Why Buy A Neo Undercounter Ice Machine?

Manitowoc's NEO undercounter ice machines have been making waves, with their advancement in ice making technology. The newly redesigned cubers now have features to make it easier for service, front facing notification lights, delay ice buttons, and more.  What's more is that these machines are priced competitively, so you can have the Cadillac of ice machines for the price of a Chevette.

The #1 benefit to the new NEO ice makers is the ability to remove the storage bin from the unit.  This allows access to all the refrigeration components, fan motors, water pumps, inlet valves and other components.  With just a few latches, unplug the control board, and unhook the drain, you can then slide the one piece bin straight off the front.  So if the ice maker is crammed under a counter, servicing has immediately become easier!

Next, the indicator lights on the front of the machine let you know what's going on inside.  If service is needed, a pretty little wrench light comes on.  If the machine is currently making ice, it'll let you know that as well.  Perhaps you want to delay the ice machine for awhile because of the noise and you are having a meeting, the NEO can now accommodate.  Simply push the delay button to trigger a delayed ice making cycle, that then automatically puts the ice machine back to making ice.

In 2013 the NEO was awarded the ACHR Design Award, thanks to it's innovative design and functionality.

"We are very pleased to receive this recognition from our service contractor community," states Rick Showers-Vice President of Marketing, Manitowoc Ice. "This award acknowledges our commitment to developing industry leading, energy efficient, operator-friendly ice machines."

With NEO you can have ice when and where you need it, without the need for extra space.  It breathes out the front, so it feels right at home underneath a counter top.  For more information, visit the official Manitowoc NEO web page, for more features and benefits.

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.