H30/O2 = A Winning Formula
As the centrepiece beneath the former Millennium Dome, The O2 Arena, with its opening season spanning the summer of 2007, is a world class, purpose-built entertainment venue capable of holding events for up to 23,000 people. Such a prestigious venue requires equipment it can rely on and for this reason The O2 Arena has chosen 30 worldwide brand leading Scotsman Ice Machines from UK distributor, Hubbard Ice Systems.
The O2 will play host to music and sporting events, theatrical productions and shows involving a line-up of international stars. It will host the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in 2009 and has been chosen as a venue for the 2012 Olympics, hosting the Gymnastics and Basketball finals, so it is vital that all of the products specified for use in the arena are of the highest quality.
With a total daily ice production of around 8000kgs at The O2, Scotsman ice-making machines were chosen for their high productivity, energy-efficiency and reliability. Scotsman machines produce high quality, fresh ice in large volumes at the point of sale and are designed for ease of use and maintenance. In keeping with the ethos of total perfection of service, Hubbard Ice Systems offer full hygiene training and support for users of Scotsman machines in order to maintain the highest quality of ice between servicing. The day-to-day running costs of Scotsman machines also offer the potential for significant savings with the benefit of a notably lower carbon footprint.
Hubbard Ice Systems worked alongside catering equipment supplier KCCJ Ltd of Darenth, Dartford and main contractor Sir Alfred McAlpine on The O2 Arena project.
Hubbard Ice has also worked in conjunction with these two companies at such prestigious venues as Arsenal FC's Emirates Stadium and with KCCJ at the new Wembley Arena.
Scotsman products were initially specified for use at The O2 Arena by US-based Catering Facility Consultants, Cini-Little International Inc., shortly after which KCCJ were taken on to oversee the project. Kevin Slatter, a Partner at KCCJ says, The Scotsman machines that Cini-Little had specified were US models and so the specifications were slightly different in the UK but we knew to turn to Hubbard Ice Systems, the UK distributor of Scotsman machines, to get the most similar machines to those specified. Having worked with Hubbard Ice before we knew we could count on their outstanding service delivery. They are reliable and always provide very good support.
"It is imperative that with large projects such as these suppliers can comply to strict timelines so that we can get everything in place in time for opening and Hubbard Ice certainly rose to the challenge. If we had specified the project from the beginning we wouldn't have looked anywhere else."
The machines serving the bars and food outlets in the main arena are mainly from the Scotsman CME range of modular, contour cube ice-making machines, which produce pillow-shaped ice, helping to prevent splashback when the cube is placed in the drink and making them ideal for busy bars. These include: 15 x CM 450 SLs and 4 x CME 806s, all with Follett 425-30 bins; 4 x CME 806s with Follett 950-48 bins; 2 x CME 1356s with Follett Ice Transport Systems and 2 x CME 1656s on a Follett Ice Device System. Other machines in the arena are an EC 126, an MCM 15 with B550 bin and an AF 100 flaker.
Hubbard Ice has also supplied Scotsman machines to restaurants under the dome outside the arena, including an EC 126 to Pizza Express, supplied via Oast Technical Services; an MV300 with B193 bin and an AF 80 to Frankie and Benny's via Catering Projects Ltd as well as 2 x TC 180 PBs to Nando's Chicken Restaurants.
Chris Framingham, National Sales Manager at Hubbard Ice Systems says, "We are delighted to have worked with KCCJ once again as well as our other partners on the project, and to have been chosen to supply Scotsman machines to The O2 Arena. The O2 will be one of the most technology advanced venues of its kind and will provide a perfect place for Hubbard Ice to showcase our latest technology."
