Summary
Where Most Vendors Fail—and Where Ice Machine Projects Break Down
Most ice machine failures don’t happen in year three.
They happen on delivery day or startup day—because installation was treated like a shipment instead of a coordinated process.
Common failure patterns include:
- Equipment delivered before the site is ready
- Freight damage discovered too late
- No access plan for large machines
- Startup skipped or rushed
- Ice never tested
- Staff never trained
Aldevra treats installation and startup as mission-critical project milestones, not afterthoughts.
Site Readiness Coordination
The Step That Prevents 80% of Install Failures
True site readiness means all of this is verified before a truck is dispatched:
- Drainage confirmed and tested
- Electrical live and labeled
- Filtration installed
- Ventilation verified
- Floor load and access confirmed
- Infection control approval (healthcare)
Where vendors fail:
- “It should be ready” instead of “it is confirmed”
- No pre-install walkthrough
- No utility verification
Result:
- Crews sent away
- Equipment left on dock
- Restart fees
- Weeks of lost time
Aldevra coordinates readiness with a pre-install meeting.
Freight Damage Risk
If It Arrives Broken, the Clock Is Already Ticking
Ice machines are:
- Top-heavy
- Filled with fragile internal refrigerant circuitry
- Sensitive to impact and tipping
Common freight failures:
- Bent frames
- Cracked evaporators
- Broken bins
- Refrigerant leaks
- Voided manufacturer freight claims due to late inspections
Aldevra mitigates freight risk by:
- Specifying liftgate vs. dock delivery
- Coordinating delivery windows
- Requiring immediate on-arrival inspection
- Documenting damage before the driver leaves
Craning & Access
Large Machines Don’t Magically Fit Through Doors
Many ice systems:
- Exceed standard doorway widths
- Require disassembly planning
- Need fork trucks, pallet jacks, or cranes
- Must pass through sterile corridors in healthcare
Where vendors fail:
- No access path verification
- No crane coordination
- No structural clearance review
- No after-hours delivery planning
Result:
- Emergency rigging charges
- Delayed installs
- Building damage risk
Aldevra evaluates path of travel and vertical access.
Startup Validation
Powering On Is Not Commissioning
Proper startup includes:
- Drain flow verification
- Water pressure verification
- Filtration flow confirmation
- Electrical load validation
- Refrigerant system stabilization
- Sensor calibration
- Control board verification
Vendor failure pattern:
- Unit plugged in
- Ice appears
- Crew leaves
- Failures start within days
Aldevra ensures startup is documented, not a power test.
Ice Testing
Clear Ice Does Not Mean Safe Ice
Commercial startup must confirm:
- Ice clarity
- Taste neutrality
- No visible particulates
- No odor
- Proper cube formation
- Bin drainage behavior during melt
Why this matters:
- Taste complaints trigger staff avoidance
- Odor indicates filtration failure
- Cloudy ice indicates mineral problems
- Drain failures show up during melt load
Aldevra verifies ice quality—not just production.
Staff Training
Untrained Staff Is the #1 Cause of Early Failure
Without training, staff:
- Use the wrong cleaning chemicals
- Skip sanitation cycles
- Power wash sensitive components
- Disable safety sensors
- Ignore filter changes
Result:
- Biofilm growth
- Voided warranties
- Failed inspections
- Repeat service calls
Aldevra ensures operators know:
- Daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning
- Filter change intervals
- Proper scoop handling
- What not to touch
- When to call for service
What Happens When Installation & Commissioning Are Rushed
- Failed inspection
- Restart fees
- Flooding during first melt cycle
- Scale damage within months
- Warranty disputes
- Weeks of downtime
- Emergency bagged-ice purchases
These are not rare events.
They are predictable results of poor coordination.
