Flake ice Flake ice is a type of ice in the form of thin sheets, approximately 1.5–2.2 mm thick and with a flat surface size of about 12×16 mm. The dry and flat surface of flake ice creates a large contact area with the food, helping to absorb heat evenly without crushing or freezing the product. This is why flake ice has become the default choice in the cold chain for seafood, large-scale concrete, and pharmaceutical processes requiring precise temperature control.
This article explains the construction and working principle of a What is flake ice?, compares flake ice with the other industrial ice types, lists the applications industry by industry, and sets out how to choose a flake ice machine to match your production scale.
Find out what flake ice is?
What is flake ice? In industrial refrigeration, flake ice Flake ice is defined as a type of ice that comes in small, thin flakes with a thickness of approximately 1.5–2.2 mm. Thanks to this unique structure, flake ice has excellent ability to coat the surface of food, helping to cool it down quickly and evenly.
Currently, the system flake ice machines and ice stores supplied by Tân Long are the leading solution for food processing lines and live seafood display. Thin and light as the flakes are, they leave the machine deeply below freezing, typically -7 to -9 degrees C, which makes them slow to melt and keeps food fresh for as long as possible right through transport.
At seafood processing plants, flake ice not only holds product quality to export standard but also brings running costs down, thanks to the efficient heat exchange of the stainless steel 304 ice drum high quality
Physical characteristics and technical advantages of flake ice
To understand its place in industrial refrigeration properly, now that we know What is flake ice?, we need to look closely at its physical characteristics. In shape, this ice resembles a fish scale, with one flat face and one gently curved face. The flakes are typically 1.5 mm to 2 mm thick and 12 mm to 16 mm across. At the moment it leaves the stainless steel 304 ice drum, The stone surface temperature is approximately -5°C upon exiting the mortar (evaporation temperature inside the mortar is approximately -20 to -32°C). Under storage conditions at flake ice store , the ice stays dry and free-flowing, without caking, for 12 to 24 hours.
The core value that answers the question of why plants prefer What is flake ice? This refers to an extremely high ratio of surface area to unit volume. Compared to ice cubes or block ice (commonly used). fish bone condenser (Placed in a salt bath), one kilogram of flake ice has a much larger surface area in contact with the food. This property helps to accelerate heat transfer from the food to the ice, thereby shortening the cooling time. This is a crucial factor in the process. design and installation of refrigeration systems for seafood processing, guaranteeing absolute freshness without having to hold the ambient temperature so low that the electricity bill becomes punishing.
Flake ice compared with the other common industrial ice types
To make the best choice for a storage system, a business needs to understand the differences between the ice types, starting from the definition of What flake ice is. Against tube ice, cube ice or block ice, flake ice has physical and thermal characteristics of its own that bear directly on cooling performance and on the quality of the finished product.
The technical comparison below gives the overall picture:
| Technical characteristic | Flake ice | Cube ice | Tube ice | Block ice |
| Thickness / size | approximately 1.5–2.2 mm | 20 to 30 mm | 30 to 60 mm diameter | 25 to 50 kg per block |
| Temperature leaving the machine | approximately -5°C when removed from the mill. | -5°C to -8°C | -5°C to -8°C | -5°C to -10°C |
| Cooling speed | Fastest | Medium | Medium | Slow |
| Risk of bruising the product | No | Low | Low | High |
| Main applications | Seafood, concrete, pharmaceuticals | Drinks, supermarkets | Seafood, processing | Transport, large stores |
| Melting time | 12 to 24 hours | 2 to 4 hours | 3 to 6 hours | 6 to 12 hours |
Analysing What flake ice is shows that the biggest difference lies in how well the ice protects the surface of the product. Block ice suits long-distance transport because of its mass per unit, but its sharp edges bruise easily. Cube ice belongs to the drinks trade and to retail.
Tân Long's flake ice machines and ice stores system, meanwhile, is the best answer wherever cooling has to be even without putting mechanical pressure on the goods. That matters enormously for live and unprocessed seafood, and it is how a business holds its product value at the maximum. Tân Long's engineers are always ready to help with design and installation of refrigeration systems integrating a flake ice machine, to optimise the storage process for each specific plant.
