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In 2001, after having been in the ice machine business for 22 years, Bill Sanders took action on his idea of making a vending machine to manufacture, store and dispense ice. Bill knew the inventory cost control and the reduced labor cost would yield more net profit, bottom line for the store and vending operator. After review of several graphic designs, color schemes and name suggestions, Bill decided the best graphics had a cascade of ice, with traditional ice colors of blue and white and the name ICE QIK® (pronounced "ice quick") for the marketing appeal. By making the ice vending machine a self service unit with the appropriate bill acceptor and coin mechanism, the unit may be located for 24/7 operation. After several prototypes were made and operating successfully, a patent was applied for, and on July 1, 2005, U.S. Patent 6,912,873 was awarded. When asked to describe his invention, Bill says, "ICE QIK® is truly a vending machine that restocks itself. It has its own production, self service dispensing, and with the vivid, colorful graphics, it even markets itself."
There are two models of the ICE QIK® offered. The model ICE QIK®500 produces up to 620 pounds of ice in 24 hours and has a storage capacity of 500 pounds. Model ICE QIK®1000 produces up to 1,102 pounds of ice in 24 hours and has a storage capacity of 500 pounds. Each model has the same footprint of only 30 inches wide, 42 inches deep (exclusive of 15 inch bagging shelf) and 97 inches tall. If the bag holder is attached to the side of the unit, the width increases to 44 inches.
Both machines are equipped with water filters as standard equipment to ensure clean, clear ice. If the water filter cartridges are changed regularly, the evaporator’s warranty is extended. The ice is very safe from contamination because it is never touched by human hand and it is protected from environmental elements.
The unit offers the end user two quantities of ice. Each quantity may be varied by the vending operator to compete with local market conditions. The price of each quantity may be varied in increments of five cents. The bill validator can accept $1 and $5 bills. The coin acceptor takes combinations of $1 coins, quarters, dimes and nickels.
The control system is based on MDB protocol and is DEX compatible. Two options offered with the ICE QIK® are a remote telemetry through DEX and a credit/debit card acceptor. The bag box is a convenient method for the end users to retrieve a bag and complete the ice vend. Many end users choose to use an ice container, such as a cooler, to obtain the ice from the vending machine.
For a vending operator, several marketing accessories are available through ICE MACHINES INTERNATIONAL, INC., the national distributor of the ICE QIK®. You may choose to use your own logo and color on the graphics. Advertising buttons, rubber mats, caps and shirts are available with the ICE QIK® logo.
For more information about ICE QIK®, contact sales@IceMachinesIntl.com or call 800-474-5369. Ice Machines International, Inc. is a member of NAMA, NCVA, SCAMA and VAMA. During 2006, ICE QIK® can be seen at the SE Petro Show and ACE Show in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and the NAMA show in Orlando, Fla.