Ice maker „Brema Ice“ IMF 28 HC „Ice finger“

„Brema Ice“ IMF 28 HC — undercounter „Ice finger“ ice maker

The „Brema Ice“ IMF 28 HC is a compact self-contained ice maker with a built-in storage bin, made to fit under a counter. It makes „Ice finger“ ice — hollow, thimble-shaped 20 g pieces. At 21 °C air and 15 °C water temperature it makes 22 kg of ice a day and keeps up to 8 kg in the bin. When the bin is full, production stops; when you take ice out, it restarts automatically.

The machine is available air- or water-cooled; Brema does not offer drain pump or Wi-Fi versions. It uses the natural refrigerant R290 and has electromechanical controls. Choose the cooling in the ‘Version’ field.

Who it is for

Brema lists bars, nightclubs, hotels and restaurants as the sectors this model is intended for, and recommends „Ice finger“ ice especially for carbonated drinks. How much ice it makes in 24 hours depends on the room and mains water temperature (manufacturer’s figures for the 20 g piece):

• in a cool room (air 10 °C, water 7 °C) — up to 31 kg;
• under standard conditions (air 21 °C, water 15 °C) — 22 kg;
• in a hot room (air 32 °C, water 21 °C) — 16 kg.

The bin holds up to 8 kg of ice — about 400 pieces of 20 g each (our calculation from the manufacturer’s data).

„Ice finger“ — ice for carbonated drinks

IMF-series machines make „Ice finger“ ice rather than solid cubes: thimble-shaped pieces with a hole in the middle. The evaporator is immersed in the water basin while paddles keep the water moving; according to Brema, this lets the machine make ice even from very hard water. The shape greatly increases the cooling surface of each piece, which is why Brema recommends it for carbonated drinks.

Each piece weighs 20 g: 45 mm high and 29 mm across, with a 12 mm hole 36.5 mm deep. This model makes no other size.

Build and controls

The cabinet is made of AISI 304 stainless steel with a „Scotch-Brite“ finish. The water basin is FDA-approved ABS plastic, the bin is insulated with HCFC-free material and the internal surfaces are rounded, so they are easy to clean. The condenser air filter can be removed and cleaned.

The controls are electromechanical: the machine is switched on with an ON / OFF rocker switch, water is topped up automatically, and a thermostat stops production when the ice in the bin reaches its probe and restarts it when ice is taken out. This machine has no automatic washing and no Wi-Fi — Brema currently offers the „Brema Connect“ app only for CB-series AWS 2.0 Wi models.

Things to consider

• The bin holds 8 kg. If you need more ice at once, choose the IMF 35 HC (15 kg) or IMF 58 HC (20 kg), but on their feet they are 797–837 and 907–947 mm high respectively. If headroom is tight, we can offer the lower IMF 26 HC on request: it is 607 mm high without its 5 mm feet and makes the same 22 kg a day, but its bin holds only 4 kg.
• In a hot room (air 32 °C, water 21 °C) the machine makes 16 kg a day. It works at ambient temperatures of 10–43 °C and water temperatures of 3–32 °C.
• Indoor use only — not in damp places or where it may be splashed with water. Never clean it with a water jet.
• Supply drinking water only. Brema does not allow reverse osmosis or deionised water, and the manual recommends a filter where the water is particularly hard.
• There is no automatic washing: at least once a month the machine must be cleaned and sanitised with the top panel and evaporator cover removed — a job for qualified staff.
• There is no drain pump version: the water must drain by gravity, so you need a drain below the machine.

Comparison with the other IMF models

The IMF 35 HC is 110 mm wider, 112 mm deeper and the same height without feet, but stands on adjustable 110–150 mm feet (797–837 mm overall); it makes 38 kg a day and has a 15 kg bin. The IMF 58 HC has the same footprint as the IMF 35 HC but is 110 mm taller (907–947 mm on its feet): it makes 46 kg a day and has a 20 kg bin. A solid-cube machine of similar size is the CB 249 HC (387 × 476 × 686 mm): it makes 29 kg a day, has a 9 kg bin and automatic washing (AWS), and is also available with Wi-Fi or a drain pump.

Installation and connections

• Power: 220–240 V, 50 Hz, 10 A fuse. Connect the machine to an earthed supply through an all-pole circuit breaker with fuses and a residual current device (RCD); the supply must be able to handle the maximum power shown on the rating plate.
• Water: cold drinking water, 1–6 bar pressure, 3/4″ connection. Fit a shut-off tap between the water mains and the machine’s supply hose and never turn it off while the machine is running; connect it only with the new hose supplied. If the water contains sand or other solid particles, Brema advises fitting a mechanical filter.
• Drain: gravity drain — the hose (22 mm internal diameter) must not be throttled anywhere and must slope down by at least 15 %, ideally into an open trap.
• Location: a clean room at 10–43 °C (the machine performs best with air at 10–35 °C and water at 3–25 °C), away from heat sources and direct sunlight; Brema advises against cellars and storerooms. Install it where trained staff can keep an eye on it, and leave at least 5 cm of clearance all round.
• R290 refrigerant: a flammable gas that is heavier than air. The room must have at least 1 m³ of volume for every 8 g of refrigerant (the charge is shown on the rating plate) and a flat floor with no channels or grilles leading to rooms below, where leaking gas could collect; the machine must be kept away from electrical switches, open flames and hot surfaces.
• Dimensions: 387 × 470 × 687 mm (W × D × H, without the 5 mm feet); packed — 440 × 520 × 850 mm, 45 kg.
• Handling: always keep the machine upright when transporting, storing or moving it. Even to move it slightly, lift it — do not push or pull it.

The machine must be connected to the water and electricity supply by a qualified technician, and installed, serviced and repaired only by staff qualified to work with flammable gases. These are manufacturer requirements.

Running costs and maintenance

Consumption. Electricity — 31 kWh per 100 kg of ice (measured at 32 °C ambient). Water — 3 l/kg of ice when air-cooled and 17 l/kg when water-cooled, about six times as much; at 22 kg a day that is about 66 l and 374 l. Daily figures are our calculation from Brema’s data.

• Cleaning and sanitising — at least once a month. With the top panel and evaporator cover removed, a 25 % white vinegar solution is poured into the water basin (the amount depends on daily output and is given in the manual), the machine is run for one minute five times, with five-minute breaks, and the solution is drained by tilting the basin. The evaporator, panels, bin and door are then cleaned with the vinegar solution and washing-up liquid and rinsed thoroughly with cold water. Sanitising repeats the same steps with a 200 mg/l sodium hypochlorite solution, after which these parts must be rinsed thoroughly with cold water again. Discard the ice from the first five cycles and any ice already in the bin. The manual reserves this work for skilled, authorised staff, and regular complete sanitising for an authorised service centre.
• Do not use corrosive substances to remove limescale — they can seriously damage the machine and void the warranty.
• The water inlet valve filter must be cleaned at least every two months by qualified staff. On air-cooled machines an authorised service centre should also clean the condenser at least every two months, and the condenser air filter must be cleaned at least once a month: switch the machine off, take the filter out and blow it clean with compressed air.
• Where the water is particularly hard, Brema recommends a multi-purpose cartridge filter. For such water our shop offers the „Everpure“ 4FC-S cartridge with a QL3 head.

What’s in the box

Ice maker, feet, water supply hose with seals, user manual and cleaning and sanitising manual.

Technical specifications