Is 85kg per day enough output for a busy fish counter or deli display?

It depends on the size of your display run and how frequently you refresh the ice bed. For a small-to-medium counter — typically up to around three or four metres — 85kg per day is generally sufficient under normal trading conditions. If you're running a larger display, operating extended hours, or working in a warm environment where ice melts faster, a higher-capacity model is worth considering. It's worth thinking about your busiest trading days rather than your average, as that's where the machine will need to keep pace.

What installation requirements should I plan for before purchasing?

The FM-80KE-HC needs a cold water supply, a gravity drain or pump-assisted drainage route, and an appropriate electrical connection — your installer will confirm the exact requirements for your site. As a self-contained air-cooled unit, it also needs adequate clearance around the casing for ventilation; fitting it into a tight or enclosed space will reduce output and may shorten the lifespan of the compressor. A water filtration system is strongly recommended, particularly in hard water areas, to protect the internal components and maintain ice quality.

Why choose flake ice over cube or nugget ice for food display work?

Flake ice is soft and mouldable, which means it sits closely around produce rather than leaving air gaps the way cube ice tends to. This gives better surface contact for chilling and a cleaner, more uniform appearance on a display counter. It's gentler on delicate items — shellfish, fish fillets, and similar produce — and it tends to melt more evenly, which helps maintain consistent temperatures without the cold spots that can occur with harder ice types. For food preparation chilling rather than display, the same properties make it a practical choice in kitchen environments.

Hoshizaki FM-80KE-HC Flake Ice Machine (85kg/24hr)

Name: Hoshizaki FM-80KE-HC Flake Ice Machine (85kg/24hr)
Brand: Hoshizaki
SKU: FM-80KE-HC
Price: 3306.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Product No: FM-80KE-HC

Hoshizaki FM-80KE-HC Flake Ice Machine product image

Hoshizaki FM-80KE-HC Flake Ice Machine (85kg/24hr)

Product Description

The Hoshizaki FM-80KE-HC is a self-contained flake ice machine with a production capacity of up to 85kg per 24 hours. It produces soft, flat flake ice using a rotating evaporator...

Specifications

Capacity (kg): 26
External depth (mm): 600
External height (mm): 800
External width (mm): 640

Downloads

Hoshizaki FM Instruction Manual
FM80KEHC Spec Sheet

Product Description

The Hoshizaki FM-80KE-HC is a self-contained flake ice machine with a production capacity of up to 85kg per 24 hours. It produces soft, flat flake ice using a rotating evaporator drum and multi-blade cutter head — a design Hoshizaki has refined over many years of commercial ice production. Unlike cube or nugget ice, flake ice conforms closely around the product it contacts, making it a practical choice wherever consistent surface coverage and gentle chilling matter.

Flake ice is widely used in fishmongers, fish and chip shops, seafood restaurants, deli counters, and food preparation environments where product presentation and safe temperature management are equally important. The soft texture means it will not bruise or mark delicate produce, and because it melts gradually and evenly, it maintains stable temperatures across a display without creating localised cold spots. In busy kitchen prep areas, it is also a reliable medium for rapid chilling of ingredients between service periods.

From an operational standpoint, flake ice offers some practical advantages worth noting:

Moulds closely around irregular-shaped produce, maximising contact and cooling efficiency
Soft texture reduces the risk of damage to delicate food items during display or transport
Even melt rate supports consistent surface temperatures across food displays
Self-contained design keeps the installation footprint manageable
Hoshizaki's build quality is well regarded for reliability under continuous commercial use

As a self-contained unit, the FM-80KE-HC houses the refrigeration system within the machine itself, which simplifies installation compared to remote-condenser configurations. That said, adequate ventilation around the unit is important — restricted airflow will reduce output and put unnecessary strain on the condenser. Water supply and drainage connections are required, and the quality of the incoming water supply can affect both ice quality and long-term machine health, so a water filter is worth considering as part of the installation. The unit is designed for indoor installation in a controlled environment and is not suitable for outdoor use or unheated spaces.

At 85kg per 24 hours, this machine is well suited to small-to-medium food retail counters, independent fish and chip operations, or kitchen prep environments with moderate daily ice demand. Sites with larger display runs or higher-volume production needs may find a higher-capacity model more appropriate, while smaller operations with limited counter space may be better served by a lower-output unit.

If you're weighing up whether flake ice is the right type for your operation, or want to talk through installation requirements before committing, our team is happy to help you work through it.

Key Features

Produces up to 85kg of soft flake ice per 24-hour cycle
Self-contained refrigeration system requires no remote condenser
Multi-blade cutter head produces consistent, fine flake ice
Rotating drum evaporator design proven in commercial kitchen environments
Requires standard water inlet and drain connection for installation

Operational Benefits

Maintains even surface temperatures across fresh food displays throughout service
Soft ice texture protects delicate produce from bruising during presentation
Self-contained build simplifies installation and reduces setup complexity
Consistent flake output supports reliable prep chilling between service periods
Hoshizaki build quality reduces risk of downtime in continuous daily use

Specifications

Capacity (kg): 26
External depth (mm): 600
External height (mm): 800
External width (mm): 640
Material: Stainless steel 430, Galvanized steel (Rear)
Power rating (kw): 0.27
Power type: 13amp Plug
Refrigerant: R290
Weight (kg): 65

Downloads

Hoshizaki FM Instruction Manual
FM80KEHC Spec Sheet

Frequently Asked Questions

: It depends on the size of your display run and how frequently you refresh the ice bed. For a small-to-medium counter — typically up to around three or four metres — 85kg per day is generally sufficient under normal trading conditions. If you're running a larger display, operating extended hours, or working in a warm environment where ice melts faster, a higher-capacity model is worth considering. It's worth thinking about your busiest trading days rather than your average, as that's where the machine will need to keep pace.
: The FM-80KE-HC needs a cold water supply, a gravity drain or pump-assisted drainage route, and an appropriate electrical connection — your installer will confirm the exact requirements for your site. As a self-contained air-cooled unit, it also needs adequate clearance around the casing for ventilation; fitting it into a tight or enclosed space will reduce output and may shorten the lifespan of the compressor. A water filtration system is strongly recommended, particularly in hard water areas, to protect the internal components and maintain ice quality.
: Flake ice is soft and mouldable, which means it sits closely around produce rather than leaving air gaps the way cube ice tends to. This gives better surface contact for chilling and a cleaner, more uniform appearance on a display counter. It's gentler on delicate items — shellfish, fish fillets, and similar produce — and it tends to melt more evenly, which helps maintain consistent temperatures without the cold spots that can occur with harder ice types. For food preparation chilling rather than display, the same properties make it a practical choice in kitchen environments.