The Hive Super Lab UTS

Challenge

With the scale of activity taking place in the Hive Super Lab, the demand for ice is substantial. Each student experiment requires solutions and materials to be kept cool, with ice used throughout practical sessions to maintain temperature stability.

With up to 270 students in a single class working in pairs, 135 six-litre ice vessels are required per session. Across three sessions per day, five days a week, this creates an ongoing need for large volumes of ice that can be produced reliably and on demand.

Beyond volume, the ice also needed to meet strict laboratory requirements. For sensitive samples, the ice must be maintained at –4°C, retain its shape, and hold temperature in an esky for up to six hours. Selecting the right ice form was critical to avoid damaging delicate materials while ensuring consistent experimental conditions.

Solution

To support the scale and precision required, the Hive Super Lab selected Bromic’s modular flake ice machines, choosing a solution capable of delivering both volume and control. 

IM1150FM – Modular Flake Ice Machine
With the ability to produce ice at a commercial scale, the IM1150FM was chosen for its heavy-duty construction and consistent output. The dry, shapeless flake ice cools rapidly, can be moulded as required, and is gentle enough for use with fragile laboratory samples.

One unit is located in the heavy laboratory facilities room and is typically run overnight, producing enough ice to support the following day’s classes. When additional ice is required, the machine can generate sufficient volume for one to two sessions within one to two hours. A second unit is positioned within the student laboratory itself, allowing top-up ice to be produced quickly during classes if needed.

Since installation, the lab team has found that the flake ice provides an excellent surface-area-to-volume ratio, delivering effective cooling while maintaining the required temperature and structure for extended periods.