Kubus KHBM3 Drop-In Dry Heat Bain Marie 3x1/1 GN

The Kubus KHBM3 is a drop-in dry heat bain marie designed to sit flush within a countertop cutout, keeping pre-cooked food at safe holding temperatures during service. It accommodates three full 1/1 GN containers and is built for self-service applications, making it a practical choice for carvery counters, serveries, canteen lines, and assisted-service buffet setups. Unlike a water-based bain marie, the dry heat format uses infrared quartz lamps in the overhead gantry to deliver surface heat alongside the heated base well, which avoids the moisture and condensation issues that wet bain maries can introduce.

In a busy service environment, the ability to control base heat and surface heat independently gives operators meaningful flexibility. Both are adjustable from the operator side of the gantry via a digital temperature display and a dimmer switch, and the unit is factory set to hold food core temperature at 85°C. The 24-hour operation capability means it can run through extended service periods without interruption, and modular removable heater element covers in the heated well help distribute heat evenly across the base while simplifying end-of-service cleaning.

From an operational standpoint, the key practical advantages are:

• Independent base and surface heat control, lockable once set to prevent tampering
• Individual 1/1 GN support collars accepting containers up to 150mm deep, with flexibility across GN sizes
• Toughened flat glass sneeze screen on the customer side, meeting basic food hygiene requirements for open display
• Infra-red quartz lamp heating that avoids moisture build-up around food
• Removable heater element covers for straightforward daily cleaning

Installation requires a pre-formed cutout in the countertop to the correct dimensions. The unit is supplied with a lifting kit, a concealed control box, and a plug-top on a 2-metre lead, so no hardwired electrical connection is needed for most installations — though the countertop build itself requires careful planning. At 49kg the unit is substantial, and access for installation should be considered before the counter is finished. GN containers are sold separately.

The KHBM3 is well suited to medium-volume serveries, hotel buffet counters, staff canteens, and pub carvery operations where a clean, managed hot-food display is needed during a defined service window. It is a single-well unit with a fixed width, so operations requiring a longer run of heated display, or very high-volume continuous service, may find a wider or higher-capacity configuration more appropriate.

If you are planning a countertop installation and would like guidance on cutout specifications, heat output, or how this unit sits alongside other drop-in sections, our team is happy to talk it through before you commit.