400 lb Ice Machines

Where 400 lb fits

At about 400 lb a day, ice machines move from built-in-bin undercounter units to modular heads: the machine makes ice and sits on a bin you choose separately. That lets you match storage to your rush. Every head in this class still runs on 115V, so you don't need a special circuit, which is a key reason this size is popular with restaurants and bars.

Using common planning figures, 400 lb a day covers about:

• A restaurant with 200-270 seats at 1.5 lb per seat
• A bar or nightclub with 110-130 seats at 3 lb per seat
• Hotel guest ice for 60-80 rooms at 5 lb per room

Every 400 lb head compared, by hot-day output

All heads run on 115V. Specifications from each product page.

What the comparison shows

• Most ice on a hot day: the ITV SPIKA MS500A1FR makes 397 lb/day at 90/70 because its remote condenser moves heat outside, so the head isn't affected by a warm kitchen. Check the remote condenser and line-set requirements on the product page before you buy.
• Best air-cooled performer: the ICETRO IM-0460-AC keeps 82% of its output (364 lb/day) in warm conditions.
• Most efficient: the Ice-O-Matic CIM0430 cubers use 3.15 kWh per 100 lb, and the GEM0450A90 Pearl head uses 2.45. Most others use 4.5-6.2.
• 22 vs 30 inches: 22-inch heads save space but usually lose more output in heat. The Scotsman MC0322MAX-1 makes 248 lb/day at 90/70 against 283 lb for the 30-inch MC0330MAX-1.

Undercounter flake machines in the 400 lb class

Both make soft, moldable flake ice for seafood and produce displays, salad bars and healthcare in a self-contained cabinet. The Manitowoc UFK0350AZ in the grid is a 230V / 50Hz version for markets with 50Hz power. See undercounter flake ice machines.

Choose the ice

Pick a bin to match

A 400 lb head is usually paired with a bin that holds 260-540 lb, matched to the head's width. Examples from our range:

Same-brand pairings are simplest. Cross-brand pairings usually need an adapter. Confirm compatibility on the product page. ICETRO's product pages recommend a 265 lb bin for 22-inch heads and a 350 lb bin for 30-inch heads. See ice storage bins and our bin sizing guide.

Rule of thumb: the bin should hold at least your busiest service period. A head making 350 lb/day refills only about 15 lb an hour, so a dinner rush relies on the ice already in the bin.

Remote condenser or air-cooled?

The ITV SPIKA MS500A1FR and MS500A1HR use a remote condenser, mounted outside or on the roof, connected to the head by refrigerant lines. The benefits are real: more ice in a hot kitchen, less heat and noise indoors. The costs: a condenser location, a line set and professional installation. Choose remote when the head will sit in a hot, enclosed space. Otherwise, air-cooled is simpler and cheaper. Read our remote condenser guide and browse remote condenser ice machines.

Running costs at 350 lb a day

The spread between the most and least efficient cube heads here is about $590 a year, or roughly $3,000 over five years. See our operating cost guide.

Which 400 lb machine should you buy?

Installation

• Power: a dedicated 115V circuit for every head in this class.
• Water: a cold potable line through a water filter. ICETRO and ITV recommend water treatment in hard-water areas.
• Drain: separate gravity drains for the head and the bin.
• Air: air-cooled heads need clear airflow and a room below about 90°F for rated output. Keep them away from fryers and ovens.

See our installation checklist.

Warranty

From the product pages: ITV SPIKA heads list 3 years parts and labor plus 5 years on the evaporator. Hoshizaki KM and KMD heads list 3 years on the entire machine plus 5 years on key components. Scotsman Prodigy heads list 3 years on all components with longer evaporator or compressor coverage. Ice-O-Matic CIM and GEM heads list 3 years parts and labor. Check ICETRO terms on each product page.

Worked example: a 220-seat restaurant

A restaurant with 180 dining seats and a 40-seat bar estimates 180 x 1.5 + 40 x 3 = 390 lb of ice a day. Its ice machine sits in a warm back room.

For a warm room, the best choices are a remote-condenser 400 lb head or an air-cooled 500 lb head. See 500 lb ice machines.

22-inch heads: when narrow makes sense

22-inch heads exist for tight spaces: narrow back bars, small ice rooms, and sites replacing an older 22-inch head on an existing bin. In this class you can choose the ITV SPIKA MS400-22A1F (348 lb at 90/70), ICETRO IM-0460-AC-22 (331 lb), ICETRO IM-0350-AC-22 (311 lb) or Scotsman MC0322MAX-1 (248 lb). If you have 30 inches, a 30-inch head usually makes more ice in warm conditions for a similar price.

Replacing an older head

If you are replacing a head on an existing bin, match the width and check that the new head is approved for your bin, with the right adapter. A same-brand replacement is simplest. Compare hot-day output, not just the rating: today's heads often make more ice than older models of the same nominal size, so you may not need to size up.

400 lb heads by venue

• Restaurants with 200-250 seats: ICETRO IM-0460-AC or Ice-O-Matic CIM0430FA90 on a 30-inch bin.
• Bars and nightclubs: Scotsman MC0330MAX-1 with ICELINQ diagnostics, or ITV SPIKA MS400-22A1F where space is tight.
• QSR fountains: Hoshizaki KMD-355MAJ on a beverage dispenser, or a half-dice head on a bin.
• Healthcare and c-stores: Scotsman NH0422AX-1 or Ice-O-Matic GEM0450A90 for nugget ice.
• Hot kitchens: ITV SPIKA MS500A1FR with its remote condenser.

Common mistakes

1. Comparing headline ratings. The KM-330MAK, IM-0460-AC and MS400-22A1F are all rated around 430-444 lb, but their hot-day output differs.
2. Forgetting the bin. A head with no bin, or a bin that's too small, can't cover a rush.
3. Choosing remote without planning the install. Remote condensers need a location and a line set.
4. Cramming an air-cooled head into a hot closet. Output falls sharply.
5. Skipping the filter. Scale is the main reason heads lose output over time.

Related collections

• 300 lb ice machines and 500 lb ice machines
• Scotsman Prodigy ice machines
• Crescent cube ice machines and nugget ice machine heads
• Modular ice machines and half cube ice makers