Working principle and production process of an industrial flake ice machine
Understanding how the equipment works helps a business get the most out of its storage and answers the core question of What is flake ice? in practical use. A flake ice machine (ice drum) produces ice by freezing a thin film of water on the inner surface of a double-walled stainless steel cylinder. Refrigerant, usually NH₃ or R404A/R507A, evaporates in the cavity between the two walls and draws heat out of the water. Once the water pumped evenly onto the inner wall has frozen to a thickness of about 2 mm, a rotating cutter blade breaks the ice into loose flakes that drop into the hopper below.
The process runs continuously on a closed cycle, which further explains the characteristics of What is flake ice? and why it comes out ideally dry and free-flowing. Water is pumped from the tank to the top of the cylinder and runs down the inner wall as a thin film. Part of it freezes immediately into flakes; the rest returns to the tank and continues round the loop. The system can run without interruption 24/7, with an enormous capacity range up to 60,000 kg per day depending on what the project calls for.
Tân Long's flake ice machines always use a double-walled stainless steel 304 cylinder and a cutter system that is entirely rust-proof. The equipment is normally supplied as a matched set with a high-capacity refrigeration compressor unit and an intelligent PLC control panel. Because the design and the refrigeration system installation are fully enclosed, the finished ice consistently meets the demanding HACCP food hygiene standard. A business can add a flake ice machines and ice stores system to keep the ice supply ready at all times for large-scale seafood processing lines.
The many industrial applications of flake ice
Understanding What is flake ice? is not just a definition, it is the practical value this ice brings to each particular industry. Below are its most important applications in the Vietnamese market:
Seafood storage and processing
This is the most common use of flake ice in Vietnam. In an export seafood plant, flake ice is spread in even layers over fish, shrimp and squid immediately after landing. Its flat, light flakes leave no pressure marks on the flesh, so the product holds its shape for export to EU and Japanese standards. The usual ratio is 1:1 to 1.5:1 flake ice to seafood by weight (1 kg of ice per 1 kg of seafood), holding product temperature steady between 0°C and 2°C (32°F to 35.6°F) throughout transport.
At plants such as Kyokuyo Vina Foods and Lotte F&G Vietnam, both Tân Long customers, the flake ice machine is built straight into the processing line, feeding ice continuously onto the conveyor immediately after the wash and preparation stage.
Fresh food display
Supermarkets and restaurants use flake ice to display fresh seafood, vegetables and fresh meat on a chilled counter. Because flake ice does not pool water, the counter stays dry and bacteria cannot multiply in run-off. The ice layer does not hide the product either, giving a crisp, fresh look that draws the shopper in.
Mass concrete work in construction
On hydroelectric dams and port structures (mass concrete), the use of What is flake ice? becomes critical for temperature control. Flake ice is mixed straight into the concrete, replacing part of the mixing water, to bring the fresh concrete below 10°C before the pour. That prevents the cement hydration reaction generating so much heat that the structure cracks, in line with ACI 305R and TCVN 4453. Because flake ice melts fast and evenly, it leaves none of the voids in the structure that cube ice would.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing and laboratory research
In pharmaceutical manufacturing, understanding the characteristics of What is flake ice? helps technicians keep strongly exothermic reactions under control. Dropped into an ice bath, flake ice holds a far steadier temperature than other ice types, because its contact with the reaction vessel wall is large and even. That makes chemical distillation processes both safer and more precise.
Modern medicine and emergency care
Flake ice is used to cool a patient locally, and to hold specimens or organs during transport for transplant. Its lack of sharp edges makes it safer to use in the operating theatre, where it will not damage delicate tissue. Meeting a hygiene standard that demanding starts with choosing a reputable refrigeration design-and-build contractor such as Tân Long, so the equipment runs to HACCP and to medical safety requirements.
How to choose an industrial flake ice machine
Choosing a flake ice machine comes down to four core technical factors: production capacity, refrigerant, drum material and control system.
