Industrial Nugget Ice Machine Heads

What a nugget ice machine head does

A nugget machine makes flake ice on a refrigerated cylinder, scrapes it off with an auger, and compresses it into small, soft pellets. The result is ice that is chewable, absorbs the flavor of the drink and packs well in a cup. A head is the ice-making unit alone. It sits on a storage bin, or on a dispenser for self-serve drinks, so you size production and storage separately.

Choose a head over an undercounter unit when you need more than about 300 lb/day, want to feed a beverage dispenser, or need a large bin for peak periods. For smaller volumes, see undercounter nugget ice makers.

Who uses industrial nugget ice

• Hospitals and senior care: patient hydration, nourishment stations and ice chips. See healthcare ice machines and our guide to nugget vs flake ice in healthcare.
• Convenience stores and QSR: fountain drinks, where nugget ice is a draw for customers. See the best ice machines for convenience stores.
• Cafés and smoothie bars: iced coffee, tea and blended drinks.
• Hotels and offices: self-serve ice and water dispensers fed by a head.

Every nugget head compared

Figures from each product page; "-" means the listing does not state it. Check the spec sheet for those values.

What the comparison shows

• Ice-O-Matic Pearl heads use the least energy: 2.37-2.50 kWh per 100 lb of ice, about half the 4.7-5.9 kWh of several competing heads. At 600 lb a day and an assumed $0.15 per kWh, that difference is roughly $700-1,100 a year in electricity.
• The most ice on 115V comes from the Scotsman NH0922AX-1 (695 lb/day at 90/70) and the ITV IQN 900 (860 lb/day rated). Both avoid the cost of a 208-230V circuit.
• Nugget heads lose about 20-30% in warm conditions, for example 1,314 to 1,001 lb/day on the NS1322AX-32. Size on the warm-day figure.
• Nugget heads use little water. The Scotsman, Ice-O-Matic and ITV IQN 700 listings show about 12 gallons per 100 lb, much less than a cube machine of similar output.

The five brands, briefly

Scotsman Prodigy Plus (NH and NS)

Two textures: H² Nugget (NH models), about 3/4 x 5/16 x 3/8 inch and about 87% hardness, firmer and slower melting for fountain drinks; and Original Chewable Nugget (NS models), about 7/16 x 5/16 x 3/8 inch and about 74% hardness, the soft texture favored in healthcare. Sealed, maintenance-free bearings and a stainless steel evaporator and auger. Warranty listed as 3 years parts and labor plus 5 years on the compressor. See Scotsman Prodigy ice machines.

Ice-O-Matic Pearl Ice (GEM)

Pearl Ice is about 1/2 x 3/8 inch. GEM heads are 21 inches wide, ENERGY STAR qualified and use R290 refrigerant. A water sensor responds to supply problems, and non-contact ice detection shuts the head off when the bin is full. Warranty listed as 3 years parts and labor on the ice maker. See Ice-O-Matic Pearl nugget ice machines.

Manitowoc (RNP, RNF, RNK)

Manitowoc's modular nugget heads in 22- and 30-inch cabinets. Two notes before you buy. The RNF1100A is listed as a legacy unit, replaced by the RNP1100A. The RNK0620AZ is a 230V / 50Hz configuration for 50Hz markets, so U.S. buyers on 60Hz power should choose a 115V or 208-230V / 60Hz model instead. See Manitowoc nugget ice machines.

ITV Ice Queen (IQN)

ITV builds the IQN heads with an AISI 304 stainless steel body, a stainless steel auger and an I-Check control system that monitors operation and shows diagnostics on a front LED display. They pair with ITV S-series bins (S500, S750, S900, S1050) or ITV dispensers. ITV recommends an anti-scale filter in hard-water areas.

ICETRO (IM-0770-AN)

A 22-inch, 115V head rated at 717 lb/day. It needs only power and water, with no remote condenser. Its sibling, the IM-0770-AF, makes flake ice in the same cabinet.

