Ice is ice is ice, right? Wrong. Here’s the low down on DICE ICE CUBES from Hubbard, the ice experts. 

Dice ice is a bit of an all-rounder. We’re talking about the classic six-sided rectangular or square ice cubes – they come in dice (typically about 10g), half dice (6g) and large dice (17g).

Because they’re made on a vertical evaporator, dice ice cubes are quick to produce (not as quick as nugget, but quicker than a gourmet supercube). They’re quite good looking, too (better looking than nugget, not as good looking as gourmet); are decent for quality drinks (slower melt rate than nugget, faster than gourmet); and quite kind to blender blades (softer than gourmet, but harder than nugget).

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Hubbard launches compact undercounter icemaker that can produce ice all day long

The demand for ice is growing across all sectors of the hospitality and catering industries.  Trends like self-service “bottomless drinks” in the fast food sector mean that operators need economical and reliable sources of ice in large amounts. Simultaneously, increasing pressures on space mean they need equipment to be as compact as possible.

The Scotsman Ice Tower 56 from Hubbard Systems is an undercounter unit measuring 539mm(w) X 664mm(d) X 720mm(h) with a counter top dispenser. Despite its compact size it’s capable of producing 500kg of nugget ice in a 24 hour period – which means it can dispense a virtually endless supply, on tap.

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First ever ice machine configurator app puts power in chefs hands Full story here

Scotsman launches ice machine configurator app for iPhones and Android

For operators and specifiers who don’t know which ice machine they need, there’s an app that can help.  With the Scotsman Ice app, the user simply goes to the ice machine configurator, selects what sort of ice they want from a scrolling menu (gourmet cube, dice ice, flake ice, nugget ice and so on) and then selects how much ice per day they want, again from a menu.  The app shows them which Scotsman ice machines are suitable for their selections.

“The app is a great tool for operators, buyers, dealers and consultants,” says Simon Aspin, commercial director of Hubbard Systems, which markets the Scotsman range in the UK.  “I’m not aware of there being anything else quite like it in the ice machine world.  It’s dead easy to use and navigate, and it’s packed with useful information.”

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Hubbard Systems tells you why gourmet supercubes bring out the best in your drink

For such a seemingly simple item there are a dizzying number of ways to make an ice cube. These different forms each have their own strengths and uses. Ice is ice? Don’t you believe it!

For example, pouring bourbon over ice will stop aromatic compounds within the drink evaporating. This allows more of them to be released within the drinker’s mouth, making for a more complex taste.

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Visitors are impressed by versatile nugget

On Jan 31 Hubbard Systems took a group of consultants to visit the Scotsman factory in Milan. The trip was an opportunity for the visitors to find out about Scotsman’s latest nugget ice machine technology.

“Nugget machines are incredibly efficient – but it’s difficult to explain the technology without seeing them in action,” says Simon Aspin, commercial director of Hubbard Systems. “The new nugget icemakers were very well received. Nugget ice is relatively new to the UK. It’s very versatile – for example, if can be used both for drinks and for food display – and its method of production is very eco-friendly. Plus, a small machine can make big volumes of ice.”

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NW308 fits industry-standard global footprint and is easy to look after

Hubbard Systems’ new Scotsman icemaker is a modular cuber that’s designed to fit in the global 560mm / 22inch footprint.  The NW308 is the latest in the NW Series and makes the classic six-sided 12g dice ice cube.  It can also be supplied to make the 6g half-dice ice cube.  Its space-saving footprint is highlighted by the fact that it vents from the top – so it can be built in to tight gaps, with no need for side clearance.

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Gourmet ice cubes, dice, superdice, cubelet, nugget, flake, superflake and scale: but which ice is best?  Hubbard Systems offers ice adv-ice.

Apparently the Inuit really do have fifty or more words for snow.  They’ll know there are lots of different types of ice as well – yet some foodservice operators think ice is ice.  They’re wrong.   For a start, there’s the very obvious difference between ice cubes and flake ice.  But different cubes have different characteristics, too.  Some are softer, some harder, some clearer and so on.

Hubbard Ice Systems, which markets Scotsman ice machines in the UK, reckons it’s time the market woke up and smelt the coffee.  Or, in this case, the ice.  The company has produced an update to its popular Guide to Ice, which is available to download from scotsman-ice.co.uk.

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Hubbard offer hotels advice on Christmas ice

Christmas is one of the busiest times of year for hotels, with parties and events causing spikes in custom on top of the overall higher numbers of guests. Having a steady supply of ice provides extra peace of mind that there’ll be no problems meeting the increase in demand.

Busy hotels can benefit from modular machines, which are perfect for high volume ice production. Hubbard’s Scotsman MXG range of modular ‘supercuber’ ice machines combine reliability and ease-of-use with aesthetic-appeal and quieter operation. The MXG models offer high production, with one unit capable of producing up to 410kg of gourmet ice per 24 hours, on a global standard footprint.

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Hubbard Systems says new icemaker is the hassle-free, competitively-priced ice solution.

The new Scotsman NW 608 ice machine, distributed in the UK by Hubbard Systems, combines ultra-reliability with ultra-simple controls and a compact, industry-standard footprint.  According to Hubbard it delivers hassle-free, high volume ice production in a quality, stainless steel build at a very competitive price.

This latest Scotsman makes dice ice in either standard 12g cubes or half cubes, weighing 6g.  It can produce up to 280kg of ice per day, or over 23,300 standard cubes, making it ideal for high volume sites requiring a reliable supply.  A modular machine, it sits on top of a separate storage bin and is compatible with a variety of different bin designs.

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