ICEMA Ships 40T Direct Cooling Block Ice and Cold Room Project to Mexico for Broccoli Preservation

ICEMA has completed the production and shipment of an integrated refrigeration engineering project for an end user in Mexico. The project combines a 40-ton-per-day direct cooling block ice machine, a block ice crusher and a customized cold room to support broccoli cooling, packing, short-term cold storage and cold-chain transportation preparation.

Instead of supplying separate machines without process coordination, the project was planned around the customer’s daily ice demand and broccoli handling workflow. The operating sequence stores the ice in whole-block form and crushes it only when required, helping reduce the risk of crushed ice sticking together during storage.

Project Background: On-Site Ice and Cold Storage for Broccoli Handling

After harvesting, broccoli continues to generate respiration heat. Temperature management during sorting, packing, temporary storage and transportation is therefore an important part of maintaining product condition throughout the cold chain.

The customer required an on-site system that could provide a stable supply of ice during normal operation and peak harvesting periods. The project also needed a controlled low-temperature space for broccoli awaiting packing or shipment.

Based on this requirement, ICEMA coordinated three main parts of the refrigeration project:

· A 40T/day direct cooling block ice machine for centralized ice production

· A block ice crusher for processing 50 kg blocks immediately before use

· A customized cold room for the short-term storage of broccoli and packed products

Correct Refrigeration Process: Store Whole Blocks and Crush Ice on Demand

Water Supply → Block Ice Production → Whole Block Ice Storage → On-Demand Crushing → Broccoli Cooling & Packing → Cold Room → Transportation

The block ice is not crushed and then stored for a long period. Crushed ice has a large surface area and can absorb heat and moisture quickly. If it is piled in a cold room, surface meltwater and temperature fluctuations may cause the pieces to freeze together.

For this reason, the 50 kg blocks are retained in whole form before use. According to the broccoli packing schedule, the customer transfers the required blocks to the crusher and produces smaller ice pieces immediately before cooling or packing. This process supports easier ice distribution and reduces unnecessary re-freezing and agglomeration.

Step 1: Produce 50 kg Direct Cooling Block Ice

Water freezes directly inside metal ice molds. The machine produces 405 ice blocks per batch, with each block weighing 50 kg. The corresponding batch capacity is approximately 20.25 tons.

Through scheduled batch operation under the specified working conditions, the system is designed for a daily production target of 40 tons. Actual output can be affected by ambient temperature, inlet water temperature, cooling conditions, installation quality and operating procedures.

Step 2: Release and Push Out the Ice Blocks

After the freezing cycle, the ice-release sequence separates the blocks from the molds. The integrated push-ice system moves the released blocks away from the ice-making section, reducing manual handling around the evaporator and providing a clearer connection to the storage and crushing areas.

Step 3: Store the Ice in Whole-Block Form

The produced blocks can be held in a designated low-temperature ice storage area before use. Whole blocks have a smaller exposed surface area than crushed ice and are therefore more suitable for temporary storage and scheduled production.

The storage layout should allow drainage, organized stacking and safe material handling. The blocks should not be placed in standing water or exposed to repeated temperature changes.

Step 4: Crush Only the Required Quantity

When the packing line requires ice, the customer transfers the necessary blocks to the crusher. The crusher processes the 50 kg blocks into smaller pieces that are easier to distribute around broccoli cartons, containers or other cooling points defined by the customer’s operating process.

The crusher is used as a production link rather than as a long-term ice-storage device. Crushed ice should be delivered to the application area promptly, or held only for a short buffering period in suitable insulated equipment.

Step 5: Use the Cold Room for Broccoli Preservation

The customized cold room is used for short-term broccoli storage and cold-chain preparation. Its role is separate from the long-term storage of crushed ice.

The final cold-room dimensions, refrigeration capacity, airflow and operating temperature should be selected according to the broccoli load, incoming product temperature, storage time, door-opening frequency, insulation structure and local ambient conditions.

Main Configuration of the 40T Direct Cooling Block Ice Machine

Why Direct Cooling Block Ice Was Selected

A direct cooling block ice machine freezes water inside metal molds without using a brine tank as the freezing medium. For this agricultural refrigeration project, the system was selected for the following practical reasons:

· No brine tank is required in the ice-making process.

· The 50 kg block format is suitable for centralized production and temporary storage.

· Whole blocks can be crushed according to the actual packing schedule.

· The push-ice system supports the transfer of blocks to the storage and crushing areas.

· Remote-control functionality supports operating checks and technical service according to the available site network and control settings.

Customized Cold Room as Part of the Refrigeration Engineering Project

The cold room is not treated as an isolated product. Its insulation, refrigeration equipment and control configuration must match the broccoli handling process and the overall project load.

A customized cold-room scope may include insulated wall and ceiling panels, an insulated door, a condensing unit, air coolers, temperature controls, electrical components, lighting, floor insulation and drainage arrangements. The final configuration is determined from the project design rather than from a single standard room size.

The block ice machine, crusher and cold room must also be positioned according to material flow. The recommended layout minimizes the distance between ice storage, crushing and packing while keeping the broccoli cold-room access route clear.

Pre-Shipment Coordination and Delivery

Before packing, ICEMA checked the project equipment and components against the confirmed configuration and shipping list. The review covered the block ice machine, push-ice system, crusher, cold-room panels, refrigeration equipment and electrical control components.

The equipment and cold-room materials were then packed according to their structure and transport requirements. The complete project has now been shipped from the ICEMA factory to the customer’s site in Mexico.

Installation and commissioning will be carried out according to the final site layout, foundations, water and power conditions, drainage arrangement and the connection requirements between the ice-production, crushing, packing and cold-storage areas.

One Coordinated Solution from Ice Production to Broccoli Cold Storage

This project demonstrates how an industrial block ice machine, a crusher and a cold room can be coordinated as one refrigeration engineering solution.

The key operating principle is clear: produce and temporarily store whole ice blocks, crush only the required quantity immediately before use, and use the cold room for broccoli preservation and cold-chain preparation. This workflow is more practical than storing a large volume of crushed ice, which may freeze into agglomerated masses after temperature and moisture changes.

ICEMA provides customized industrial ice-making and cold-storage projects for agricultural processing, seafood preservation, food transportation, commercial ice production and other temperature-controlled applications.

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1. Complete 40T direct cooling block ice machine at the factory

2. Ice molds and 50 kg block ice production area

3. Push-ice system and released ice blocks

4. Whole block ice storage area

5. Block ice crusher and discharge detail

6. Cold-room panels, door, air cooler and condensing unit

7. Packing and container-loading photographs

8. Broccoli packing or cold-chain application image