Nugget textures differ by brand

All nugget ice is soft and chewable, but pellet size and firmness vary, and customers notice.

For fountain drinks that sit in a cup, a firmer nugget holds up longer. For patients and people who chew ice, softer is better.

Sizing a nugget head

1. Estimate peak-day ice. In beverage service, ice makes up roughly 40% of each drink (Manitowoc planning figure). Healthcare planners often count ice per patient per day, plus nourishment-station use.
2. Use the 90/70 column. A head rated at 644 lb/day may make about 466 lb on a hot day.
3. Choose storage for the rush. A convenience store's afternoon peak or a hospital's meal service can empty a small bin quickly. Size the bin or dispenser to your busiest two to three hours.

Bins and dispensers

Nugget ice packs densely and can bridge in a bin, so use bins and dispensers approved for nugget ice by the head's manufacturer, with the right adapter. Common pairings:

• Scotsman 22-inch heads on Scotsman bins such as the B322S (370 lb), or on Scotsman nugget dispensers.
• Ice-O-Matic 21-inch GEM heads on Ice-O-Matic bins such as the B40 or B42 with the correct adapter.
• ITV IQN heads on ITV S-series bins or ITV dispensers.

Confirm the exact bin, adapter and any dispenser kit on the product page before ordering. Browse ice storage bins and bin controls and dispenser kits.

Worked example: sizing nugget ice for a hospital

A 120-bed hospital wants nugget ice on two patient floors and in its café.

• Patient floors: planners often allow several pounds of ice per bed per day for drinks, ice chips and nourishment stations. At about 4 lb per bed for 120 beds, that is about 480 lb a day, split across two nourishment stations.
• Café: about 150 lb a day for fountain drinks and iced coffee.
• Total: about 630 lb a day, plus 15% for summer and occupancy peaks = about 725 lb.

One way to meet it: two Scotsman NH0622AX-1 heads (466 lb/day each at 90/70), one per floor, each on a nugget dispenser. That gives about 930 lb of warm-day capacity and a backup if one machine is down. A single GEM0956A90 (683 lb at 90/70) would fall short on hot days. Always confirm with your infection-control and facilities teams. See our healthcare ice machine buying guide.

Bin or dispenser?

Many sites use a dispenser at the front and a head on a bin in the back.

Nugget head buying checklist

• [ ] Peak-day ice estimate, using the 90/70 output
• [ ] Voltage and frequency (115V or 208-230V, 60Hz for the U.S.)
• [ ] Head width matched to the bin or dispenser, plus the right adapter
• [ ] Water filter with scale inhibitor, sized to the head's flow
• [ ] Gravity drains for head and bin, with air gaps
• [ ] Room temperature and airflow around the head
• [ ] Service access and a cleaning schedule

Installation

• Electrical: check the voltage and frequency. 115V heads need a dedicated circuit; larger heads need 208-230V. Never install a 50Hz model on U.S. 60Hz power.
• Water: nugget machines are sensitive to scale on the auger and evaporator. Install a water filter with scale inhibitor sized to the head.
• Drain: gravity drains for the head and bin.
• Air: air-cooled heads need clearance and a room below about 90°F for rated output.

See commercial ice machine electrical requirements and our installation checklist.

Maintenance

Nugget heads run an auger continuously, so water quality matters more than with cube machines. Clean and sanitize at least every six months, descale as the manufacturer directs, and replace filter cartridges on schedule. Scotsman's sealed bearings don't need greasing, but the auger still needs descaling. Our nugget ice maker cleaning guide walks through the process.

Related collections

• All commercial nugget ice machines, including dispensers and undercounter units
• Commercial crushed ice machines: nugget, flake and chip compared
• Industrial ice machines above 1,000 lb/day
• Hotel ice machines and office ice machines for self-serve dispensers
• What is nugget ice? and the commercial nugget ice maker buying guide