Cleaning, servicing and airflow are key to an icy Xmas
Now’s the time to make sure that ice machines are fit for Christmas. It’s an incredibly busy time and ice will be in demand throughout the festive season: the last thing any bar wants is an icemaker breakdown. Cleaning the machine regularly – typically at least once a week – will help to keep it in top condition. Hubbard Systems, which distributes the Scotsman range in the UK, has a series of helpful PDFs, available from the downloads and resources section at hubbardsystems.co.uk, which can guide staff through the process.
The Hubbard Systems ice experts highlight one area to check pre-Christmas, and that’s the airflow to the machine. A constant airflow is essential for keeping an icemaker running at full capacity – which will certainly be required for the party season. Keep all vents clear and unblocked, and clean the air filter to prevent it from getting clogged up with dust. If the machine has self-diagnostics and shows an alarm, or if a warning light shows, act on it quickly.
Even if the machine seems to be functioning well, it’s a good idea to get the service engineer in for a pre-Christmas health check, so they can nip any potential issues in the bud.
Any bar thinking of replacing their machine with a new one will need to factor in one key piece of information – how big is the hole it’s got to fit in? Getting the right size is, of course, critical. Having said that, bear in mind that many manufacturers produce models of a similar size, so if you want to upgrade, let your supplier know what make and model you are replacing and they should be able to offer you a choice of alternatives.
Replacing an icemaker is often a distress purchase – it’s done because the old one is kaput, which means the ideal delivery time is yesterday. That’s why Hubbard has a large stock of Scotsman machines ready for next day delivery to most of the UK mainland.
Further reading
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Scotsman Ice is redefining the standards of ice-making innovation.
At Host Milano 2025, the company unveils 4 ground breaking products that combine innovation, efficiency, and design to meet the evolving needs of the hospitality industry.
EXS Range – Square Gourmet Cube
Introducing Scotsman’s first-ever square gourmet cube range — a new icon of style and precision.
Perfect for high-end hotels, cocktail bars, and restaurants where presentation and quality matter most.
AXG | EXG Series – Next Generation Gourmet Cube
The evolution of the legendary Gourmet Cube.
Enhanced energy efficiency, simplified maintenance, and cutting-edge technology ensure crystal-clear, long-lasting ice every time.
NXW Series – New Dice Ice Range
A brand-new range designed for productivity and versatility.
Dice Ice delivers fast cooling and consistent performance — ideal for foodservice, quick-service restaurants, and mixed applications.
DXN Infinity – Endless Ice Dispenser
The future of ice dispensing is here.
Compact, continuous, and fully touch-free — delivering hygiene, convenience, and innovation without limits.
At Scotsman Ice, innovation never stops — because the world of ice deserves constant evolution.
📍 Discover the future of ice at Host Milano 2025,
Pav. 20 – Stand E04, and experience the next generation of ice machines!
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Blog
‘Top professional’ has played key role in sales growth for the Group
HTG Trading has appointed George Fell as Equipment Sales Director for the Group’s two main subsidiaries, Hubbard Services and Taylor UK. As well as heading equipment sales, he will continue in his role of looking after global key accounts for the Group.
George has been with HTG for just over ten years, joining in January 2015 as Business Development Manager for Hubbard Systems in Scotland and Northern England, focusing on the Scotsman range of ice makers. Over the years he has worked on both the Taylor and Hubbard portfolios, and was latterly Head of Sales for Hubbard Systems.
“George is a top professional who has extensive sales experience,” says Pete Gray, managing director of HTG. “He’s a highly accomplished, able and versatile individual and he’s played a key role in helping HTG grow, including bringing home major international orders. I know he’ll make a big success of his new position.”
The new role coincides with a period of strong performance for Taylor UK and Hubbard Systems, based on both new and existing product lines. Recently HTG and Middleby UK agreed a strategic partnership to drive TurboChef sales through Taylor UK, while Hubbard Systems, as Scotsman’s distributor, has seen its share of the UK ice maker market grow to around 34%. At the same time new brands are being added to both subsidiaries’ portfolio, with Hubbard becoming UK distributor for Eloma combi and baking ovens. Alongside TurboChef, Taylor UK is also UK distributor for the Taylor, Frigomat and ISA refrigeration ranges. “These are exciting times at HTG and it’s great to be a part of the team,” says George. “Success is not just down to the strength of the products we look after, many of which are market leaders, it’s also the excellent service and support our team gives to our dealers and end user customers. The market knows it can rely on the equipment and the backup.”
