Frozen assets

As the weather warms up, no pub can be without an efficient ice-making machine - Graham Ridout reports

Magner's is widely recognised as being the first cider-maker to actively promote serving cider over

ice. Since then, other cider manufacturers have got in on the act, and, whereas beer sales dropped significantly during the past year, cider volumes have enjoyed growth of 11%.

The arrival of spring will, in all probability, stimulate cider sales even further and thereby create increasing pressure on a pub's ice-making capacity.

Add to this the increases in popularity of soft drinks and long alcoholic drinks such as punches that the warmer weather brings and the time is right for licensees to consider

whether they will be able to make

enough ice to meet demand.

There are, however, numerous firms that can supply ice-makers. For example, Scotsman Ice Systems has recently completed upgrading its 6 Series models.

There are 16 models available, eight ACM Supercubers and eight EC Easy-Fit Supercubers in the range, which are distributed exclusively in the UK by Hubbard Ice Systems.

Each of the ice-makers has been redesigned from scratch, with additional features to make life easier for licensees as well as those who install and service them.

The ACM models have a small footprint and have been designed to reduce ice-making costs while providing extra storage — up to 71% more than previous models in the range.

The Easy-Fit machines mirror the ACM models in terms of dimensions and technical specification and both have production capacities ranging from 24kg to 145kg over 24 hours. The Easy-Fit models can be installed in minutes and connect to standard drains, so they will fit almost

anywhere.

Scotsman claims the machines are the only ones in the UK to feature a built-in electronic pump for water discharge. The ice-makers can be located away from the bar area as long as the machine is within 20m of a drain and not higher than 1.5m or lower than 2m from the drain. This means that they can be placed in the most convenient position available in a venue without requiring costly additional plumbing.

Another feature of all Scotsman machines is a flushing system that prevents build up of limescale by collecting scale in a cap, which can be easily removed and cleaned. Other features include an anti-bacterial pouch and warning lights indicating when maintenance is required.

Hubbard's commercial director Chris Davis remarks: "Space within high-profile hospitality locations is becoming more expensive, so ice machines have to fit into tighter and tighter spaces and have to be more productive. The 6 Series machines not only deliver on size, but on performance as well."

Another manufacturer offering a space-saving ice dispenser is Manitowoc. The company says many venues use ice buckets because there isn't the room for a dispenser. Manitowoc says: "This can raise hygiene issues such as contamination of the ice through hand contact and bacterial build-up as the ice is not stored at low enough temperatures."

Therefore, the company has introduced a slim-line ice dispenser, the SPA160, which measures 559mm wide, 762mm deep and 1,918mm high. The machine has a 54kg storage capacity and is built from durable and corrosion-resisting stainless steel. It also features a built-in agitator that ensures the ice is dispensed without causing blockages.

Available as an optional extra is an automatic self-cleaning system that can be installed on site.

Other ice-machine models available in the wide range of products from the company include: the EC Series of spray-production machines, which make premium quality octagonal cubes; the S Series of modular machines, which have separate storage bins for high-volume production; the Q Series of compact and under-counter machines with integral bins; and more specialist products such as ice-flaker machines. All of Manitowoc's ice-making products are available via distributor Winterhalter.

Lutterworth-based Husky is another with a wide range of mach-ines. At the low end of the capacity range is the 30kg of ice per day model, which is compact at 770mm tall, 500mm wide and 550mm deep. It is priced at £450 plus VAT. Next is the 40kg model, which is £100 more expensive, excluding VAT.

The other machine that would be of interest to licensees is the 60kg machine. All of the small and mid-range machines are supplied with a free in-line water filter. For large operators, Husky has 80kg, 135kg, 225kg and 500kg per day models. All can work efficiently in ambient temperatures of up to 32°C.