Manitowoc NEO Undercounter Ice Machines

Why buyers choose NEO

NEO is the undercounter cuber many dealers and service companies recommend first, for three practical reasons:

• Big bins for the footprint. The 26-inch NEO models hold 90 lb of ice and the 30-inch models hold 119 lb, the largest bins in their width classes among the brands we sell.
• Three cube sizes. Full dice, half dice and regular cube are all available in the 30-inch cabinet, so you can match the cube to your drinks.
• One cabinet, simple install. No head-and-bin matching. Connect water, a drain and a 115V circuit.

This page covers the NEO cube range in depth. For Manitowoc's undercounter nugget and flake machines, see Manitowoc undercounter ice machines.

The four NEO cabinet sizes

NEO comes in four widths. Choosing the cabinet first narrows the choice quickly.

Inside each cabinet, a bigger model number means a higher-output refrigeration system with the same bin and footprint. So if you have a 26-inch opening, the choice is about how much ice per day you need, not about fitting the space.

Every NEO model in detail

Figures from each product page. All models are air-cooled and run on 115V / 60Hz single-phase; the current UDP, UYP and URP models use R290 refrigerant.

Three insights from the numbers

1. The UDP0190A is the efficiency sweet spot. It keeps 88% of its rated output in warm conditions (200 to 175 lb/day), the best of any NEO. In a warm kitchen it makes almost as much ice as the UDP0240A at a lower price.
2. The 20-inch models lose the most in heat. The UDP0080A keeps only 68% (110 to 75 lb/day). If your machine will sit somewhere hot, size up to the 26-inch UDP0140A, which makes 110 lb/day at 90/70 and has nearly three times the bin.
3. The 30-inch models are a bar workhorse. At 245-270 lb/day in warm conditions with a 119 lb bin, they cover most bars and restaurants without a modular head.

Full dice, half dice or regular cube?

If you aren't sure, choose full dice. It is the most common bar and restaurant cube. For fountain soft drinks, half dice gives more ice per cup and faster chilling. Read full cube vs half cube ice for more.

Which NEO is right for you?

Size to your busiest day using the 90/70 column, and check the bin can cover your busiest hour.

These figures use common rules of thumb: about 1 lb per office worker, 1.5 lb per restaurant seat and 3 lb per bar seat per day. Our restaurant ice guide shows how to estimate more precisely.

Installing a NEO

1. Measure the opening. Check width, depth and height on the installation drawing for your exact model, including legs and door swing. Manitowoc's product data for some NEO models does not list dimensions, so use the official drawing, not a marketing description.
2. Power. A dedicated 115V / 60Hz circuit. Current draw is low (roughly 2-10 amps across the range), but the machine should not share an outlet.
3. Water. A cold potable line. Dealer listings for current 26-inch NEO models note integrated water filtration; adding a Manitowoc water filter upstream protects any NEO in hard-water areas.
4. Drain. A gravity drain below the machine. If the drain is above floor level, use a drain pump kit.
5. Air. NEO models are air-cooled. Keep the front grille clear and follow the clearance in the manual. Don't install next to an oven or dishwasher exhaust.

Our installation checklist has the complete list, and the drain pump vs gravity drain guide helps with the drain decision.

Running costs

A NEO's main running costs are electricity and water. As a rough example, an undercounter cuber using about 6 kWh per 100 lb that makes 150 lb a day uses 9 kWh a day. At an assumed $0.15 per kWh, that is about $1.35 a day, or roughly $40 a month. Water and sewer add a smaller amount. A water filter and regular cleaning keep efficiency up, because scale makes every harvest slower. See commercial ice machine operating costs.

Five NEO buying mistakes

1. Sizing on the rated output. The UDP0080A is rated 110 lb/day but makes 75 lb/day at 90/70. In a warm space, plan on the lower figure.
2. Picking the 20-inch cabinet to save space, then running out. The 20-inch NEO has a 31 lb bin. If you can fit 26 inches, the 90 lb bin is a far better buffer.
3. Forgetting height. Check the installation drawing for height with legs, especially for the 26- and 30-inch cabinets under a standard counter.
4. Ordering a legacy UDE model by mistake. UDE0065A and UDE0080A are listed as legacy. The UDP equivalents make slightly more ice in the same cabinet.
5. No drain plan. Every NEO needs a drain. Decide gravity or pump before the machine arrives.

NEO by venue

• Coffee shops: a UDP0080A covers a small shop's iced drinks. For iced coffee in volume, the UDP0140A gives 110 lb/day at 90/70 and a 90 lb bin. Compare more options in our coffee shop ice machine guide.
• Neighborhood bars: the UDP0240A makes 197 lb/day in warm conditions, enough for about 60 bar seats, under the back bar.
• QSR fountain stations: the UYP0310A's half dice cubes fill cups quickly and chill soft drinks fast, with a 119 lb bin.
• Restaurants with table water service: the URP0140A or URP0310A regular cube melts slowly in water glasses.
• Offices and churches: the UCP0050A is small enough for a breakroom or kitchenette and plugs into a standard outlet circuit.

What to expect from a NEO over its life

Commercial undercounter ice machines commonly last about 7-10 years with regular cleaning, filter changes and air filter maintenance. Machines in hot rooms, with hard water or with skipped cleanings wear out sooner. Scale makes the harvest slower and the compressor runs longer to make the same ice. Our guide on how long commercial ice machines last covers what affects lifespan.

Cleaning and maintenance

• Clean and sanitize every six months, or quarterly with hard water or heavy use.
• Clean the air filter monthly. A blocked filter is the most common reason an undercounter cuber makes less ice.
• Keep the bin door closed between scoops. NEO bins are insulated but not refrigerated, so ice melts slowly when the door is shut.
• Replace the water filter on schedule.

See our maintenance checklist.

NEO and hard water

Hard water is the most common reason an undercounter cuber loses output early. Minerals coat the evaporator, so each harvest takes longer and the machine makes less ice per day. If your water is hard:

• Fit a filter with scale inhibitor and change cartridges on schedule. See Manitowoc water filters and our ice machine water filter guide.
• Clean and descale every three to four months instead of every six.
• Watch for cloudy ice or longer cycles, which signal scale build-up.

Warranty and support

Manitowoc's product data lists 3 years parts and labor on the commercial UCP0050A. For other NEO models, confirm the current commercial warranty on the product page; evaporator and compressor coverage is often longer than general parts and labor. Register the machine after installation and keep cleaning records, as manufacturers can ask for them on a claim.

NEO vs Indigo NXT

If your needs are close to 300 lb/day, compare the UDP0310A (263 lb/day at 90/70, 119 lb bin) with an Indigo NXT IDP0500A on a 365 lb bin. See Manitowoc Indigo NXT.

NEO vs other undercounter brands

• Hoshizaki undercounter ice machines offer crescent, cubelet, top hat and square cube ice.
• Ice-O-Matic undercounter ice machines offer gourmet cubes and value-priced 24- and 30-inch cubers.
• Small cube ice makers compare half-size cube machines across brands, including the UYP0310A.

Browse all undercounter ice makers or the full Manitowoc ice machine range.