Manitowoc Warns of Non-OEM Parts

Manitowoc Ice has announced that they have received complaints over the failure of non-OEM parts.  This is a very serious issue and has been addressed on how it can affect the performance and warranty coverage of your ice machine.

Failure to replace parts on your Manitowoc ice machine with OEM parts can result in the following:

• void any manufacturers warranty.
• can cause equipment malfunction and failure.
• significantly reduce the life expectancy and performance of your ice machine.
• create operator or food safety risks.
• void agency certifications.
• nullify insurance coverage.

Replacing solenoid valves with NON-OEM parts can cause shorts, which could potentially cause fires.  Consider the risks before the cost of a part and only purchase OEM ice maker parts.

Ice Maker Parts Shop is an Authorized Manitowoc Parts Dealer and only sells OEM ice machine parts.

Non-OEM Manitowoc Part Warning

What Is A Modular Ice Maker?

I'm often asked what the difference is between a self contained and modular ice maker.  A modular ice maker is an ice machine that has 2 basic parts, the ice machine head and the ice storage bin.  Now, the ice machine could be either water, air, or remote cooled, but if it's seperate from the bin, then it's considered modular.

Another common ice machine would be one that's described as self-contained.  This means that the ice maker and storage bin are physically one piece.  If the ice machine were to fail, you'd have to replace the ice maker and bin.  Although typically less expensive up front, it could cost more to replace in the future in the event of failure, because in a modular unit you'd only have to replace the top(ice maker head) part.

Modular ice makers will also provide the ability for more storage.  In addition, as demand for ice increases, larger bin capacities could be purchased to place under the ice making head.  In some cases this can save the owner money, since only one component of the ice making unit would need to be replaced at one time.

What is a Commercial Ice Machine?

So you have decided to purchase an ice machine, whether for your home, garage, or restaurant, it's important to understand the distinction between a residential and commercial ice machine.  Sure, 100lb of ice per day sounds like a lot, but understand that ice does not go very far and a commercial ice machine is the only way to reach requirements for filling coolers and drinks.

Convenience store owners plan for 1lb of ice per customer that purchase one of their drinks of at least 32oz.  Many times, around here there are even fountain drinks that are 64 oz, so that's a whopping 2lb of ice per serving.  How many drinks do you want or need to sell?

Small restaurants even plan for up to 1.5lb of ice per person.  So, if you are pushing at least 50 customers per hour through your restaurant, that's a need of 400lb of ice per day based on an 8 hour day.  A Commercial ice machine is the only way to reach these demands.

Looking to add an ice machine to your garage or home, a commercial ice machine may still be what you need.  Residential ice machines typically do not have as long a warranty period, produce less ice, and contain much less storage capacities.  A commercial ice machine will come with industry leading warranties, service support, and provide higher capacities for production and storage.

Residential Ice Machine Brands

• Whilrpool
• Sub Zero

Commercial Ice Machine Brands

• Manitowoc
• Scotsman
• Hoshizaki
• Ice-o-Matic
• Corneilius

Does LuminIce Work?

Manitowoc LuminIce

Perhaps you have heard of the new technology called LuminIce, which can be purchased as an accessory for use in new Manitowoc Indigo ice machines.  This technology was designed to eliminate the use of the Guardian System, which helps inhibit bacteria growth inside the food zone of an ice maker.  Although the Guardian Sachets worked well, the LuminIce out performs the old system at almost every measurable interval.

For starters, the LuminIce bulb only needs to be replaced once every 12 months.  The Guardian sachets had to be replaced once per month to be effective.  A less frequent replacement period allows for greater effectiveness, without relying on human interaction, and saves money.

The LuminIce growth inhibitor system costs $624 list price from Manitowoc and a replacement bulb costs $82 each.  The cost is easily recouped as savings for not needing to call service companies to clean your ice maker.

We highly recommend purchasing a LuminIce accessory for a new Indigo ice maker, if your ice maker is exposed to yeast.  This would include ice machines located in bars, sandwich restaurants, or if the machine is located near stored bread.  Yes, the Lumin Ice works!

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.

News From Manitowoc At NAFEM

Promotional material has started coming out about a Manitowoc announcement at NAFEM.  Posters and advertisements are smartly referring to the announcement as 'raising the bar' and creating a 'splash'.  So what's the rumor or what are some theories about the upcoming announcement at the food show?

I'm guessing a new product line of undercounter ice makers developed for Bars.  Taking this a step further, I'm guessing it may be a new machine that makes the octagon cube found in the SM50 ice machine.  People love that larger cube for making mixed drinks, but the SM50A ice maker just does not produce nor hold enough ice to take care of larger bar applications.

Raising the bar refers to a bar application and making a big splash refers to the larger cube.  Already Manitowoc has started reintroducing the 'regular' sized cube to their modular ice maker lines.  However, as of this posting, the only size cubes available in their undercounter ice machine line, from 130 to 270lb production per day is a half dice or dice cube.  There is room for a different style cube in a larger production machine, yet maintaining undercounter characteristics.

Another thing I'm looking forward to from Manitowoc at NAFEM this year is the ability to track information on Indigo ice makers.  We've been promised since launch the ability to use software to help diagnose the Indigo series cubers and even remotely monitor performance and service issues.  So far Manitowoc has only responded that they are working on it and they are currently still field testing.

NAFEM 2013 should be full of announcements from all the ice maker manufacturers and you can guarantee I'll be there to report on the news.