The New Standard Beyond Traditional Brine Systems
Block ice remains essential across many industries, from concrete cooling to fisheries, industrial processing, and cold logistics. For decades, the dominant technology has been traditional brine-system block ice machines. However, rising energy costs, increasing labor expenses, stricter environmental regulations, and higher hygiene expectations have exposed the limitations of these older systems.
Today, a new generation is taking the stage: Direct cooling block ice machines. This technology freezes water inside the mold by circulating refrigerant directly through aluminum evaporator plates, eliminating the brine tank entirely. The result is a cleaner, more efficient, more compact, and future-ready block ice production solution.
What Is a Direct Cooling Block Ice System?
A direct cooling block ice machine works as follows:
• Molds are made from aluminum alloy evaporator blocks that act as heat exchangers.
• Refrigerant flows inside these blocks, removing heat directly from the water.
• There is no brine tank, no brine pump, no serpentine coil assembly.
• De-icing is typically semi-automatic or fully automatic, eliminating most heavy manual labor.
Advantages Over Brine-Type Block Ice Machines
1. Energy Efficiency
Direct cooling eliminates an entire heat-transfer stage, giving up to 20–30% lower energy consumption.
2. Superior Hygiene
No saltwater, chemicals, or contamination risks. Aluminum surfaces are food-safe and easy to clean.
3. Environmental Sustainability
No brine disposal, no chemical waste, lower environmental footprint.
4. Lower Maintenance and Higher Durability
Corrosion risk is greatly reduced; fewer mechanical components mean fewer failures.
5. Compact Footprint
Requires less space and supports modular, containerized installations.
6. Reduced Labor Requirements
Automation reduces manual handling, improving safety and operational efficiency.
Why Direct Cooling Will Become the Future Industry Standard
• Rising energy prices.• Stricter environmental policies.
• Higher labor costs and safety requirements.
• Increasing demand for hygienic, traceable ice production.
Tamutom’s Vision for the Future
At Tamutom, we combine decades of industrial ice-making experience with next-generation direct cooling technology. We aim to deliver efficient, hygienic, durable, and modular ice production systems. We believe direct cooling block ice machines will soon become the worldwide industry standard, and we continue innovating to lead this transformation.