Further reading
BlogFormer Falcon man says he’s joined at ‘the ideal time’
Adam Wilkinson has joined Hubbard Systems as Business Development Manager (BDM). Covering London and the South of England, he will be working with dealers and their customers, focusing on promoting the market-leading Scotsman ice systems and the Eloma range of combi ovens.
Adam has considerable experience in the foodservice equipment industry. He worked for Falcon for four years, and recently has been responsible for developing the company’s healthcare sector business, successfully introducing a new product range to the NHS and care homes.
At Hubbard Systems Adam is initially getting in front of as many dealers and customers as possible, introducing himself and the recent changes to the product portfolio. He says, “It’s been great to see how much they value Hubbard Systems, and its parent company HTG, not only in terms of the quality of products but also the high level of after-sales support the company delivers.”
Pete Grey is managing director of HTG Trading. “Adam will be a great addition to the team,” he says. “He brings experience, a fresh approach, an acute perspective and a successful record in growing sales.”
Adam is very much looking forward to growing business relationships and developing new ones. “I’ve joined the company at the ideal time. There are new products and ranges to talk about, and exciting new launches in the pipeline.” Outside of work Adam enjoys an eclectic range of sports, including all sorts of fishing (fly, sea, coarse… (‘basically anything to do with fish’), motor sports, mountain biking and supporting Fulham FC. He also claims to be ‘quite tasty’ at darts.
Further reading
BlogMT technology in latest Backmaster oven makes baking hundreds of products as easy as pie
The latest Backmaster baking oven, the EB 30, features Eloma’s powerful control system, MT technology. It makes operation as simple as possible – intuition is the key, and users simply slide, wipe or scroll to find and start programmes or processes quickly and easily. For example, a simple stroke of the finger sets temperature and humidity to the exact degree and percentage. Eloma’s Backmaster range is distributed in the UK by Hubbard Systems.
The Backmaster EB 30 is a compact unit, 600mm wide by 605mm deep and 530mm high. It is designed for sites such as cafes, bakeries, coffee shops, convenience stores and garages that want to offer top quality baked goods, cooked from fresh or frozen, but don’t have the space for conventional baking ovens. The EB 30 holds three 440mm by 350mm trays and has the capacity to bake 36 bread rolls at once.
The MT Technology offers a host of features to simplify baking. With the option to store hundreds of different recipes, each with up to twenty steps, it can cope with all the diverse products that a site could want to bake, from morning goods to meat pies, and helps unskilled staff produce consistent results. With the MultiBaking function, the operator selects a programme and the MT tells them which other programmes are compatible with it, in terms of the cooking climate, so they can cook a variety of products at the same time. Meanwhile the MT’s Last 20 feature means any of the previous twenty cooking processes can be instantly restarted, even if it was a manual setting. There’s also a half load setting.
Another Backmaster benefit is the patented fresh steam system. This uses heat recovery to generate live steam in seconds, without the need to preheat. There’s no boiler, and the system generates the precise amount of steam required, to the millilitre. This saves energy and water, helping to minimise running costs.
The EB 30’s baking operation begins with the injection of steam into the chamber. The steam comes in contact with the products, delaying the formation of the crust and giving a much larger rise compared to traditional convection ovens. At the end of the program the door automatically opens to prevent overcooking.
Optional extras include left- or right-hinged doors and a condensation hood, making it easy to instal the EB 30 in any setting. The Mix Station package allows units to be stacked on top of each other – or to be stacked on top of an Eloma Joker combi oven.
Further reading
BlogScotsman Dice ice is the perfect choice for busy Cafes, Coffee Shops, QSR and Fast Food operators.
In the fast-paced world of quick service restaurants (QSRs) and fast food outlets, speed, consistency, and efficiency are everything. Whether you’re serving up icy soft drinks or blending fruit-packed smoothies, the quality and type of ice you use can significantly impact the customer experience.
That’s where Scotsman dice ice stands out as the perfect solution.
What is Scotsman Dice Ice?
