Manitowoc ice machines, are the best-selling ice machine in America, and with good reason.  Simply put, there’s no other ice machine manufacturer out there that comes close to maintaining the consistency across the board that Manitowoc offers.  As far as energy efficiency, craftsmanship, sanitation, and design are concerned, Manitowoc ice machines are without parallel.  That’s why we here at Short Order have rated so many of their products with a five-star rating and bestowed many others with our exclusive “Editor’s Choice” designation.  Food Service Equipment and Supplies Magazine agrees with our lofty assessment, designating a host of Manitowoc ice machines with their coveted “Best in Class” rating.

Here are a couple Manitowoc ice machines among many that we’re fond of.

Manitowoc Ice Machine SY-1404A-208-1

The Manitowoc Ice Machine SY-1404A-208-1 is an excellent choice for those looking for a dependable workhorse of an ice machine.  The SY-1404A-208-1 is capable of producing a remarkable 1,160 pounds of ice in a 24-hour period.  With that kind of output capacity, you’ll be able to cool drinks to your heart’s content.  As if that wasn’t enough, you can rest easy in knowing that your veritable in-kitchen blizzard won’t place undue strain on the environment; after all Manitowoc ice machines use a refrigerant that is CFC free.

Manitowoc Ice Machine QD-0212A

The Manitowoc Ice Machine QD-0212A is a perfect under-counter unit. It stands at a perfectly sized, compact 38 1/2 inches tall, and has been designed specifically for under-counter use. This unit produces anywhere from 155 to 215 pounds of ice per 24 hours, which makes it perfect as a supplement to a larger system, as part of a separate station, or for compact eateries.

Buy Manitowoc Ice Machines

Whether you go large or small, chances are there will be a product among the line of Manitowoc ice machines that will suit your needs perfectly.  We’re proud to carry them, along with a host of other top-notch restaurant equipment, such as Vulcan ranges, Beverage-Air refrigerators, and more, here at Short Order.

Ice Machine Slime Is An Important Maintenance Issue

Ice machine owners may be getting slimed without knowing it.

Ice machine slime is more than a funny-sounding phrase that evokes fond memories of watching Bill Murray in Ghostbusters at the matinee. For restaurant equipment owners, ice machine slime is a real health hazard that can run a kitchen afoul of the health inspector and possibly shut down a thriving foodservice business.

The Gory Details on Ice Machine Slime

Ice machine slime is such a prevalent hazard that muckraking Houston newsman Marvin Zindler made the sentence “Slime in the ice machine!” a household phrase along the Texas coastline. Ice machine slime isn’t deadly to healthy adults, but still, it can be harmful. It also has a distinctive taste and smell, and can be visually disgusting to your customers. Here’s what the City of Houston says:

It is a type of mold or fungus that accumulates from bacterial growth on surfaces that are constantly exposed to clinging water droplets and warm temperatures. Water residuals may be present on these surfaces due to machine construction or the presence of scouring utensils such as steel wool or scouring pads. If the residuals are left exposed and not wiped clean or the machine is not sanitized regularly, you will then see bacteria and mold growths in the moist, cool environment of your ice machine. Most times, slime will take on a pinkish tone; if left untreated, the pink will turn to red, green, brown and even black ropes of slime hanging from the freezer panels inside the machine after a while. Pretty picture, isn’t it?

Green and pink ropes of slime hanging in your ice machine and dropping in customers’ drinks… it may not be fatal, but it could soon be sending your once-healthy clients to the lab for some health tests.

The Ice Machine Slime Answer

If for example you’ve got ice machine slime in your favorite Manitowoc ice machine model SD-0852A, how do you handle the problem?

The Houston health inspectors recommend using quarternary ammonium (QAC), which kills the mold/fungus and also inhibits additional growth for a period of time after the slime has been removed. This chemical won’t react with the stainless steel of your SD-0852A, and it’s also handy for keeping slime out of other restaurant equipment like your soda machine or the nozzles and hoses of your direct draw systems.

For other ice machine buying tips and maintenance advice, check out our ice machine buyers guide!

Manitowoc, WI, Is a Town of 35,000 People Who Can Go with the Flow

Manitowoc ice machines used to be all we knew about Manitowoc. In fact, we didn’t even know that Manitowoc ice machines were built in a place called Manitowoc. Then we took the time to find out more about this small town in eastern Wisconsin. It’s not just the epicenter of the commercial ice machine world; it’s the pride of the Manitowoc River and the county seat of – you guessed it – Manitowoc County. Located in Brett Farve’s back pocket, just a half-hour from Green Bay, Manitowoc sits at the mouth of the Manitowoc River where it enters Lake Michigan.

