Cube or crescent, and how much of it
Hoshizaki, the Japanese ice machine maker, has 44 cube and crescent machines on this page: 35 in the IM cube range, seven KM crescent units and two KMD crescent heads.
IM cube machines
The IM range makes hard, clear cubes and covers the widest spread. Rated output at 21 °C runs from 18 kg a day on the IM-30CNE-25 to 205 kg on the IM-240NE-28. The IM-30 cabinets are just 398 mm wide and under 800 mm tall, so they tuck under a cafe or bar bench, holding about 11.5 kg. The IM-240 self-contained uprights stand 1,580 mm tall and store about 110 kg.
The closing number in most IM codes tracks cube size. The IM-240NE-28 drops about 140 cubes from a 3.2 kg cycle, while the IM-240NE-21 drops about 360 from a 2.1 kg cycle, so the lower number means smaller cubes that fill a glass faster. Two units make something different: the IM-65PE-Q makes ball ice at 28 kg a day, and the IM-65PE-LM makes an extra large cube at 38 kg.
KM and KMD crescent machines
The seven KM units are self-contained, from the KM-40C HC at 41 kg a day with 16 kg of storage to the KM-140C HC at 130 kg with 55 kg. The two KMD heads make 175 kg (KMD-201AB) and 255 kg (KMD-270AB) a day and sit on a separate bin.
Heads that need a bin
Eight listings only make ice: six IM-240 heads and the two KMD units. Three of the IM-240 heads are low and wide at 1,084 mm across and 500 mm high, and the IM-240XPE-28 and IM-240DNE-28 are sold as stackable. Storage bins, top kits and water filters are on the Hoshizaki bins and dispensers page.
Before you order
- Room heat. Every IM model with a spec sheet is rated for rooms from 1 °C to 40 °C, the KMD heads from 7 °C to 40 °C, and the KM units only up to 38 °C. Hoshizaki also lists output at 32 °C air and 21 °C water, and the gap is real: the IM-30CPE-25 falls from 25 kg to 18 kg and the KM-60C HC from 52 kg to 37 kg. Size from the summer figure.
- Drain. A gravity drain needs a waste lower than the machine outlet. Ten listings are named as drain pump versions, seven IM models with -F codes and three KM units, for benches with no floor waste close by.
- Water. Run a cold supply with an isolating tap. Cube machines circulate more water than they freeze and send the rest to drain, so they use more than they turn into ice: the IM-65PE-28 is listed at about 120 L a day to make 48 kg. Add a filter on Perth water.
- Power and heat out. Every model with a power listing except the KMD-201AB names a 10 amp plug. An IM-240PE self-contained unit also puts 2,580 W of heat into the room.
- Refrigerant. 32 of the 44 use R290, a natural refrigerant: all 25 IM PE models and all seven KM units.
Supply, install and service
Sam checks the water, drain and power before you order. On the day he places and levels the machine, connects it, fits a filter if you are using one, and waits for the first harvests to drop full, clear cubes. If an old machine is coming out, ask Sam about removing it. If your own plumber is connecting it, the machine can be sent by courier instead.
After that he descales, sanitises and repairs Hoshizaki cube and crescent machines, including ones bought elsewhere. A visit is $75 + GST to attend and $180 + GST an hour plus parts, with the repair priced before work starts. See Hoshizaki ice machine repairs, ice machine cleaning and repairs, maintenance plans or the whole Hoshizaki range.