- Production capacity is measured in kg per day or tonnes per day. A seafood plant handling 10 tonnes per shift needs a flake ice machine of at least 10 to 15 tonnes of ice a day. Build in a safety margin of 30 to 50% over the theoretical figure, so ice supply holds up even when production runs an extra shift.
- Refrigerant has a direct bearing on energy efficiency and on operating requirements. NH₃ (ammonia, R717) has a higher COP and is environmentally friendly, but it requires technicians certified to operate NH₃ systems under QCVN 01:2012/BCT. HFC refrigerants (R404A, R507A) are easier to run and suit small to medium installations, but carry a higher GWP under the Kigali Amendment.
- The drum material has to be stainless steel 304 or 316L wherever it touches water and ice. 316L stands up to chlorine better, which matters when the water supply is high in chlorine or when producing brine ice flake for export seafood.
- The control system should be a PLC with an HMI screen, monitoring inlet and outlet temperatures, alarming on anything abnormal and logging operating data. That is mandatory in any food supply chain certified to HACCP and BRC.
Tan Long has been designing and manufacturing industrial flake ice machines at its Tay Ninh (formerly Long An) factory since 2008, serving seafood processing plants, food processing industrial zones, and civil construction projects nationwide. Tan Long flake ice machines use 304 stainless steel casings, integrate PLC control panels, and support NH₃ and HFC refrigerants. Tan Long has delivered flake ice machines to many seafood processing plants, including Kyokuyo Vina Foods, which received 4 flake ice machines (35 tons/day). Tan Long also provides a complete solution: system design, installation, commissioning, and periodic maintenance.
Contact Tân Long's engineering team for advice on the capacity that matches your production: (+84) 933 357 058 (Mr. Thinh).
Frequently asked questions about flake ice
Is flake ice edible?
Flake ice made from drinking water meeting QCVN 01:2009/BYT is food-grade ice, usable in drinks and for food display. Flake ice made from untreated mains water is for industrial use only (concrete, chemicals) and must not be used with food.
What is the difference between flake ice and shaved ice?
Shaved ice is thinner and lighter than flake ice and melts faster. Flake ice is harder and lasts longer, which suits holding food for hours at a time. Shaved ice is used mainly for drinks and desserts.
What maintenance does a flake ice machine need?
Scheduled maintenance on a flake ice machine covers: cleaning the drum and the water tank weekly, checking the cutter blade and bearings every 3 months, checking refrigerant pressure and compressor oil every 6 months, and a full overhaul every 2 to 3 years.
How many kg of seafood will one tonne of flake ice hold?
In practice at seafood plants in southern Vietnam, the common ratio is 0.8 to 1.2 kg of flake ice per kg of fresh seafood at an ambient temperature of 28°C to 35°C (82°F to 95°F). That holds the product for 24 to 48 hours at a product temperature between 0°C and 2°C.
Frequently asked questions about flake ice
What is flake ice?
Flake ice is ice in thin flakes, made by freezing a thin film of water on the surface of a chilled drum and scraping it off. Being thin and free of sharp edges, it makes even contact with the product without bruising the surface.
How does flake ice differ from block ice and cube ice?
Block ice and cube ice come in large pieces with sharp edges that touch at points, so they bruise goods easily and cool unevenly. Flake ice is thin with a large contact area, so it cools faster and more evenly.
Why do seafood plants favour flake ice?
Because seafood has to be chilled fast immediately after landing or preparation, without damaging the surface. Flake ice does both, which is why it is used so widely in storage and transport.
What refrigerant does a flake ice machine use?
Depending on the scale of the system, a flake ice machine can run on NH3 or on Freon. The choice of refrigerant dictates the pipework and fittings materials, so it has to be settled at the design stage.
Tan Long B2B Technical Consulting
Get your Cold Chain Capacity Calculation & Estimate within 24 Hours
Tan Long's engineering team conducts on-site surveys, calculates cooling load, and advises on equipment configurations to optimize operating electricity costs and meet stringent export standards (HACCP, FDA, GACC China).
✓ 10,000m² factory in Duc Hoa 1
✓ Partners: Bitzer, Mayekawa
