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

Manitowoc At NRA Chicago

NRA 2012 starts tomorrow in Chicago, where all the big restaurant equipment manufacturers will be showing off their equipment.  Starting tomorrow May 5th and stretching into Tuesday May 8th, this show covers the latest in advancements in food service technology.  In attendance of course will be the big 3 in ice machine manufacturing, Manitowoc, Scottsman, and Hoshizaki.

Manitowoc usually has a great turn out, showcasing their latest tech and this year the focus will be on the Indigo Ice Machine.  This new model from Manitowoc features 24 hour monitoring, new efficiency improvements, LCD display, and some awesome accessories that will save the restaurant owner money.

Other announcements from Manitowoc at the 2012 NRA include:

• Undercounter machines now capable of producing regular sized ice cubes.
• New Kitchenconnect tech.
• New flaker and nugget ice machine sizes.
• Mention of R290 refrigerant for ice machines built for European markets.
• Duratech covering technology.
• New RNS prototype ice machine stand.
• Also, stop by their booth for samples of Manitowoc nugget ice.

Check back to this blog soon for pictures from NRA 2012.

Nugget Ice May Not Be For You

Nugget Ice

Nugget ice is marketed as a soft, chewable pellet.  It's appeal comes from those who primarily like to eat their ice, instead of have it just cool a drink.  Possibly one of the more popular places to enjoy nugget ice is at Sonic chain restaurants.  It's popularity is real, but nugget ice may not be the best option for your business.

Consider this, nugget ice is a very wet ice and is produced much differently than conventional cubed ice.  A wet ice is more difficult to produce and requires a special evaporator, to extrude the ice.  This special evaporator is shaped like a spiral, forcing the water up through the evaporator, chilling it as it goes, and extruding it out enough to cut.

The ability to spiral ice requires a very strong motor and gear box assembly.  The evaporator is often times under enormous strain, compounded by being dirty and lack of maintenance.  It becomes problematic when the evaporator can no longer turn, eventually breaking some component within the ice machine.  Often times the motor and gearbox will break down, leaking oils and grease into the ice.

Most nugget ice machines require complete break down and cleanings at least once a quarter.  The cleanings are much more involved, compared to how to clean other ice machines.  Most of the time a professional technician is required, which is costly.  Failure to clean regularly will result in breakdowns.  Compared to traditional cube ice machines, which would simply shut down until cleaned.

Replacement parts for nugget ice machines can cost twice as much as their cuber counter parts.  A motor and gear box can easily reach $800 or more.  Nugget machines also cost more up front, require higher maintenance costs, more expensive replacement parts, and actually come with shorter warranties.

• Higher up front cost.
• Higher maintenance costs.
• More expensive replacement parts.
• Shorter warranties.

Please keep this in mind when deciding to purchase a nugget ice machine.  Unless you are in an industry that requires nugget ice, like the medical field, or as a luxury item, nugget ice may not be for you.

Manitowoc Ice Machine Technician Factory Service School Info

Did you know that Manitowoc provides training at the factory, to properly diagnose and repair their ice machines?  These schools are for service technicians who are already trained in refrigeration and maintain an EPA card, amateurs need not apply.

The service school is a week long event, where technicians are provided with all the information necessary to improve the speed and completion of their ice machine maintenance.  Manitowoc provides literature, tools, and ice machines that they can simulate problems with.  This allows the technician to learn in a controlled environment, guided by Manitowoc factory service reps.

Tuition for attending the school is $795, which would include lodging.  Please see the registration form below for more information.

How To Look Up Manitowoc Parts Online

It's not always convenient to call the factory, be put on hold, or wait for a call back.  Thankfully, Manitowoc Ice has placed all of their parts breakdowns online in PDF format, so parts research can be done on your own.

All ice machines are listed directly on their website, no matter how old or what type.  This article will walk you through the steps of looking up your own ice maker parts, so that you can make an educated decision when ordering ice maker parts online.

1. First, point your browser to ManitowocIce.com

2. Next, scroll down to the bottom of the page.  Here you will see in the center, a Literature Tab, with a Downloads label.

3. Here you will use the first drop down menu to select 'Parts/Catalog List'.

4. After selection the second drop down menu will become active, allowing you to select the model of Manitowoc Ice maker you are looking to do parts research on.

5. Last, after choosing your model number, the 3rd drop down menu will become active, where you can select the exact model number of the machine you are looking parts up for.

6. Finally, a download button will become active.  Clicking this will take you to the PDF document with a complete parts break down for your Manitowoc ice maker.

I would recommend viewing Manitowoc parts breakdowns with either Adobe Reader software or Foxit.  If you have any questions, our good friends at Ice Maker Parts Shop are happy to help with parts research.

Manitowoc Ice Machines Manuals for Service Techs

There are many different Manitowoc ice makers on the market and even more different methods to diagnose and repair.  It’s impossible to remember everything, that’s why professional service technicians use the help of a book, known as a Service Tech Handbook.  The manual is treated just like any other tool, like a screw driver, this book should be on you anytime you work on an ice machine.

Unlike the information found in an installation use and care manual, Service Tech Handbooks go into detailed maintenance information.  In addition to covering proper installation techniques, details on line sizes, temperature requirements, and operation details are included.  Each technician handbook comes with all the information you need to properly diagnose an ice maker.  These same books are the same ones used in house by Manitowoc service reps, to help diagnose machines over the phone.

Many of the most common problems associated with faulty ice makers can be solved with simple flow charts.  These charts, included inside each handbook, provide step by step processes to follow.  By filling in the information asked, the chart points you to the problematic ice maker part.

Just looking for refrigeration pressures or even basic cycle times?  Manitowoc service manuals provide all the details you need, covering varying temperature statistics, wiring diagrams, and sequence of operations.  All of the information included in the manual was written and designed by Manitowoc Ice.  The information is guaranteed to be accurate and relevant to the ice maker series you purchased.

Most Manitowoc ice maker boards provide simple safety limit codes, to help in the diagnosis.  However, the codes are not always readily explained, these Service Tech Handbooks solve that problem.  Each handbook covers what the safety limit means, what could have caused it, and ways to fix it.

Ultimately, a Service Tech Handbook is the secret weapon of the foodservice repair industry.  Professionals that would charge upwards of $80 or more per hour to repair your ice maker, turn to the help of a Manitowoc Service Manual.  Whether you have a water, electrical, or refrigeration related problem, these manuals will help you get your ice maker back to peak performance.

Find Manitowoc Ice Machines Manuals for just $10 each at IceMakerPartsShop.com.

Download free KoolAire Service Technician Handbooks from Ice Maker Parts Shop.

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.