Flake ice–it has our hearts here at Tri-Point. If you had the chance to tune in earlier this week, you got to find out what exactly flake ice is and for what industries it’s best. Having had the chance? Just hop on over here to take a gander!
Now, if you’re thinking that flake ice might be the right choice for your business, you’re probably itching to know how a flake ice machine actually works. Well, you’ve come to the right place!
Recap
To get y’all caught up, let’s revisit exactly what a commercial ice flaker maker is. Flake ice is a very unique type of ice that takes on the form and texture that resembles snow. It has a wide variety of applications ranging from snow cones to keeping fresh cuts of salmon cold in the display case.
This ice’s best feature is its amazing ability at cooling products down quickly and maintain cold temperatures for much longer than other ice choices.
How does it work?
Flake ice machines, for the most part, function like any other ice machine, but with a few tweaks involved along the way.
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how it works from the very beginning. Although ice machines may seem like relatively simple machines, they’ve got a lot of moving parts at play in order to deliver you that ice!
The first thing that happens in a flake ice maker is the signal that is given to the water valve which tells the machine to let water into it. With other ice machines that produce cube or gourmet ice, the water would typically flood into a mold. However, this is one of the key aspects in which a flake ice machine differs from the rest. For flake ice, instead of water flooding a mold, it is instead sprayed onto an ice-making surface to produce soft sheets of ice.
Next, the same valve that released the water is sent a signal to then provide a quick blast of hot air–just enough to melt the ice off the sheet, as if it were being harvested.
Once the sheet of ice falls off the ice-making surface, the ice goes through arguably the best (and most important) step. This step being..the ice crusher! Here, we’re sure you can guess exactly what happens: the sheet of ice is crushed and ground into its signature powdery form.
From here, the powdered ice falls directly into the dispensing bin, and it’s ready for use!
Commercial Ice Flaker Maker Maintenance
Although flake ice machines work a little differently than your run-of-the-mill cubed ice maker, maintenance remains a very high priority for these machines. Regular maintenance of your ice machine will not only elongate its life, but it’ll also make the product itself taste better and ensure quality ice.
Setting your ice maker machine up on a regular maintenance schedule is a surefire way to make sure that your machine is running smoothly and efficiently. With regular maintenance comes an inspection to make sure that everything is in tip-top shape, as well as a good cleaning to ensure that your ice maker is harboring any mold or bacteria.
Regular maintenance can also save you and your business a good hunk of change in the long run. Any large, complex machine is going to need repair at some point in its life. Make sure that when it does happen, you’re able to catch it early before it can tumble out of control. With regularly scheduled maintenance, our experienced technicians can intercept potential problems or needed repairs for your ice maker before it becomes a bigger or more costly issue.
Call Tri-Point Refrigeration, Inc Today!
Not sure where to begin? Start right here by giving us a call here at Tri-Point Refrigeration, Inc and we would be ecstatic in helping you in your ice machine journey! We’re excited to help you along the way, and our professional technicians can help find the perfect spot for your machine. With good placement and regular servicing, we can keep your equipment running smoothly and healthily, while also extending the reach of your dollar.
For a direct line to any of our employees ready on the line to help you, please call…(512) 651-4565 for our Austin, Texas community (806) 686-0050 for our Lubbock, Texas community. Or check out our website at https://www.tripointrefrigeration.com/icemachines