Shane Gannaway on April 22, 2016 0 Comments Manitowoc Ice A pillar of the food service industry for over 50 years, Manitowoc started in 1902 as a commercial shipbuilding and ship-repair service that later started dabbling in the crane industry. By the mid-20s, Manitowoc had started its refrigeration line. Today, Manitowoc boasts that it is the USA’s number one selling brand of ice machines. This is in part due to their commitment to customer service, reliability, and energy efficiency. Of course, when it really comes down to what makes this company such a fantastic provider of commercial ice making products, you’ll need to dig a little deeper. Manitowoc Ice has been around since 1964, and since their birth they’ve been continuing to innovate in terms of technology and energy efficiency. This means they are not only creating products that satisfy consumers’ needs and wants, but also making sure their appliances are ethically made right here in the United States of America. In addition, the process involved in making Manitowoc products is also environmentally sound and conscientious. It’s admitted by the company that “building the perfect ice machine” is not an easy task. However, Manitowoc utilizes a number of strategies in order to make sure they provide the highest quality ice machine and ice machine accessories to their customers. From their intelligent Indigo Series, to their powerful NEO line of undercounter units, to the introduction of the QuietCube that came along with the popular Q-Series, Manitowoc has consistently produced innovations and appliances that continue to remain relevant in the world of commercial ice machines. Manitowoc’s Mastery of the Ice Machine It’s important to research any brand you feel like purchasing high-grade performance equipment from. Even though Manitowoc is a leader in the industry and incredibly reputable, figuring out which type of machine will best suit your needs can be a challenge if you do not know exactly what you are looking for. In this way, taking a close look at Manitowoc Ice can only be beneficial. Be a Big Shot Ideal for the fan of the cocktail, the Big Shot Self Contained ice machine actually makes large cubes that melt slowly and dilute the drink as little as possible. These cubes do this while simultaneously maintaining their shape and cooling down the beverage. These big gourmet cubes that the Big Shot spits out are crystal clear and great tasting as well. This is because the Big Shot machine itself is a high-performance Manitowoc ice maker. This powerful appliance can pump out over 300 pounds of Big Shot ice cubes, which translates to about 2,000 individual large cubes. This unit comes in stainless steel and helps fight against corrosion. Indigo = Intelligence Borne out of what Manitowoc refers to as “Intelligent Thinking Inside the Box,” the Indigo Series of ice machines is meant specifically for the ice professionals. Essentially, this line is for industries in which ice is critical to business. These units sport an EasyRead digital display in order to maximize temperature control and management. This modular line of ice machines is varied and there are a number of differently sized units. It’s important to know that with an Indigo Series unit you’ll also need some sort of ice storage bin, seeing how these appliances are specifically designed just to output large amounts of cubes, flakes, or nuggets. Some modular Manitowoc units can produce up to 1,200 pounds of dice-type ice in a day. Additionally, some units offer a lot of other features that help to make the Indigo line as popular as it is today, such as the DuraTech exterior which makes cleaning and maintenance easier than ever. This device can run intelligent diagnostics on ice production and even comes with an acoustical ice-sensing probe. Unique Storage for Unique Ice A powerful modular unit that can output hundreds of pounds of ice a day is going to need a storage bin that can support that much ice. Manitowoc has storage bins made from DuraTech material, which when compared to the industry standard 304-stainless steel vastly out performs the competition. It helps prevent against finger prints and smudging, but more importantly DuraTech surfaces have superior corrosion resistance. For example, in accelerated salt-spray testing, DuraTech Manitowoc units look virtually unchanged even after 144 hours of exposure. From the B-Style series of ice storage bins, some DuraTech stainless steel models can hold up to 430 pounds of ice, as well as feature a stay-open door design that allows the user to even more easily scoop out ice. NEO: The Chosen Ice Series Relative to the other series’ from Manitowoc, the NEO line is very new. Having arrived in 2013, this undercounter series of machines are stars as far as efficient energy consumption goes. In fact, these ice machines can lower energy consumption by up to 10% when paired next to other Manitowoc models. They also use 25% less water. This is the kind of ice machine that is meant to guarantee ice anywhere you want it, anytime you want it. In essence, it’s meant to be an all-in-one appliance that should tackle any and all of your ice making needs. Take a look at some of the specific models, such as the NEO undercounter dice ice machine, and you’ll find that it’s easy to believe the hype. Not only are these models Energy Star rated, but they also produce more ice than older, outdated models. The fact that some of these units are compact–just over two feet wide–but can still produce up to 320 pounds of ice a day is a testament to the sheer efficiency of Manitowoc’s ice machines. Height-wise, some of these machines don’t even measure as much as 40 inches, which is desirable if you are looking for a real undercounter commercial unit. With an included ergonomic scoop, bright LED display, and EZ glide door, any NEO ice machine truly is The One. Ice for All The ice related products Manitowoc Ice makes doesn’t end with just ice machines and ice storage bins. They make ice and beverage dispensers, countertop ice makers, water filters, and even drain pumps for their appliances. Manitowoc ice machines come in an accessible stainless steel and black design that helps them fit in with almost any commercial environment. Whether you’re looking for an all-in-one undercounter machine loaded with complementary features or a center mounted bagger addition to your modular and storage bin combo, Manitowoc has you covered. One shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, and the previously stated claim that suggests Manitowoc’s commitment to customer service, reliability, and energy efficiency needn’t be taken at face value. With only a minor amount of reading and research, you’ll discover that the boasts are true. Manitowoc is the clear choice for your commercial ice-related needs.