Reliable cold storage is essential for every commercial ice producer. Unlike conventional food storage, packaged ice is constantly moving between production, storage, transportation, and customer deliveries. A cold room must therefore maintain stable temperatures while allowing frequent access without compromising product quality or increasing energy consumption.
As demand for premium ice continues to grow across restaurants, bars, hotels, events, retailers, and hospitality businesses, commercial ice suppliers require refrigeration systems that are designed for continuous operation and dependable performance. Correct refrigeration capacity, quality insulation, and efficient airflow are all critical to protecting the product and supporting daily distribution.
This case study highlights how Glotech Group successfully designed and installed a commercial cold room for Ice Me Nice, a premium ice supplier that expanded into Vredenburg on the West Coast of South Africa. The project involved designing a refrigeration system specifically suited to the storage of packaged ice while overcoming the logistical challenges of completing an installation more than 150 kilometres from our Cape Town headquarters.
The completed installation demonstrates Glotech Group’s ability to deliver reliable commercial refrigeration projects throughout the Western Cape while maintaining the same workmanship standards regardless of location.
Ice Me Nice was established from a passion for creating premium quality ice products that enhance every occasion, from restaurants and bars to celebrations and corporate events. After decades in the corporate world, the founders built a business focused on producing high-quality ice while delivering dependable service to customers across the region.
As part of their continued growth, Ice Me Nice expanded into Vredenburg during 2025 and required a purpose-built cold room capable of storing packaged ice under consistent temperature conditions before distribution.
The new facility needed a refrigeration system that would protect product quality while supporting increasing production volumes and future business growth.
Every commercial refrigeration project begins with understanding how the client operates.
For an ice supplier, refrigeration design differs from conventional food storage because the room must accommodate high stock turnover, regular loading, and frequent door openings while maintaining stable temperatures.
Glotech Group carefully assessed:
Following this assessment, a refrigeration system delivering 5kW at -5°C suction was specified.
This capacity was carefully matched to the room dimensions and operational requirements, ensuring dependable performance while maintaining efficient energy consumption.
The cold room was constructed using 100mm polystyrene insulated panels, providing excellent thermal performance for chilled storage applications.
To improve loading efficiency, the installation included a 2.5 metre by 2.2 metre sliding door.
The large door opening allows pallets and bulk ice deliveries to move easily through the entrance while reducing unnecessary handling during loading and dispatch.
Correct insulation combined with an efficient refrigeration system helps minimise compressor run time while maintaining stable internal temperatures.
One of the unique aspects of this project was its location.
The installation site in Vredenburg is approximately 155 kilometres from Glotech Group’s headquarters in Milnerton, Cape Town. Unlike projects completed within the Cape Town metropolitan area, this installation required careful logistical planning.
Travelling to and from site each day would have significantly reduced productive installation time while increasing fatigue for the installation team. To maximise efficiency and maintain workmanship quality, Glotech Group arranged accommodation close to the project.
This allowed the technicians to begin work early each morning, maintain steady installation progress, and complete the project within the agreed programme.
The project demonstrates that Glotech Group is fully equipped to undertake commercial refrigeration installations throughout the Western Cape and beyond.
The project was completed over five days and included:
Every stage followed Glotech Group’s commercial refrigeration installation procedures to ensure reliable long-term performance.
Despite the travel distance and logistical planning required, the installation was completed according to schedule.
Careful preparation, organised material deliveries, and experienced project management ensured the client could begin operating the new facility without unnecessary delays.
Meeting agreed deadlines remains an important part of every Glotech Group project, particularly when supporting businesses launching new facilities.
The refrigeration system was commissioned and tested to confirm stable operating temperatures throughout the cold room.
The combination of correctly sized refrigeration equipment, high-quality insulation, and the large sliding access door provides efficient product handling while protecting packaged ice during storage.
The completed installation now supports Ice Me Nice’s daily operations while providing sufficient capacity for future business growth.
The completed installation delivered:
Most importantly, Ice Me Nice now operates with confidence knowing its new branch is supported by a professionally engineered refrigeration system designed specifically for commercial ice storage.
With more than 15 years of experience, Glotech Group designs, installs, upgrades, repairs, and maintains commercial refrigeration systems for food manufacturers, restaurants, pharmaceutical companies, seafood processors, butcheries, educational institutions, hospitality businesses, cold storage facilities, and industrial clients throughout South Africa.
Our services include:
Every project is engineered according to the client’s operational requirements, ensuring dependable performance, energy efficiency, and long-term reliability.
The Ice Me Nice project demonstrates Glotech Group’s ability to deliver commercial refrigeration installations wherever our clients need them. By combining thoughtful refrigeration design, quality workmanship, careful logistical planning, and reliable project execution, we successfully delivered a cold room that supports the operational demands of a growing ice manufacturing business.
From Cape Town to the West Coast and across South Africa, Glotech Group continues to help businesses expand with expertly engineered refrigeration systems designed for reliability, efficiency, and long-term performance.
067 153 8332
info@glotechgroup.co.za
Gotech Group offers emergency repair, replacement and installation of industrial and commercial refrigeration units restoring efficient operations in Hermanus & across Western Cape.