Blog

In today's competitive seafood market, maintaining product freshness isn't just about quality—it's about protecting your bottom line. The Ice-O-Matic UCF165A has emerged as a leading solution in seafood preservation, offering capabilities that directly address the unique challenges faced by market operators. This advanced flake ice maker combines powerful performance with practical design features that make it ideal for seafood preservation applications.

The Importance of Quality Ice in Seafood Preservation

Freshness is crucial in seafood markets, where product quality can quickly decline without proper preservation methods. The Ice-O-Matic UCF165A addresses this challenge by producing high-quality flake ice that's specifically suited for seafood preservation. This specialized ice form creates optimal conditions for maintaining seafood freshness, helping markets reduce waste and maintain product quality throughout the day.

Understanding Flake Ice Technology

Flake ice plays a vital role in seafood preservation due to its unique properties. The Ice-O-Matic UCF165A produces granular, slow-melting ice that's perfect for maintaining seafood freshness. This type of ice provides superior surface contact with products, ensuring rapid cooling without causing damage to delicate seafood items. The slow-melting characteristic is particularly important in seafood preservation, as it maintains consistent temperature control while minimising ice consumption and preventing excess water from affecting product quality. The granular nature of the ice allows it to conform around seafood products, providing complete coverage and optimal preservation.

Production Capacity and Performance

The Ice-O-Matic UCF165A demonstrates impressive production capabilities across various operating conditions. At optimal conditions with 10°C air and water temperatures, the unit achieves maximum output of 82kg per 24 hours. Under standard operating conditions of 21°C air and 10°C water, it maintains strong production at 80kg per 24 hours. Even in challenging environments with 32°C air and 21°C water temperatures, the unit reliably produces 63kg per 24 hours. This consistent performance ensures dependable ice availability throughout operating hours, regardless of seasonal temperature variations. The generous 25kg storage bin capacity provides an ample reserve of ice, ensuring continuous supply during peak periods.

Advanced Design Features for Market Environments

The Ice-O-Matic UCF165A's design prioritises both functionality and efficiency in seafood market settings. Its space-efficient construction features a compact width of just 535mm, with total dimensions of 535mm x 626mm x 936mm when mounted on legs. The under-counter design maximises workspace efficiency, while optional castors can reduce the height to 850mm for additional flexibility. This thoughtful design approach means seafood markets can maximize their display and storage space while maintaining easy access to a consistent ice supply.

The innovative airflow management system incorporates a front air discharge design that significantly enhances installation flexibility. This thoughtful feature ensures appropriate airflow even in critical install requirements, reducing side clearance needs while maintaining optimal cooling efficiency. The unit's construction from corrosion-resistant stainless steel and fingerprint-proof plastic components ensures durability in demanding seafood market environments, while its contemporary, elegant design and BPA-free certification maintain professional standards.

Installation and Operational Efficiency

The Ice-O-Matic UCF165A operates on a standard 10-amp power supply with 230V/50Hz/1-phase electrical configuration, making it compatible with typical commercial electrical systems. Its energy-efficient operation consumes just 2.65 kWH per 45kg of ice produced, while water consumption remains economical at 2.2 liters per hour. The recommended CD10B water filter ensures optimal performance, working with water pressure ranges from 1-5 BAR and temperature ranges of 5°C-35°C.

The unit's ambient temperature operating range spans from 10°C to 40°C, demonstrating remarkable adaptability to various environmental conditions. Adjustable legs providing 90mm to 136mm of height variation allow for perfect positioning, while front access servicing simplifies maintenance procedures. These features combine to create a highly efficient and reliable ice production system that meets the demanding requirements of seafood market operations.

Enhancing Product Presentation and Preservation

In seafood markets, presentation is as crucial as preservation. The Ice-O-Matic UCF165A's flake ice produces an attractive display medium that enhances the visual appeal of seafood products while maintaining optimal preservation conditions. The slow-melting properties of the flake ice ensure displays remain fresh and appealing throughout the day, reducing the need for frequent ice replenishment and minimizing product handling.

Water Management and Filtration

Water quality plays a crucial role in ice production and seafood preservation. The Ice-O-Matic UCF165A's compatibility with the CD10B water filter system ensures optimal ice quality while protecting the machine from mineral buildup and contamination. This integrated approach to water management helps maintain consistent ice quality while reducing maintenance requirements and extending equipment life.

Maintenance and Professional Support

Coast Ice & Cold Solutions backs the Ice-O-Matic UCF165A with comprehensive two-year parts and labor coverage, reflecting confidence in its robust construction and reliability. Complete technical documentation, including detailed service manuals, ensures proper maintenance and operation throughout the equipment's lifetime. The compatible CD10B water filtration system, along with available manifold system options, helps maintain optimal performance while minimizing maintenance requirements.

Versatility in Commercial Applications

While the Ice-O-Matic UCF165A excels in seafood preservation, its capabilities extend beyond this primary application. The unit's versatile design makes it equally suitable for restaurant and bar applications, medical facility requirements, and various commercial cooling needs. This flexibility ensures that the investment remains valuable even as business needs evolve or expand.

Safety and Compliance

The Ice-O-Matic UCF165A meets stringent safety and quality standards, including BPA-free certification for food safety. Its corrosion-resistant materials and hygienic design ensure safe, clean ice production suitable for food preservation applications. These certifications and safety features provide peace of mind for operators while meeting regulatory requirements for food service operations.

Conclusion

The Ice-O-Matic UCF165A represents a significant advancement in commercial ice production for seafood markets. Its combination of reliable performance, efficient operation, and market-specific features makes it an ideal choice for businesses that demand consistent, high-quality ice production for their seafood displays. The unit's design thoughtfully addresses key challenges faced by seafood market operators, from space constraints to performance consistency in varying conditions.

For detailed specifications or to discuss how the Ice-O-Matic UCF165A can benefit your seafood market operation, contact our Coast team at 1800688590 or visit www.coastdistributors.com.au.