What is a commercial ice box?
A commercial ice box is a heavily insulated upright freezer built to store bagged ice and keep it frozen hard until it's sold or used. You'll see them outside service stations, bottle shops and supermarkets, at caravan parks and campgrounds, and behind the scenes at ice suppliers, sporting clubs and event venues. Unlike a glass door display freezer, an ice box has solid insulated doors, thick walls and a freezer unit on top that's built to work hard through an Australian summer.
Who uses an ice box?
- Service stations and convenience stores: a lockable ice box on the forecourt sells bagged ice without taking up floor space inside the shop.
- Bottle shops and drive-throughs: keep bagged ice where customers and staff can reach it fast on hot days and before parties.
- Caravan parks, campgrounds and marinas: sell ice to guests and boaties for eskies and fishing trips.
- Ice suppliers and distributors: hold stock between production and delivery runs.
- Clubs, pubs and event venues: store a big reserve of bagged ice for game days, functions and festivals.
- Fishing, seafood and farm businesses: keep ice on hand for chilling the catch or fresh produce.
How to choose an ice box
- Capacity: work out how much ice you sell or use on your busiest summer weekend, then allow extra so you can stock up before deliveries. Our NovaChill ice boxes have about 1,872, 2,448 or 3,024 litres of internal space.
- Footprint and height: measure the site before you order. With the freezer unit on top, the NovaChill ice boxes stand 2,390mm high and 1,200mm deep, and are 1,510, 1,910 or 2,310mm wide. Check awnings, doorways and the path from the truck too.
- One door or two: a single door suits a smaller site. Two doors make it quicker to load and unload a wider box.
- Power: all three models plug into a standard 10 amp power point, so there's no hard-wiring or three-phase power to arrange.
- Location: the freezer unit has a weather cover, and the boxes are rated for ambient temperatures up to 38°C. Give the unit on top clear air around it and, where you can, put the box under an awning and out of the afternoon sun.
- A level base: the boxes defrost automatically, so they must be installed level for the melt water to drain away. Use the adjustable legs, or sit the box flat on its galvanised chassis rails on a level slab.
- Security: lockable doors stop stock walking off after hours, and an internal release means nobody can be trapped inside.
Why NovaChill ice boxes
- 100mm urethane insulated walls, roof and floor to hold temperature in hot weather
- Fan-forced cooling rather than a cold wall, with ribbed internal wall panels that help cold air circulate around the bags
- Automatic defrost with melt water disposal
- A removable plug-in monoblock freezer unit on top, which keeps the storage space clear
- A reversing condenser fan that helps keep the condenser clean (a self-cleaning condenser system)
- Digital temperature controller and display, set between -15°C and -10°C
- R290 natural refrigerant
- Internal floor grids that keep bags off the floor
- Heavy-duty hinges and latches, aluminium checker plate corners and galvanised chassis rails, built to take the knocks of a busy site
- ICE signage on the freezer unit, so customers can spot it from the car park
Our range
We stock three NovaChill ice boxes, all with a white exterior and a 12 month warranty:
| Model | Doors | Internal space | Overall size (W x D x H) | Internal size (W x D x H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model A | 1 | 1,872 litres (66 cu ft) | 1510 x 1200 x 2390mm | 1300 x 900 x 1600mm |
| Model B | 2 | 2,448 litres (86 cu ft) | 1910 x 1200 x 2390mm | 1700 x 900 x 1600mm |
| Model C | 2 | 3,024 litres (106 cu ft) | 2310 x 1200 x 2390mm | 2100 x 900 x 1600mm |
For selling bagged ice inside the shop, we also stock NovaChill glass door ice freezers: the SM400GZ-ICE (1 door, 400 litres), SM600GZ-ICE (1 door, 590 litres), SM1300GZ-ICE (2 doors, 1,320 litres) and SM2000GZ-ICE (3 doors, 2,050 litres). They're NovaChill's SM glass door display freezers with an ICE sign and a -15°C to -10°C setting, with heated glass doors, LED lighting, lockable doors and a 4 year parts, 2 year labour warranty.
Ice box, glass door ice freezer or ice machine?
- Ice box: the most storage for bagged ice, with solid insulated doors. Suits forecourts, outdoor sites and back-of-house storage.
- Glass door ice freezer: shows bagged ice inside the shop so customers can grab it themselves. We stock NovaChill glass door ice freezers in one, two and three door sizes, listed in our range above.
- Ice machine: makes ice on site from water. If you make your own ice to bag or serve, see our commercial ice machines and storage bins.
Looking after your ice box
- Let the box come down to temperature before you load it with ice.
- Stack bags on the floor grids, and don't pack them hard against the fan, so cold air can move around the load.
- Keep the area around the freezer unit clear of boxes and rubbish so it can breathe.
- Keep the door seals clean, close the doors firmly and lock the box after hours.
- Check the box is still level from time to time, as the automatic defrost depends on it.
Delivery and our price-beat guarantee
We deliver Australia-wide by truck. Ice boxes are large, heavy units, so please make sure there's room for the truck and a way to unload at your site, and contact us if you'd like help planning the delivery. Prices are shown ex GST with the GST-inclusive price alongside. Found a lower price? Send us the link under our Price-Beat Guarantee and we'll send you a one-off discount code.
Ice box FAQs
What temperature does an ice box run at?
The NovaChill ice boxes have a digital controller that holds them between -15°C and -10°C, which keeps bagged ice frozen hard and stops the bags sticking together from thawing and refreezing.
Do I need an electrician?
Not for the power. All three models run from a standard 10 amp power point. Plug the box straight into its own power point rather than an extension lead.
Can an ice box go outside?
Yes. Ice boxes are commonly installed outside service stations and shops. The freezer unit has a weather cover and the boxes are rated for ambient temperatures up to 38°C, so where you can, place the box under cover and out of direct afternoon sun, on a level base.
Can I store frozen food in an ice box?
They're designed for ice. At -15°C to -10°C they run warmer than the -18°C usually recommended for frozen food, so use an upright freezer or chest freezer for frozen stock.
Can the doors be locked?
Yes. The doors are lockable, and an internal release lets anyone inside open the door.
How many bags of ice will it hold?
That depends on your bag size and how you stack them. Compare the internal sizes in the table above with your bags, or contact us and we'll help you choose.
What warranty applies?
The NovaChill ice boxes come with a 12 month warranty, and the NovaChill glass door ice freezers with 4 years parts and 2 years labour.