Ice-O-Matic Ice Bins

The four Ice-O-Matic bins

All four share, from the product pages:

• Aluminum finish exterior with foam insulation and a polyethylene liner.
• Top-hinged, slope-front door that angles back for easier scooping.
• 6-7 inch adjustable legs, an ice scoop and an internal scoop holder included.
• Rear 3/4-inch FPT drain.
• NSF certification.
• 2 years parts and labor under Ice-O-Matic's commercial limited warranty for storage bins.

Prices are approximate at the time of writing.

Choosing a bin

B40: low profile, 30 inches

The B40 stands only 37.5 inches with its legs (31.5 inches without), about a foot lower than the B55. With a head on top, the whole system is much shorter, which helps:

• Under low ceilings or soffits.
• When staff need to reach the head for cleaning.
• When you want a lower scooping height.

It holds 344 lb, which suits 30-inch heads up to about 500 lb/day.

B42: the 22-inch bin

The B42 is Ice-O-Matic's narrow bin for 22-inch heads such as the CIM0320, CIM0520, CIM0826 and CIM1126. At 351 lb it holds slightly more than the B40, but stands 50 inches tall.

B55: more storage at 30 inches

The B55 holds 510 lb in the same 30-inch width as the B40, 48% more, by standing 12.5 inches taller. Choose it for 30-inch heads where you need a bigger reserve for a rush.

B110: the 48-inch bin

The B110 holds 854 lb for high-volume systems such as the 48-inch CIM1446 heads (1,600 lb/day) or pairs of heads.

Which bin for which Ice-O-Matic head?

Use the approved machine and bin combination and any adapter specified for that exact machine, as the product pages note. Nugget ice packs densely, so confirm the bin is approved for Pearl Ice. See Ice-O-Matic ice machines and Ice-O-Matic Pearl ice machines.

Sizing: how many hours of production does the bin hold?

A bin that holds roughly a day of production lets the head build a reserve overnight for the next day's peak. Large heads on smaller bins suit steady demand. Read our bin sizing guide.

Why a slope-front door?

The slope-front design angles the bin opening back, so staff can see into the bin and reach the ice more easily, especially as the level drops. Combined with the top hinge, the door stays out of the way while scooping.

Installation

• Level the bin on its adjustable legs. A full B110 with a head can weigh over 1,000 lb.
• Drain: connect the rear 3/4-inch FPT drain separately from the head's drain, with an air gap per local code.
• Clearance: allow space above for the head and its service access, and in front for the door and the person scooping.
• Adapter: fit the approved adapter if the head is narrower than the bin or from another brand.

Care

1. Turn off the head and empty the bin.
2. Wash the liner, door and scoop with an approved cleaner, then rinse.
3. Sanitize all food-zone surfaces and air-dry.
4. Restart the head.

Do this whenever you clean the ice machine. Keep the scoop in its holder, outside the ice, and keep the drain clear. Bins are insulated, not refrigerated.

Ice-O-Matic bins vs other brands

See Manitowoc ice bins, Scotsman ice bins, Hoshizaki ice bins and stainless steel ice bins.

Worked example: a 120-seat restaurant with a bar

• Dining room: 100 seats x 1.5 lb = 150 lb
• Bar: 20 seats x 3 lb = 60 lb
• Kitchen, to-go and iced tea: about 60 lb
• Total: about 270 lb a day, with about 40% used between 5 and 8 pm.

An Ice-O-Matic CIM0530 head (525 lb rated) gives plenty of hot-day margin. On a B55 it stores 510 lb, nearly two days of use, so the dinner rush always draws from a full bin. If ceiling height is limited, the B40 (344 lb) still covers the evening peak of about 110 lb several times over, at a system height a foot lower.

Usable capacity

Bin capacities are ratings at a standard fill level. In practice the bin control stops the head before ice reaches the very top, and the bottom few inches are awkward to scoop, so plan on about 80-90% of the rated capacity: roughly 280-310 lb in a B40, 410-460 lb in a B55 and 680-770 lb in a B110.

Using an Ice-O-Matic bin with another brand's head

Bins are often replaced or reused separately from heads. To pair an Ice-O-Matic bin with another manufacturer's head:

1. Check the head width against the bin width (22, 30 or 48 inches).
2. Confirm an adapter or top kit exists for that combination; heads and bins from different brands rarely bolt together directly.
3. Check the head's bin control. The head needs a working bin-level sensor that suits the bin's height.
4. Check the combined height against the ceiling and service clearance.

Browse bin adapters and deflectors, and ask us to confirm the combination before ordering.

Bin or dispenser?

A bin is the right choice where staff scoop ice: kitchens, bars and banquet prep. If customers or patients serve themselves, a hopper dispenser or an ice and water dispenser is more hygienic, because nobody reaches into the ice. For a self-serve beverage station, consider a dispenser instead of a bin. See ice storage bins for the full range.

Replacing an older Ice-O-Matic bin

If you're replacing a worn bin, match the width and check the height: the B55 and B42 are 50 inches tall with legs, while the B40 is 37.5 inches. Swapping a taller bin for a B40 under the same head lowers the scooping height by about a foot but reduces storage by about a third.

Ice-O-Matic bin features in practice

• Aluminum finish: light and corrosion-resistant, and less expensive than stainless steel. If your specification requires stainless, see stainless steel ice bins.
• Polyethylene liner: the food-contact surface. Clean it with a non-abrasive cleaner so it stays smooth.
• Foam insulation: slows melting, but the bin is not refrigerated, so some meltwater is normal.
• Slope-front door: makes scooping easier as the ice level drops.
• Rear drain: connect it before setting the bin in place; it's hard to reach afterward.

Ice handling

Keep the scoop in its internal holder with the handle away from the ice, never scoop with glassware, and use clean ice totes to carry ice to bars and stations. Keep the door closed between uses.

Before you order: a quick checklist

• Head width matched to the bin (22, 30 or 48 inches)
• Approved adapter included for Pearl Ice or narrower heads
• Bin sized to your peak period, using 80-90% of rated capacity
• Total height with the head checked against the ceiling
• Rear drain connected with an air gap
• Space in front for the door and the person scooping

Common mistakes

1. Choosing the B40 for a large head. It's designed for 30-inch heads up to about 500 lb/day.
2. Forgetting the adapter for a narrower head or a Pearl Ice head.
3. Not checking ceiling height with a head on a 50-inch bin.
4. Sizing by daily output. Size for your busiest period.
5. Sharing a drain without an air gap.

Related collections

• Ice-O-Matic ice machines and Ice-O-Matic water filters
• All ice storage bins and bin adapters and deflectors
• Modular ice machines and 400 lb ice machines