What is the Warranty on a Kool-Aire Ice Machine?

The new budget ice machine by Manitowoc, Kool-Aire, has just updated it's warranty agreement.  Any machines purchased, before this change, or after, now enjoy a full 3 year parts and labor warranty.  This is extended from their normal 1 year warranty, at no additional cost or price increase in the marketplace.

This means, you will also enjoy coverage of 5 year parts and labor on the evaporator and 5 year parts, 3 years labor on the new rotary compressor.  This puts the warranty in line with the more expensive Manitowoc Indigo ice machine, making the KoolAire a much more attractive purchase.

So, hold off purchasing your Kool Aire ice machine parts until the warranty is up.  Find an authorized service tech near you to complete warranty service and put more money on your bottom line.  Typically Manitowoc ice machine warranty technicians would also be authorized to complete and file KoolAire warranty.  Just be sure that the issue you are having is a warranty concern and not a basic cleaning or maintenance issue.

Manitowoc NEO Undercounter Ice Maker

The major announcement from Manitowoc was their new line of undercounter ice machines.  Starting in April, the undercounter ice machine line up currently available, the Q130, Q170, Q210, and Q270 will be replaced with a new NEO line of undercounter ice makers.

Manitowoc NEO Undercounter Ice Maker

The new NEO series will include models produce 140lb, 190lb, 240lb, ad 310lb of ice in a 24 hour period.  These new makers will be more efficient, produce more ice, and provide some exciting new features of service technicians.  The most important being the ability to 'lift off' the ice maker cabinet.

An easily accessible undercounter ice maker means that the cost of service and even cleaning should be greatly reduced!  Below are some other highlights of standard features found on the NEO undercounter ice machines.

• Easy Access - Angled door provides a larger opening making ice more visible and easier to access.
• Intelligence - Provides feedback with full bin and service indicators.  Delay function allows you to pause your machine for slow periods or days when you are closed.
• Easy to Clean - Smooth sealed food-zone with removable water trough, distribution tube, and damper door for faster cleaning.  AlphaSan added to key internal components.
• Convenience - Forward-Sliding storage bin allows for easier, quicker access to refrigeration components without having to move the entire ice machine.
• In addition, these are the first undercounter ice machines that can be equipped with LuminIce Growth Inhibitor.

Find out more about the NEO Undercounter Ice Machine at ManitowocIce.com.

Scotsman Under New Ownership

It's official, Scotsman has been sold to the Ali Group for a whopping $575 million.  Ali Group, an Italian company, will be taking over the 800 Scotsman employees and adding to their portfolio of foodservice equipment.  This is in addition to Ali's already 7,000 employees based in 24 countries.

The Ali Group will be adding Scotsman ice machines to their already impressive model line up, which include brands like Beverage-Air, Amana, and Victory.  Their foodservice line covers equipment in cooking, bakery,  meal delivery, refrigeration, washing, ice cream, beverage, contracting, and distribution services.

For more information visit Ali Group website. http://www.aligroup.it/Default.aspx?alias=www.aligroup.it/eng

Ali Group Purchases Scotsman

The Big 3 Ice Machine Manufacturers

When it comes to commercial ice machines, the majority of the market share is split between 3 large manufacturers.  Manitowoc, Hoshizaki, and Scotsman lead  the way for providing quality and lasting commercial ice makers.  Yes, there are smaller providers, but in no way can they compete on the quality and reliability that these three produce.

Manitowoc has the largest market share, as of this posting, with over 40% of the US market in commercial ice maker sales.  It's obvious why, as they lead with the highest quality and longest lasting ice machine on the market.  Although typically priced slightly higher than Hoshizaki or Scotsman, the savings pays off over the life of the machine.  Manitowoc is easier to work on, costs less to maintain, and generally lasts longer than other ice maker manufacturers.

Commercial Ice Machines

Hoshizaki is the second largest provider of commercial ice machines in the US.  They are a Japanese based company, with 2 offices and manufacturing facilities in Georgia.  Hoshizaki ice machines are known for their stainless steel evaporators, which can be cleaned with almost any chemical and keep on working like brand new.  However, they are plagued by being inefficient and hard to clean.

Scotsman is the 3rd largest player in the commercial ice maker market.  They offer a quality machine at a discounted price, by providing machines on a slightly lower quality grade, with a lower price point.  Their latest series of ice maker, known as the Prodigy, aims to combat the perceived lower quality by using technology pioneered by Manitowoc.  Scotsman ice makers are also known to be much more energy efficient than their Hoshizaki competitor machines.

Overrall, going with any of he big 3 manufacturers of commercial ice makers will guarantee you have a good ice machine for your needs.  However, in terms of quality and reliability, Manitowoc has far and away passed the competitive field, so if you can spend a little more money, go with the Cadillac and buy Manitowoc.

Manitowoc Commercial Ice Maker NRA Booth

Below are a few pictures that I snapped at the 2012 National Restaurant Association show in Chicago.  Manitowoc had the largest commercial ice machine booth at the show, with Hoshizaki coming in second, then Scotsman, and finally Ice-O-Matic.  However, as far as straight ice machine lineups, Manitowoc had the largest by far, with Hoshizaki only showing off 2 of their makers.

Manitowoc Ice Maker Lineup At NRA

Manitowoc Booth @ 2012 NRA

Manitowoc Banner Lineup at 2012 NRA

What's Not Covered Under Ice Machine Warranty

If you've purchased a new ice machine, chances are that brand comes with a new warranty as well.  Currently, the commercial ice machine landscape has competitive warranties.  For example, Manitowoc Ice offers 3 years parts and labor on the entire machine, along with an additional 2 years parts warranty on the compressor and a total of 5 years parts and labor on the evaporator.  But that doesn't mean every problem you experience with your ice maker is covered under warranty.

The warranty information, found in the Installation Use and Care Manual of an ice machine, states that normal maintenance is not covered under warranty.  Unfortunately, most ice machine problems arise from failure to do normal routine maintenance.

Cleanliness is the #1 reason ice machines fail or break.  Dirty probes cause the board to misread, leading to a failure to produce ice.  A call to your local service company will fix the problem, but this is not an issue covered under warranty.

If a dirty ice maker is the #1 reason for failure, installation issues would rank as #2.  For example, an ice machine installed with water lines that are too small.  If an ice maker is starving for water it will not produce ice properly and eventually shut down on a safety limit.  Or, if an air-cooled ice maker is installed in a location with poor air flow, the ice maker will shut down on high head pressure.  These are not things covered by warranty and should have been addressed by the person installing the ice machine.

Things to check before placing a service call under the assumption that it will be covered under warranty:

• Is it dirty? Inspect all sensors for scale build up or mold on the plastic and metal parts.
• Was the unit installed properly?  Make sure the ice maker has proper air flow and has a constant water supply.
• Ask the dealer you purchased the machine from if it would be covered.  Most ice maker equipment dealers will be happy to answer questions about the warranty on your new ice machine.
• Check your warranty.  Time flies when you are having fun and so does the warranty on your ice machine.  Some manufacturers provide online tracking of your warranty, look it up before calling for service.

Check the status of your Manitowoc ice machine warranty: http://manitowocice.com/?xhtml=xhtml/mii/us/en/minisite/warranty/warrantyverification.html&xsl=minisite.xsl

By providing the service company or manufacturer with your model and serial number you can verify the warranty on your ice machine.  But be warned, warranties vary from company to company, along with install location.  Most home installs have a shorter warranty period than commercial installs, even if the ice makers are the same models.