How to Choose an Industrial Ice Machine for Large-Scale Production to Ensure Consistent Daily Output?

In sectors reliant on large-scale industrial ice production, such as food processing, aquaculture, chemical cooling, and large-scale construction, ensuring stable daily ice production is crucial for continuous production and cost control. Choosing the right ice-making equipment based on one’s own production needs, application scenarios, and operational goals is a critical decision for businesses. Common industrial ice machine can be mainly divided into three categories: block ice machine, tube ice machine, and plate ice machine. Each one excels at specific things and struggles with others. Understanding which strengths matter for your operation—that’s the whole ballgame. Get that right and you’ll have reliable production for decades. Get it wrong and you’re constantly fighting your equipment.

Choose Industrial Ice Machine Based On the Application Scenario

When choosing an industrial ice machine, the primary task is to understand how the physical properties of different ice types match your end-use application. This directly determines cooling efficiency, operating costs, and final product quality.

1. Block ice machine: long-term storage and long-distance transportation

Block ice machine produces large, solid blocks of ice that melt slowly and are easy to stack. These characteristics determine their core applications:

Fisheries and aquaculture: This is standard equipment for deep-sea fishing vessels and coastal fishing ports. Large blocks of ice make efficient use of storage space in the ship’s hold, melt slowly, and provide a continuous cooling source for operations at sea that can last for several days.

Remote areas and emergency reserves: For food processing plants in remote areas with inconvenient logistics or in situations where it is necessary to establish emergency ice reserves, block ice is a reliable choice due to its extremely long storage period.

Special industrial cooling: In scenarios such as temperature control in chemical processes and cooling of concrete mixing, the slow and uniform melting characteristics of block ice make it easy to control the cooling curve.

2. Tube Ice Machine: pursuing high purity and rapid cooling

Hollow tubular ice produced by tube ice machine is characterized by its crystal clarity, high density, high hardness, slow melting, and extremely high hygiene standards. Typical applications include:

Food processing and high-end catering: This ice maker is also suitable for cooling food that comes into direct contact with it, such as for high-end seafood displays, sushi bars, and high-end beverages such as cocktails and whiskey. It is not only hygienic and safe, but also slows down dilution and preserves flavor.

Biopharmaceuticals and Laboratories: Transportation of biological products with stringent requirements for ice source purity, cooling of laboratory samples, etc.

Chemical and process cooling: Cooling of specific chemical reaction processes that require clean ice sources to prevent contamination.

3. Plate Ice Machine: large-scale uniform cooling

Plate ice machine produces plate-shaped ice of adjustable thickness, characterized by uniform cooling, good air permeability, and minimal damage to product surfaces. Their main applications focus on:

Large-scale seafood processing: In large seafood processing centers, plate ice is very suitable for bulk, comprehensive cooling of fish, shrimp and other seafood, as the ice has a large contact area with the product and is gentle.

Batch processing in food factories: used for pre-cooling on assembly lines in meat processing plants, or for temporary preservation and storage of large quantities of ingredients in central kitchens.

Building and Industrial Cooling: This ice maker is also widely used in aggregate precooling or mixing water cooling in concrete mixing plants, as well as some industrial processes that require large-area uniform heat dissipation.

Select Industrial Ice Machine Based on Ice-making Characteristics

1.Block ice machine

Block ice machines (such as the Focusun direct cooling block ice machine) produce large, solid blocks of ice. Their core advantages lie in their extremely slow melting rate and excellent stacking and storage characteristics. Block ice is the preferred choice for users who need to establish strategic ice storage facilities (such as during the fishing season), conduct long-distance cold chain transportation (such as deep-sea fishing), or operate in remote areas. Its modular design simplifies installation and is particularly suitable for scenarios with limited space and infrastructure.

2.Tube ice machine

Tube ice machines produce hollow tubular ice that is high in density, hard, crystal clear, and melts slowly. Its core value lies in its extremely high hygiene standards (compliant with HACCP/FDA) and purity, making it ideal for applications involving direct contact with food and pharmaceuticals, or for high-end beverages, such as food processing plants, biopharmaceutical companies, or luxury hotels. Its flexible deployment (small integrated or large modular) can meet daily production needs ranging from 1 ton to 30 tons.

3.Plate ice machine

Plate ice machine produces plate-shaped ice with an adjustable thickness of 10-15 mm. It falls between block ice and crushed ice in terms of shelf life and stacking convenience, and features good air permeability and minimal damage to product surfaces. Plate ice machines (especially those using thermal fluorine de-icing technology) offer high de-icing efficiency and low energy consumption, making them ideal for industries requiring large-volume, continuous, and gentle cooling, such as large seafood processing centers, concrete mixing plants, or chemical process cooling.

Common Questions About Industrial Ice Machine

Q1. What is the production capacity of block ice machines, tube ice machines, and disc ice machines?

The block ice machine has a production capacity of 1 to 30 tons per day.

The production capacity of tube ice machines is 1 to 30 tons per day.

The production capacity of the disc ice machine is 1 to 32 tons per day.

Q2. Can these ice-making devices be used in the food industry?

Of course. Focusun controls water quality safety from the source, and its ice-making equipment is made of 304 food-grade material, so the ice produced can directly contact food or be used in the food industry.

Q3. Does the industrial ice machine support customization?

Of course. Focusun has been deeply involved in the refrigeration industry for many years, possessing a professional technical and after-sales team. With its extensive experience in refrigeration, it can provide customers with the most suitable refrigeration solutions.

Conclusion: Choosing an Efficient and Safe Industrial Ice-making Solution – Focusun Industrial Ice Machine

Choosing a large-scale industrial ice maker is essentially choosing a “production material” that is deeply integrated with your production process. If your core needs are storage and transportation, a block ice machine is the cornerstone; if you pursue cleanliness and quality, a tube ice machine is the benchmark; if you focus on batch processing and efficient turnover, a plate ice machine is a powerful tool.

The secret to ensuring Nissan’s stability lies in: first, clearly identifying the irreplaceable needs of its core scenarios, and then selecting a professional industrial ice machine manufacturer (like Focusun) with mature technology and high reliability in the corresponding fields and who can provide flexible production capacity configuration (modular design).

Focusun offer not just individual devices, but complete solutions ranging from front-end technical consulting and customized solutions to ongoing support, helping you build a stable, efficient, and sustainable industrial ice-making system.