre why not offer the 6048" it fitted into our plans excellently" Recalls Jules.

Following a centre visit by Paul, Southern Sales and Services LTD were approved and were then able to offer both the 2078 and 6048 in one three-day course and assessment.

Jules already had a background in commercial refrigeration and refrigerated shipping containers, but had also worked extensively on car A/C. He had worked as an electrician for a large plant hire company on mains and low voltage equipment and had worked as an auto electrician. This meant that he had gained a wealth of experience over many years

"One of the benefits of our centre is our ability to accommodate a wide range of fields within the industry. We can deliver the 6048, but if a student is required to work on say Coach A/C, or transport refrigeration, then we can include this in the course. Sometimes it may be necessary to extend the course by an extra half or full day to accommodate the specialist training, but the student will obtain further quality knowledge that is specific to his or her field of work"

The company had developed an A/C training rig which was being sold to colleges and training centres around the world. The unit which is a complete vehicle A/C system fitted to an aluminum base is capable of simulating 4 common faults. Blocked TEV, Blocked Receiver drier, and system under condensing. Many other features make this the ultimate refrigeration training aid, you can demonstrate superheat settings, use for recovery and charging during assessments, demonstrate adding system lubricant, liquid slugging, icing back, evaporator deodorizing, air on air off etc.

"We now found that we were using the training rig ourselves and enjoying the benefits that it offers in the training environment." Quoted Jules.

The next biggest growth sector of the industry appears to be Coach and bus A/C, Southern Sales already have made good progress towards offering their customers quality parts and training in this area.

"We are already supplying Fans, Bock compressors, filter media, and many other parts as well as training / assessment for accreditation to some major coach and bus companies including Evobus Uk (Mercedes, Daimler Chrysler Group) " Quotes Jules.

The company also take on consultation and some custom design work, this can also include the building installation and commissioning of the finished equipment.

"We are ideally set up to offer quality solutions to our customers for all types of applications. This is partly due to our experience but also Bock condensing units and compressors play a big part in the design of equipment for custom cooling applications."

The company have designed quite a number of systems now as well as offering solutions to other companies for their engineers to assemble. Projects include: an industrial candle cooler, a marine cargo hold chiller, a refrigerant drying plant, a split zone tour bus A/C system, various specialist A/C systems.

"Good equipment selection and component matching is the key to refrigeration plant efficiency and long term reliability"
States Jules.

The company that employs twelve staff is looking forward to a busy summer with anticipation of high sales of compressors and parts. Jules is seeing an increase in companies now identifying the need for proper professional training and assessment for their staff, which can only be a good thing.

"I am receiving more requests than ever for training information and have sent out a record number of training packs so far this year. I am also seeing a growing requirement for training on the customers premises, which of course we are glad to where possible."

If you would like any further details, a training pack or information on any of the products or services that we supply, then please contact Jules Freeman on 02380 261188 or email