1000 lb Ice Machines

Who needs a 1000 lb ice machine?

At about 1,000 lb a day you are supplying a large operation: a 600-seat restaurant, a 200-room hotel's guest floors, a hospital kitchen, a stadium concourse, a supermarket seafood department or a busy banquet hall. Using common planning figures:

• Restaurants: about 650 seats at 1.5 lb each
• Bars and nightclubs: about 330 seats at 3 lb each
• Hotels: guest ice for about 200 rooms at 5 lb each

Most operations at this size also think about backup, because a single machine failing means no ice. See the section on one head vs two below.

The cooling choice decides your hot-day output

This is the most important decision at 1,000 lb, and ICETRO's IM-1100 family shows it clearly. It is the same head in three cooling versions:

The air-cooled version has the highest rating but the lowest hot-day output, because it depends on the room's air. The water-cooled version keeps 97% of its rating. The remote version sits in between and moves heat and noise outside.

Read air-cooled vs water-cooled ice machines and our remote condenser guide.

Every 1000 lb class head compared

Sorted by hot-day output where published. All heads need 208-230V; the ITV A3 and W3 versions are three-phase. Specifications from each product page.

What stands out

• Most ice on a hot day: the Hoshizaki KM-1130MAK2 makes 1,080 lb/day at 90/70 from an air-cooled 30-inch head, keeping 91% of its rating.
• Most efficient: Ice-O-Matic's CIM1126 and CIM1136 use 3.7 kWh per 100 lb. The water-cooled ITV SPIKA MS1000W2F uses 3.7 too, but uses much more water.
• Legacy units: the Manitowoc IDT1200A (replaced by IDP1000A) and RNF1100A (replaced by RNP1100A) are listed as legacy. The Manitowoc IDP1000AP is a current Manitowoc option in this class.
• 22-inch options: the Ice-O-Matic CIM1126, ITV IQF 1200 and IQN 1200 make 1,000+ lb/day from a 22-inch cabinet.

Water-cooled heads: what the water costs

Water-cooled machines use water to carry heat away, on top of the water that becomes ice. ITV's chip heads show the scale: the IQ 900 A (air) lists 4.9 gallons per 100 lb, the IQ 900 W (water-cooled) 20 gallons. At 1,000 lb a day, that's about 150 extra gallons a day, or roughly 55,000 gallons a year. At a combined water and sewer cost of $0.01-0.02 per gallon, that's about $550-1,100 a year. Water-cooled can still be the right choice in a hot room, but compare it with a remote condenser first.

One head or two?

For hospitals, hotels and stadiums, two smaller heads are usually worth it. Compare options on our 500 lb ice machines page.

Bins for 1000 lb heads

A 1,000 lb head usually sits on a 500-1,000 lb bin of matching width. Examples:

Putting a 30-inch head on a 48-inch bin needs an adapter. Confirm compatibility on the product page. See ice storage bins.

Running costs at 900 lb a day (air-cooled)

At this size, efficiency differences add up to over $600 a year. See our operating cost guide.

Which 1000 lb head should you buy?

Installation

• Electrical: a dedicated 208-230V circuit, single-phase for most; three-phase for the ITV A3 and W3 versions. Read our electrical requirements guide.
• Water: filtration sized for about 1,000 lb/day, such as the Manitowoc AR-40000-P or Hoshizaki H9320-52 twin system. See water filters.
• Drain: separate gravity drains for head and bin; water-cooled heads also drain condenser water.
• Space: allow overhead clearance for the head on its bin and service access to the front.

Worked example: a 250-room hotel

A full-service hotel has 250 rooms, a 120-seat restaurant, a 50-seat bar and a ballroom for 400.

• Guest ice: 250 x 5 lb = 1,250 lb a day, usually spread across floor stations or dispensers.
• Restaurant and bar: 120 x 1.5 + 50 x 3 = 330 lb a day.
• Banquets: about 400 lb per event, plus kitchen use.

A common design: dispensers or small heads on guest floors, plus one 1000 lb class head in the main kitchen for the restaurant, bar and banquets. The Hoshizaki KM-1130MAK2 (1,080 lb at 90/70) on an 800-900 lb bin covers about 730 lb of daily kitchen and banquet use with headroom and stores enough for a large event.

Bin sizing at 1,000 lb a day

A 1,000 lb head refills a bin at only about 40 lb an hour on a hot day. If a banquet needs 400 lb in the hour before service, that ice must already be in the bin. Size the bin to your largest single-period demand plus a buffer. That's usually 500-1,000 lb at this size. Running the head overnight to fill the bin is normal practice.

Single-phase or three-phase?

Most 1000 lb heads run on 208-230V single-phase. ITV's IQ 900 A3 and W3 chip heads are three-phase versions. Three-phase is common in larger commercial buildings and spreads the electrical load across three conductors. Use it if your building has it at the install location; otherwise choose a single-phase head. Your electrician can confirm what's available.

Running water-cooled and remote heads responsibly

If you choose water-cooled for a hot room, ask about water-saving options and check local codes first; some cities restrict once-through water-cooled equipment. If you choose a remote condenser, plan the condenser location (roof or outside wall), the line-set route and length allowed by the manufacturer, and professional installation. Both choices protect output in hot rooms. Remote condensers do it without the extra water use. See remote line sets.

Common mistakes

1. Comparing air-cooled ratings to water-cooled. Air-cooled heads lose the most in heat.
2. Undersizing the bin. A 1,000 lb head refills only about 40 lb an hour.
3. Forgetting the circuit. Every head here needs 208-230V.
4. Buying legacy stock without checking support. Two Manitowoc models are legacy.
5. Relying on one machine where ice is critical. Plan backup.

Related collections

• Industrial ice machines above 1,000 lb/day
• 600 lb ice machines and 500 lb ice machines
• Remote condenser ice machines and water-cooled ice machines
• Hotel ice machines and industrial flake ice machines