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Premium Ice Equipment List With Prices
A practical equipment list for premium ice production with prices: water preparation, block machines, hoists, saws, molds, CNC engraving, packing, storage and startup budgets.
Premium ice has long since ceased to be a niche product intended solely for high-end cocktail bars. Today, clear ice cubes, spheres, and other ice shapes are in high demand in restaurants, hotels, and catering services, as well as in the ready-to-use consumer market.
One of the key advantages of this sector is the relatively low barrier to entry compared to the production of regular edible ice. Launching a full-scale project does not require multimillion investments in large automated plants.
Below, we’ll take a detailed look at what equipment is needed to get started, what functions each piece of equipment performs, and what budget you should set aside during the initial planning stage.
At the end of the article, you’ll find ready-made equipment packages with estimated costs. However, we recommend reading the entire article: this will make it easier to understand which configuration is best suited for your specific project, production format, and planned workload.
Water and System Preparation
The first step in producing premium ice is water preparation. The clarity, density, and visual purity of the final product depend directly on the quality of the water.
To achieve consistent results, drinking water that has undergone additional filtration is used. Most often, a reverse osmosis system is chosen for this purpose: it helps remove excess minerals, impurities, and other substances from the water that can affect the ice’s appearance.
That said, for small- or medium-scale production, it is not necessary to install a complex industrial water treatment system. In many cases, a properly selected household or semi-professional reverse osmosis system is sufficient; this can be ordered from a local supplier or purchased independently at a home improvement store.
The approximate cost of such a system starts at €500.
Production of Clear Ice Blocks
The actual production of premium ice begins with forming clear ice blocks using the slow-freezing method with constant water circulation. It is this process that produces dense, visually clear, and transparent ice without bubbles, cloudiness, or visible impurities.
The choice of model depends on the planned production volume, available space, business format, and how the finished ice will be used: for your own establishment, regular deliveries, or larger-scale commercial production.
Option #1 — P30
Suitable for small production facilities, bars, and restaurants.
Specifications:
Up to 100 kg of ice per cycle
Approximately 750 standard 5×5×5 cm cubes per cycle
No lift or cart required
Compact size for small spaces
Price: € 4300
Option #2 — P150 (6 small bins)
The most popular solution for starting a business.
Specifications:
Up to 200 kg of ice per cycle
Over 1,500 cubes per cycle
Easy to operate without large 150-kg blocks
Suitable for small-scale production and delivery of finished ice to bars
Price: € 6 700
Option #3 — P150 (standard version)
For more substantial production volumes.
Specifications:
Up to 300 kg of ice per cycle
1,800–2,000 cubic meters per cycle
Large 150-kg blocks
Price: € 6700
Option #4 — P300
A professional solution for large-scale production.
Specifications:
Up to 600 kg of ice per cycle
Up to 4,000 cubic meters per cycle
More energy-efficient than two P150 units
Price: € 10 500
*For the P300 model, the refrigeration system compressor can be installed outside the building. This solution is well-suited for countries with hot climates: the equipment will operate more efficiently, and energy consumption will be lower.
This configuration has specific technical requirements for the installation location, so not every space is suitable. Please contact us, and our technical specialist will provide more detailed information on this matter.
Lifting and Moving Blocks
When working with large ice blocks, it is necessary to move them safely and handle them with care.
Electric Hoist
An electric hoist is used to remove finished blocks from the production line. This is especially important when working with blocks weighing up to 150 kg: lifting them by hand is dangerous and practically impossible.
Price: € 950
Tilt Cart
The tilt cart is used to handle blocks within the production area: it helps to carefully move the ice, reposition the block, and transport it to the cutting station.
With its help, you can:
transport finished blocks;
rotate them from a horizontal to a vertical position;
move several cut slabs at once, for example, for further storage in a freezer.
Price: € 500
Cutting Ice Blocks
After freezing, the finished block must be cut into ice slabs and then into cubes of the desired size.
C70 Horizontal Band Saw
The C70 horizontal band saw is specifically designed for cutting large ice blocks. It allows for quick and precise cutting while maintaining the even geometry of the resulting cubes.
Advantages:
One large block is cut in approximately 15 minutes;
Minimal ice waste;
High precision;
Requires an area of approximately 2×2 m.2×2 м.
Price: € 5 200
*Alternative — Electric Hand Saw
In the initial stage, some manufacturers use electric hand saws, such as those from Makita or Stihl.
Advantage: low cost.
Disadvantages:
higher ice consumption during cutting;
slower cutting speed compared to a professional saw;
it is more difficult to achieve consistent geometry and uniform cube sizes.
