A Restaurant Ice Maker and the Food and Beverage Industry

The most complicated part of running a restaurant is ensuring that perishable foods are kept cool and fresh at all times. Rotten or ‘off’ food is not only a health and safety hazard but can mean great expense to the restaurant in the form of liability claims. Restaurant kitchens have large refrigerators and freezers to keep the food from turning. A restaurant ice maker provides a means to keep the perishable items fresh whilst on display or when being served. But it is just as important to ensure that the cold chain is not broken along the journey to the restaurant. Refrigerated trucks, insulated packing materials and different forms of ice are used on the trip to ensure the delivery of fresh food.

Food and perishables are not the only items that need to be kept cool in a restaurant environment. Most patrons prefer to be served beverages that are cool and remain cool while they are drinking them. Ice cubes are the best way to achieve this. Filling ice trays with water and freezing them will not suffice in a busy establishment. A restaurant ice maker will easily be able to keep up with the need for ice in even the most demanding climate. An ice machine can also produce different types of ice, from clear ice cubes with a high melting point to crushed or shaved ice for cocktails.

Ice machines use different cooling techniques which have different power requirements. Saving costs is always at the top of the menu in any restaurant, so it is important to choose a machine that will minimise your electricity bill. You can further save cost buy choosing an ice cube maker that provides hollow cubes which have a larger surface area, meaning that you are using less water to make the cubes.

To find a restaurant ice maker that fulfils a variety of cooling requirements within the food and beverage industry, please contact us.

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Repairing and Maintaining an Industrial Ice Maker

When your industrial ice maker stops working, check the power supply and the water outlet before calling in a technician. No electricity will mean that the indicator lights will not be lit and a flashing light will inform you of a lack of water entering the machine. Re-establish the water and power supply and if the machine continues to malfunction, it may be time to whip out the operations manual for the machine. Each operations manual has a range of trouble shooting hints and tips that can help you assess the reason for the malfunction. It is important to note that you will probably not be able to perform any repairs on the machine yourself, but knowing what the problem is will save a technician time.

Some operations manuals can be rather technical and limit your understanding of what the cause of the problem is. Keep the manual handy as the technician will be able to interpret the technical terms when assessing what has gone wrong. The manual will also allow the technician to follow every recommended step in assessing and repairing the machine to enable it to perform at peak efficiency. Once the problem has been assessed and it is found that the machine needs to undergo extensive repairs, it may be necessary to move the ice maker to a repair facility. Find out if the repair company can offer you a stand-in industrial ice machine should yours need to spend an extended period of time in the workshop.

Make sure that your ice maker is serviced often to prevent a malfunction or complete break down. Ensure that a qualified technician performs the service and that the machine is properly cleaned, oiled and is in working order when the technician leaves. Also enquire as to whether any guarantees are offered on the repairs as well as parts that may have been replaced on the machine.

To find a qualified technician to perform standard maintenance as well as complicated repairs on your industrial ice maker, please contact us.

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Ice Machine Maintenance and Servicing

Ice makers notoriously break down and malfunction and it always seems to be on a busy day when you need the unit the most. Scale build-up caused by the constant flow of water through the machine is mostly responsible for this. It is imperative that you have the machine serviced on a regular basis to clear away any scale build up. The operations manual for your machine will tell you what type of ice machine maintenance needs to performed and how often you should have the machine serviced. Although some people attempt to service their machines on their own, it is always better to request the services of a technician.

Each make and model of ice machine uses different cooling techniques and systems to create ice cubes. The technician should be aware of the unique specifications of your machine as well as have experience in servicing the specific model or similar ice makers. It is also important to ensure that the technician performing the ice machine maintenance uses parts that match the make and model of the ice maker. The supplier or manufacturer of your ice machine may be able to provide you with a qualified technician. Should they not offer this service, find out if they have a list of preferred service providers so that you can find one in your area.

Commercial or industrial ice machines may have to be transported to the factory or workshop for ice machine maintenance. Normally the company performing the maintenance will collect the machine from your premises. This is due to the fact that these ice makers are big and heavy and require a forklift or other specialised equipment for transport to prevent damage to the machine.

To find a qualified technician in your area who has experience in ice machine maintenance for a wide variety of ice makers, please contact us.

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Choosing an Ice Machine for your Bar

You do not need to purchase a great hulking monstrosity when choosing an ice machine for your bar. One or more under counter ice makers can do the job just as well. Any machine that operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year generates a great amount of heat and must be placed where it has access to a clean and cool air flow. Under counter ice machines are designed to operate in small enclosed areas without over heating or malfunctioning. The machines can placed at strategic points around the bar to allow your bar staff easy and convenient access to the ice from a number of points.

These ice machines produce ice cubes in different shapes and designs which are ideal for a variety of applications. A thimble shaped ice cube or superdice ice cubes have a large surface area to cool drinks quickly without melting and watering beverages down. An ice flaker creates a large block of ice that can be shaved or crushed making it perfect for cocktails and smoothies. Gourmet ice cubes are made by freezing layer upon layer of water producing a transparent cube that is aesthetically pleasing. Having more than one ice machine for your bar will give you the benefit of providing your clients with more than one type of ice cube.

You can further enhance the quality of the ice by purchasing a machine with an internal water filter or attaching an external filtering system to the machine. This will provide your patrons with purified ice cubes and minimise the risk of scale build-up in the machine that can damage the working parts. The installation of a filtering system will also enable you to charge a premium for your beverages.

To choose just the right ice machine for your bar, please contact us and we will provide you with a wide range of quality manufactured ice makers.

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Purchase a Quality Icematic Ice Maker

When you purchase an Icematic ice maker, you can be assured that you have invested in a quality product that is reliable and time proven. This range of ice machines meet the demand of small to large enterprises and are even suitable for home use. They are all up to date with latest ice cooling techniques as well as innovations in technology to enable them to maximise ice production while minimising energy consumption. This will assist you in saving money on your monthly water and electricity bill as well as ensuring that you are reducing your carbon footprint. An ozone friendly machine which emits less CFC’s is ideal for the environmentally conscious individual or business.

You can purchase an Icematic ice maker that produces an ice cube that is uniquely suited to the needs of your business. Thimble shaped ice cubes are ideal for cooling drinks quickly as they have a large surface area but do not melt easily and water down beverages. Modular ice cube machines produce a sheet of ice cubes that break apart upon being dropped into the storage bin. This machine is ideal for use in facilities where there is high demand for ice on a constant basis. Ice flakers make a block of dry ice that can be crushed or shaved to keep perishable foods cool and fresh in food displays and buffets. This type of ice can also be used in cocktails and other beverages as an alternative to crushing ice cubes manually.

Your Icematic ice maker comes with a guarantee that is subject to certain terms and conditions. Adhering to these conditions and ensuring that your ice machine is serviced and maintained on a regular basis will lengthen the life of your machine and prevent any malfunction or breakdown.

To purchase an Icematic ice maker from a reputable supplier who will offer you great after sales service as well as parts for your ice machine, please contact us.

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