Dice ice (also known as cube or drop ice) is a compact, square-shaped ice that’s ideal for drink service. Produced by leading ice machine manufacturers like Scotsman, dice ice is known for its:
• Fast production speed
• Slower melt rate
• Clean, uniform appearance
• Excellent performance in drinks and blending applications
Whether you choose half dice or full dice, this type of ice is a staple in many high-volume beverage operations.
Fast Ice Production to Keep Up with Demand
In busy QSR environments, ice demand can surge during peak hours. Scotsman dice ice machines are designed for rapid ice production, forming dice ice faster than gourmet or large-format ice cubes. This means your staff will never be left waiting on ice – even during the lunch rush.
Scotsman models, like the NU 307, can produce over 130kg of dice ice per day while fitting neatly under a counter. That’s a big output from a small footprint — perfect for space-restricted kitchens.
Why Dice Ice is Ideal for Soft Drinks and Smoothies
Soft Drinks: Dice ice chills beverages quickly and consistently. Because it melts slowly, it keeps drinks cooler for longer without over-diluting the flavour. The uniform cube shape also looks great in a clear cup and provides a dependable, repeatable portion size for each serve.
Smoothies: When used in commercial blenders, Scotsman dice ice produces a smooth, even texture. It breaks down more consistently than softer ice types like nuggets or flakes, helping you serve high-quality smoothies every time — and protecting blender blades from excess wear.
Compact Machines with Big Ice Output
Compared to nugget, flake, or gourmet ice machines, Scotsman dice ice machines offer the best ice-to-footprint ratio. You get maximum output from a relatively small, energy-efficient unit. This is especially valuable in fast food chains and coffee bars where counter space is limited, but high-volume beverage service is essential.
Built for Hygiene and Ease of Use
Scotsman ice machines are built with hygiene and convenience in mind. Models include:
• Self-diagnostic systems – lights on the control panel highlight issues
• Antimicrobial protection with Scotsman XSafe
• Easy-access components – makes maintenance and servicing easier.
• Air-cooled efficiency
This ensures cleaner ice, simpler maintenance, and reduced risk of downtime — all key advantages for busy QSR operators.
Conclusion: The Ultimate Ice for Fast Food & Beverage Service
If you’re looking for the best ice for soft drinks and smoothies in fast food or QSR environments, look no further than Scotsman dice ice. With fast production speeds, compact machine footprints, and versatile performance, dice ice helps you deliver cold drinks faster, smoother, and more efficiently.
Further reading
BlogHands-free option delivers unrivalled hygiene control
Hubbard Systems has launched Scotsman’s new cubelet ice and chilled water dispenser, the DXN 187. It replaces the TC180, the hugely popular market leader that set the standard in self-serve ice machines. Like its predecessor, the DXN 187 combines a high production capacity with a compact, countertop footprint and superior hygiene, including touch-free options. It is aimed at sectors such as education, motorway stations, QSRs, care homes, hospitals and buffet-style eateries. The new model uses a natural refrigerant, R290, which is kinder to the environment, having a very low GWP and zero ODP.
With striking good looks and a contemporary design, the DXN 187 ice maker is ideal for front of house. The stainless steel body and attractive bumper-style protectors give it a robust construction, while the modern screen display is attractive and easy to use.
Hubbard Systems will be offering two versions of the DXN 187, one with manual push-buttons and the other using Scotsman’s ‘magic-eye’ touch-free dispense system, which is ideal in any situation where hygiene is critical. The DXN 187 also has a fully enclosed storage bin to prevent any chance of contamination.
Cubelet ice is a sustainable option, since it wastes very little water during production. It’s also fast to produce and slow to melt. Despite dimensions of just 427mm wide by 552mm deep and 769mm high, the DXN 187 can produce 140kg of ice per day, and its 7kg storage bin ensures there is always ice on tap for users – it can cope with a queue of 100 customers or more.
The touch-free version operates very simply: the user just places their cup or jug under the relevant spout and the machine dispenses a pre-set portion of ice or chilled water.
The new ice maker is a practical solution, with controls that can easily be tailored to the site’s precise needs. It can be set to serve ice or ice and water, and the dose of ice can be adjusted, to suit different cup sizes. It’s also very easy to look after, with a fast, user-friendly cleaning mode, and the large display screen alerts if there are errors or issues.
Find out more about the Scotsman DXN 187 here >>>