Estimated cost: starting at € 100
Cutting Slabs into Cubes
Once a large block of ice has been divided into ice slabs, they must be cut into finished cubes of the desired size.
SX220 Table Saw
- Used for cutting standard 5×5 cm cubes and other sizes;
Price: € 2 500
SX 350 KC Stationary Saw
Our company, in collaboration with the saw manufacturer Dadaux (France), has developed a special model for cutting premium ice. The saw comes complete with a sorting table and is designed for manufacturers with high daily output—from several thousand cubes per day and up.
- Used for cutting everything from the most common cube sizes to custom formats (tailored to specific project requirements).
Price: € 5 990
Ice Ball and Shaped Ice Molds
In addition to classic ice cubes, the premium segment uses molds that shape the ice into desired forms.
The most popular shapes are:
spheres;
diamonds;
hearts;
roses;
cylinders;
custom shapes tailored to a venue’s or brand’s concept.
KC Tecnologia offers sphere molds with diameters ranging from 40 to 70 mm, as well as other solutions that help expand your product range and make beverage service more impressive.
Price per press: € 250–900
Applying Stamps, Designs, and Inscriptions
To apply logos, designs, or inscriptions to ice, you can use a heated stamp or an automatic CNC machine.
A stamp is well-suited for bars, restaurants, and small-scale production. It’s a simple solution if you need to add a logo, symbol, or short inscription to an ice cube.
For higher-volume production, it’s better to consider CNC equipment. It works faster and delivers more precise and consistent results: applying detailed images to ice cubes, creating complex graphic elements, and producing various designs and inscriptions on large ice slabs.
It’s important to note that CNC machines require sub-zero or near-zero temperatures to operate effectively. Therefore, you should consider purchasing this equipment only if you already have a freezer or a specially prepared cold room.
Price per stamp: € 30–100
Price of CNC equipment, including installation, setup, and training: € 5 000–5 500
Packaging
Most manufacturers continue to package premium ice by hand. They use cardboard boxes or plastic bags, which are sealed using an impulse bag sealer.
Price of a bag sealer: € 150–400
It is usually more convenient and cost-effective to order packaging materials—bags or boxes—from a local supplier. If necessary, we will provide standard packaging sizes and requirements for bag materials.
Storage of Finished Products
After cutting, the finished ice must be stored at a stable sub-zero temperature to preserve its shape, transparency, and quality until it is used or shipped.
To start, a chest freezer—the type used to store frozen foods in supermarkets—may be sufficient
Estimated price (one chest freezer): starting at € 250
For operations with multiple machines, a full-scale cold storage room with two temperature zones is recommended:
-10°C / -22°C for storage;
+0°C / +1°C ice processing (cutting, packaging, CNC machining)
Estimated price: €15,000–20,000+
Minimum Equipment Package for Starting a Business
As recommended by KC Tecnologia, a basic equipment package is sufficient for a compact and cost-effective launch of premium ice production:
• water purification system / reverse osmosis;
• P30 or P150, version with 6 small tubs;
• SX220 tabletop saw;
• 1–2 freezer chests.
Estimated budget for such a startup: € 8 000–10 000.
Professional Production Line
For larger-scale production, KC Tecnologia recommends the following equipment configuration:
water purification system / reverse osmosis;
2–3 P150 or P300 units;
C70 band saw;
electric crane for lifting blocks;
2–3 Tilt Carts;
SX220 table saw or SX 350 KC stationary saw;
set of presses;
CNC equipment for engraving ice cubes and ice slabs;
freezer with two temperature zones.
Estimated budget for such a startup: starting at € 50 000.
Conclusion
One of the main advantages of a premium ice production business is the ability to start with a relatively small investment and gradually scale up the project.
Unlike conventional food-grade ice, where large manufacturers invest millions of euros in automated production lines and continuously reduce production costs through economies of scale, premium ice remains a niche product with high added value. This is precisely why a small company can successfully compete by focusing on quality, service, and a personalized approach to customers.
For more information about launching production, visit the KC Tecnologia – How to Start and the official KC Tecnologia website.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum budget to start premium ice production?
The article describes a compact starter package with water purification, a P30 or P150 machine with small tubs, an SX220 table saw and 1–2 chest freezers. The estimated startup budget is €8,000–10,000.
When is a C70 horizontal band saw needed?
The C70 is recommended when you work with larger ice blocks and need fast, precise cutting into slabs with minimal ice loss and stable geometry.
When should CNC equipment be considered?
CNC equipment is most useful for higher-volume branding, detailed designs and inscriptions. It should be considered when you already have a freezer or prepared cold room with near-zero or sub-zero operating conditions.
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