Why Flake Ice

Flake ice has more than 17,000 sq. ft. (1,579 sq. meters) of surface area per ton of ice, providing greater cooling efficiency than any other ice.

Flake ice is formed in dry, flat flakes which flow freely and provide greater contact area than any other type of ice. These thin flakes melt quickly to cool products efficiently. Heat transfer occurs when ice melts, so the faster ice melts, the faster it draws heat from your product and the faster it cools.

Flake ice melts rapidly to dissipate heat and add moisture to mixtures. This aids the blending process and will not damage mixing equipment.

Flake ice packs well and cushions products against damage. Its flat shape will not create indentations or cause bruising of perishable products.

Flake ice is economical to produce, requiring only 1.3 tons of refrigeration (TR) per ton of ice (5 kW of refrigeration per metric ton) from 60ºF (16º C) water. Unlike other types of ice making, flake ice does not require a defrost cycle, so it uses less energy and requires a smaller refrigeration load.

Flake ice is not exposed to ambient conditions or mechanical handling from the time it is produced until it goes into storage. Therefore, it is more sanitary than types of ice which require more mechanical and human handling.

Flake ice is sub-cooled, so it is completely dry. Since there is no free water as with other types of ice, flake ice will not fuse together in a storage bin or clog delivery systems. During storage it forms a thin surface crust, which preserves the ice for use at a later time. Dry, free-flowing ice flakes are available for immediate use by simply breaking the crust.

Flake ice is uniquely suited for high volume applications. Ice produced using a defrost cycle, such as shell, tube or plate ice, carries a lot of free water with it into the storage bin. This water creates problems with corrosion, bacteria growth and iceberg formation in the bin.

Flake ice makers recycle all unfrozen water back to the ice maker so no water is wasted. This ensures that all water is converted to ice and conserves water resources.