DELEITE IMS-25 Fully Automatic Flake Ice Machine

Overview

The DELEITE IMS-25 Fully Automatic Flake Ice Machine is a compact, laboratory-optimized refrigeration system engineered for consistent, on-demand production of fine, irregular flake ice—specifically formulated to maximize thermal contact surface area and rapid heat transfer in sensitive experimental and clinical settings. Unlike cubed or cylindrical ice forms, flake ice generated by the IMS-25 employs a dual-spiral extrusion principle: water is frozen onto a chilled drum surface and continuously scraped off by precision-ground stainless-steel spiral cutters, producing thin, porous, low-density flakes (typically 1–3 mm in thickness and sub-5 mm in lateral dimension). This physical morphology enables deep penetration into narrow sample vessels, uniform temperature equilibration in ice baths, and minimal mechanical stress on biological specimens during chilling—critical attributes for applications ranging from enzyme kinetics stabilization to histological tissue preservation.

Key Features

• Stainless steel (AISI 304) cabinet and interior liner—corrosion-resistant, non-porous, and compliant with ISO 14644-1 Class 8 cleanroom-compatible surface requirements for low-particulate environments.
• Zero-residual water management: Float-controlled feed system eliminates standing water in the reservoir; no manual defrost cycle required, ensuring continuous operation and eliminating cross-contamination risk between batches.
• R134a refrigeration circuit—fully compliant with EU RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU and EPA SNAP-approved; zero ozone depletion potential (ODP = 0), global warming potential (GWP = 1430) within acceptable thresholds for institutional HVAC-integrated lab facilities.
• Microprocessor-based control system with embedded EEPROM memory—retains operational state (e.g., ice level, error history, runtime hours) across power interruptions and automatically resumes production upon restoration of water and electricity.
• Thermal overload protection, low-water shutoff, full-bin detection, and evaporator frost-over safeguards—each triggering audible/visual alerts and graceful shutdown per IEC 61000-6-2 EMC immunity standards.
• Air-cooled condenser with axial fan and optimized fin spacing—designed for stable performance at ambient temperatures up to 32°C and relative humidity ≤80% RH, without requiring external water drainage or dedicated ventilation ducting.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The IMS-25 is validated for use with aqueous, buffered, and saline solutions commonly employed in life science workflows—including Tris-HCl, PBS, and sucrose-based cryoprotectants. Its flake ice output meets ASTM D4178-22 specifications for “Fine Flake Ice for Laboratory Thermal Management” regarding particle size distribution, melt rate consistency (<1.2 g/min at 25°C ambient), and residual chlorine content (<0.05 ppm). All electrical components carry TUV/VDE certification per EN 60335-1:2012+A11:2014 (Household and Similar Electrical Appliances – Safety). The unit is suitable for installation in GLP-compliant laboratories and supports FDA 21 CFR Part 11 audit-trail readiness when integrated with validated facility monitoring systems.

Software & Data Management

While the IMS-25 operates via embedded firmware without cloud connectivity, its control board supports RS-485 Modbus RTU interface (optional adapter kit available) for integration into centralized lab infrastructure management platforms (e.g., Siemens Desigo, Schneider EcoStruxure). Real-time status parameters—including compressor duty cycle, evaporator temperature (-18 ± 1°C), ice bin fill level (%), and cumulative runtime—are accessible via serial polling. Event logs record timestamps for all safety-triggered shutdowns and maintenance intervals (e.g., filter replacement reminders every 6 months), supporting ISO/IEC 17025 Clause 7.7 equipment calibration and maintenance documentation requirements.

Applications

• Pre-analytical sample cooling: Maintaining whole blood, CSF, and tissue biopsies at 0–4°C prior to centrifugation or nucleic acid extraction.
• Enzyme and protein stability assays: Providing rapid, non-aggressive thermal quenching during kinetic reaction termination.
• Pharmaceutical QC labs: Supporting dissolution testing bath temperature control and lyophilization pre-chilling protocols.
• Histopathology: Facilitating optimal tissue embedding matrix solidification and microtome sectioning temperature control.
• Veterinary and clinical diagnostics: Enabling cold chain integrity for point-of-care rapid test reagents and antigen preservation.
• Food safety microbiology: Rapid chilling of enrichment broths post-incubation to halt microbial growth before plating.

FAQ

What is the typical flake ice density and melt profile under standard lab conditions?
Flake ice produced by the IMS-25 exhibits a bulk density of 380–420 kg/m³ and achieves ≥95% melt completion within 45 minutes when submerged in 50 mL of deionized water at 25°C.
Does the unit require periodic descaling or water filtration?
Yes—use with filtered water (≤5 ppm total dissolved solids) is mandatory; integrated scale-inhibiting coating extends service interval, but quarterly citric acid descaling (0.5% w/v, 30-min dwell) is recommended per manufacturer maintenance protocol.
Can the IMS-25 be installed inside a fume hood or cold room?
No—it requires unobstructed front/rear airflow clearance (min. 150 mm) and ambient operating temperature between 10–32°C; cold room installation risks condensate freezing in the air intake path.
Is the ice output sterile or pyrogen-free?
The ice is not terminally sterilized; however, stainless-steel wetted surfaces comply with USP extractables profiling, and routine sanitization with 70% ethanol or vapor-phase H₂O₂ is compatible with cabinet materials.
What regulatory documentation is supplied with the unit?
CE Declaration of Conformity (2014/35/EU Low Voltage Directive + 2014/30/EU EMC Directive), RoHS Certificate of Compliance, TUV/VDE component certification reports, and ISO 9001:2015 manufacturing quality certificate.