Manitowoc History

Manitowoc’s humble origins date back to 1820 and the family of Matthew Stanley, the original settlers. Given its geographical advantages as a gateway to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, Manitowoc unsurprisingly has been closely tied to seafaring, trading, fishing and shipbuilding. During World War II, Manitowoc iced its share of the Axis military machine by building tankers, subs and landing craft.

Manitowoc Attractions

Today, this powerhouse of commercial icemaker manufacturing is the site of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, one of the largest museums in the U.S. dedicated to ships and seafarers. Originally the Manitowoc Submarine Memorial Association, the museum is the current home of the mothballed WWII submarine Cobia and boasts over 60,000 square feet of displays. The quality and quantity of the Manitowoc museum’s efforts have been rewarded with Smithsonian Museum affiliation.

Other Manitowoc Features

For a small town that doesn’t even have its own TV station, Manitowoc is associated with a good number of fun features and facts:

• the mother house of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity is in Manitowoc.
• this city of some 35,000 residents also is home to about 23,000 Roman Catholics.
• Manitowoc has sent several favorite sons to the NFL, including Don Davey, Doug Free and Mike Lorenz.
• In the movie The Prince and Me, Julia Stiles plays a farm girl from Manitowoc, the ice machine mecca of the country.

And Manitowoc Ice Machines

Of course, on our little restaurant equipment blog, no mention of Manitowoc, WI, is going to pass without us pontificating a little about best-of-breed Manitowoc ice machines like the Manitowoc SY-0504, an easy-to-clean and typically reliable Manitowoc icemaker that generates 540 pounds of half-dice sized ice cubes every day. Manitowoc ice machines are made by the Manitowoc Foodservice Group, a three-division corporation that features the brands Manitowoc Ice, Kolpak, McCall, Hartford, Servend and Multiplex.

Needless to say, Manitowoc ice machines are pretty darned important to the small town of Manitowoc, WI. Without them – and the good people of Manitowoc who make them – our glasses would be a lot lonelier during long, hot, ice-cube-less summer nights.

Manitowoc ice machines cut your electric bill

Manitowoc ice machines are part of a restaurant equipment revolution. Things are changing as restaurant owners and restaurant equipment manufacturers are realizing that energy-efficient restaurant equipment – like the Manitowoc ice machines in the innovative S-series – aren’t just good for the environment. They’re also good for a food service facility’s bottom line, putting more cash in your pocket. You could say that restaurant equipment is going green in more ways than one.

Manitowoc ice machines: setting the bar

In 2003, Manitowoc took the initiative in energy-efficient restaurant equipment with the S-series of Manitowoc ice machines. These impressive Manitowoc ice machines delivered a 25% average efficiency increase over the competitive models at the time, and continue to run more efficiently than most of the rest of the pack. Manitowoc ice machines bearing the “Energy Mizer” trademark are among the most energy-efficient restaurant equipment appliances you can buy.

Manitowoc ice machine energy rebate

Purchasers interested in energy-efficient restaurant equipment should be aware of the Manitowoc ice machines that earn energy rebates. Buyers in California and Wisconsin can save hundreds of dollars off their purchase of qualifying Manitowoc ice machines by selecting energy-efficient models approved by their states.

For example, Wisconsin buyers can choose the Manitowoc ice machine model SD-1002A/208/1 to garner an energy rebate and also save on their electric bills for many years to come. This Manitowoc ice machine SD-1002A is a Short Order editor’s choice that churns out 1060 pounds of ice every twenty-four hours. For smaller kitchens seeking energy-efficient restaurant equipment, take a look at the all-in-one Manitowoc ice machine model QM-45A. Producing 95 pounds of dice-sized ice in twenty-four hours, the rebate-eligible Manitowoc ice machine QM-45A stands on four adjustable 6″-7.5″ legs, and at three feet tall, fits well into cramped quarters. This Manitowoc ice machine is also a Short Order editor’s choice.

Manitowoc ice machines and the future of energy-efficient restaurant equipment

As the restaurant industry scrambles to meet the needs of restaurant equipment buyers, Manitowoc ice machines continue to evolve. As the Manitowoc EnergyMizer webpage says, “Tier 3 energy efficient models are right around the corner.” Stay tuned – it looks like there’ll be more good news for fans of forward-thinking, practical energy-efficient restaurant equipment coming from Manitowoc ice machines soon.