From box to cube in 50 minutes ...
P&S Williams delivers verdict on new Scotsman range... ...while Reading landlady leaps from Maltesers to a Scotsman.
"Fifty minutes from box to cube!" exclaims Peter Williams, Managing Director of P&S Williams Refrigeration Ltd. It may not be a record, but it certainly shows just how easy it is to fit the latest Scotsman machines from Hubbard Ice Systems. "Easy-Fit is the perfect name," he adds, "they are so simple to install. From unloading the machine, still in its packing case, it took only fifty minutes to get it sited, plumbed in and delivering its first cubes."
P&S Williams installed the machine in the King's Tavern in Reading. An Easy-Fit EC175, it was the prize in a competition organised by Diageo GB and won by landlady Jeanie Needham. Hubbard Ice Systems, UK distributor of the Scotsman brand, donated the machine and Jeanie was absolutely thrilled: "The only thing I've ever won before was a bag of Maltesers!" she laughed.
P&S Williams is a main Hubbard Ice Systems dealer and one the UK's leading refrigeration specialists. It offers service, maintenance and sales to a variety of customers, from multinationals to independents, in both the public and private sectors. As well as installing the machine at the King's Tavern, P&S Williams will be responsible for ongoing maintenance.
P&S Williams also has a record of working with manufacturers and suppliers, testing prototypes of new models - as was the case with the latest Scotsman. "Hubbard asked us to check over the prototype Easy-Fit and we made a few recommendations, working with them on features like service access panels and emergency cut-outs."
Peter admitted to being impressed by the production model. "Standard ice makers take anything up to two hours to install, even more in really difficult situations. The Easy-Fit is in and working in less than one hour."
The Easy-Fit's secret is the 'PWD' integral wastewater pump, exclusive to Scotsman. This automatically pumps the drain water up to a height of 1.5 metres from the base of the machine, or, alternatively, over a distance of up to 20 metres. (The greater the distance the less high you can pump; for instance, a 10 metre run will reduce the 'pump' height to approx 0.5 of a metre). The PWD uses new technology to deliver power through a reliable motor, small enough to fit into the body of even compact under-bar icemakers.
For refrigeration engineers and bar designers this gives a huge amount of flexibility in terms of where the machine can be sited: above or below the drains, it makes no difference to the Scotsman Easy-Fit. This flexibility also saves on installation time and costs.
"For example, when you fit an icemaker under a counter, the height of the drain means you nearly always have to fit a pump to get rid of waste water," Peter explains. "With the Easy-Fit, the pump is there already. Not only does it make installation more straightforward, it also means there are no extra costs for the customer."
Meanwhile Jeanie was doubly happy about the new worker at the King's Tavern. "I'm delighted to have won the Scotsman Easy-Fit," she said. "We are constantly running out of ice - it has been a real nightmare in the past when we've had a function on. Now, thanks to the new machine I can fill our huge ice bucket right to the top and still have extra on hand.
"We're looking forward to serving a professional-looking drink every time. "And our local football teams will be really pleased - they often come in after games with injuries and plead for ice. Now we can cater for their medical needs as well as quench their thirst!"
Jeanie's EC175 will produce up to 86kg of ice per day, or 4,300 gourmet 'supercubes', each weighing 20g. The integral storage bin holds up to 28kg and the machine is manufactured of 304-grade stainless steel. Standard features include a self-flushing system, which automatically rinses the reservoir during each production cycle. As well as being more hygienic, this significantly reduces the formation of scale, resulting in fewer service calls.
The 'Supercubes' produced by the Scotsman EC175 have a number of advantages over more traditional square ice cubes. For example, they don't stick together so easily in the holding bin because, unlike ordinary square cubes, their curved surface presents a smaller contact area to other cubes.
However, it is the appearance and 'slow-melt' of the ice that will help Jeanie present her professional looking, 'perfect serve'. Each supercube is crystal-clear, due to the way it is made - by spraying water upward into refrigerated cups - and the cubes last longer, due to their purity.
Scotsman Europe is British-owned and is an ISO 9001 accredited company. Scotsman machines are WRC-approved and carry the CE mark. All models are designed to be reliable, durable and efficient, and include a comprehensive pre- and after-sales support package, including two years warranty. For information, brochures and details of your local authorised dealer phone Hubbard Ice Systems on (01473) 890129 or email icesystems@hubbard.co.uk
