Self-contained or modular
A self-contained ice machine makes and stores ice in one cabinet. A modular machine is a head that only makes ice and sits on a separate storage bin. Your busiest day's ice use and the floor space decide it.
Self-contained machines
Bromic lists eight self-contained models making from under 20 kg to 134 kg of ice a day, with built-in bins holding 4 kg to 50 kg. The four hollow cube units suit cafes, small bars and staff rooms, and three of them are only 334 mm wide, small enough for a tight spot behind a bar. The four solid cube units make heavier 25 g or 27 g cubes that melt slowly in a drink, from 36 kg a day up to 134 kg a day for a busy venue.
Modular heads and storage bins
For higher demand there are seven heads: three flake ice machines at 200, 300 and 410 kg a day, and four half dice machines at 160, 250, 320 and 485 kg a day. Flake ice packs around seafood and produce on display, while 10 g half dice cubes fill glasses and jugs quickly. The four storage bins hold 129 kg to 406 kg. The bin is half the decision: it should carry you through a service while the head catches up, so ask Sam which head and bin suit each other and your space. The flake heads and every self-contained model use R290, a natural refrigerant, while the half dice heads run on R404a.
Water filter kit
Bromic also lists a water filter kit for its ice machines. On Perth water, a filter is the easiest way to slow scale build-up.
Water, drain and power
An ice machine needs more than a power point. Sort these out before the machine arrives:
- Water. A cold water supply with an isolating tap near the machine. Bromic lists water use from 1.9 L an hour on the smallest hollow cube unit to 22.3 L an hour on the largest half dice head.
- Drain. Melt water and rinse water have to go somewhere. Most ice machines drain by gravity, so the drain point must sit below the outlet with a steady fall, and a floor waste close by saves a lot of plumbing.
- Power. 12 of the 15 machines take a standard 10 A plug. The IM0250HDM and IM0320HDM come with a 16 A plug and the IM0485HDM with a 30 A plug, which need a matching outlet on a suitable circuit, so book an electrician before install day if you do not have one.
- Heat. 11 of the 15 machines are rated for rooms up to 43 °C; the four half dice heads are rated to 40 °C. A cramped storeroom with no airflow still cuts ice output on hot days, whatever the rating.
Installation
Sam places and levels the machine, connects the water and drain, fits the filter if you are using one, and watches the first harvests drop to confirm it is making ice properly before he leaves. A modular head is fitted and sealed to its bin on site. If an old machine is coming out, ask Sam about taking it away. If you have your own plumber and just need the equipment, Bromic ice machines can be sent by courier.
Cleaning, servicing and repairs
Ice is food, so the inside of the machine has to stay clean. Every ice machine needs regular descaling and sanitising, and on harder Perth water that can mean every three or four months. Sam services and repairs Bromic ice machines, including slow production, thin cubes, leaks and machines that stop harvesting. A repair visit is $75 + GST to attend and $180 + GST per hour plus parts, with the price of the fix agreed before he starts. See ice machine repairs and cleaning, maintenance plans or the rest of the Bromic range.
