The first message from a new importer is often a quotation with one question attached: is this price real? Two suppliers, same headline specification, a 40 percent gap. Behind that gap sit decisions about compressor brand, plate material, condenser size, refrigerant, packing and warranty — and the only way to compare is to verify each of them before the deposit leaves your account.
What "the same machine" actually means
A cube machine is a compressor, an evaporator mould, a condenser, a water circuit, a controller and a cabinet. Change any of them and the price moves, while the headline tonnage stays the same. Two machines advertised as 500 kg/24h can differ in ways that decide whether they last five years or twelve.
Seven things to verify, in order of commercial risk
| Item | What to ask for | Why it matters |
|---|
| Supplier identity | Business licence, factory address, live video of production and test bay | Manufacturer and trader imply different accountability |
| Model and certificate | Declaration of conformity and test report, with your model number listed | A certificate for a small countertop unit does not cover a tonne machine |
| Compressor brand | Written confirmation of brand and model | The single largest durability variable in the machine |
| Evaporator material | Mould construction and plating | Governs ice release, hygiene and service life |
| Refrigerant | Gas type and charge weight, on the invoice | Determines whether the machine is legal and serviceable in your market |
| Electrical configuration | Voltage, phase, frequency and plug, on the proforma | Wrong supply voids warranty and stops the machine |
| Packing and inspection | Packing method, run-test duration, third-party inspection option | Arrival condition and the evidence you will need if something is wrong |
How our own listings can be checked
Take any model in our range and the published fields already answer several of these questions. The 60 kg ETD-C120P lists a model number, CE certification, 220 V/50 Hz, R22 or R134A refrigerant, a 20 kg storage bin, 400 W, 500 x 600 x 820 mm and a stainless steel body. The mid series lists 1860 W, a 250 kg bin, 22 x 22 x 22 mm ice and R404a or R22a on air or water cooling. The BMC2000P lists 900 kg/24h, R404a or R507a, air or water cooling and 1240 x 950 x 2000 mm. The one-tonne series lists 380 V/50 Hz and Copeland compressors.
Two of those fields deserve particular attention from an importer. First, refrigerant: R22 is still offered for some markets, but it is restricted or being phased out in others, and R404a carries a high global warming potential that European buyers increasingly cannot accept. Confirm what is permitted at destination before ordering. Second, compressor brand: our listings name the options — Copeland, Emerson, Bitzer, Tecumseh, Frascold and others — and the quotation should state which one you are buying, in writing.
Commercial terms are also stated openly on our product pages: minimum order from one set on most models, wooden case or plywood packing, delivery quoted per model, and warranty of one to one and a half years depending on the unit. A supplier who will not put those four items on the contract is telling you something.
The pre-shipment checklist
- Run test. Ask for a continuous run with ice harvested, not a start-up check, and for the duration in writing.
- Capacity evidence. Agree in advance how output will be verified and at what ambient and water temperature.
- Leak test. Electronic detection on all joints, with the result recorded.
- Electrical safety. Earth continuity, insulation resistance and polarity checked on the actual unit.
- Photographs. Nameplate, cabinet, mould, control panel and packing before closing the crate.
- Documents. Invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, insurance, test report, declaration of conformity, refrigerant declaration and a service manual your technician can read.
- Spares. A starter kit of solenoid coil, water inlet valve, fan motor and thermostat, plus written spare availability.
Red flags worth walking away from
A price far below market for a named compressor brand; certificates that cannot be verified with the issuing laboratory; refusal of third-party inspection; a specification sheet with no test conditions; a warranty with no claim procedure; and a supplier who will not name the refrigerant and the voltage on the contract. One of these is a question. Two together are a decision.
FAQ
Is buying from a trading company a mistake? Not necessarily, if it is transparent, has factory relationships and holds spare parts. The risk is opacity, not the business model.
Should I visit the factory? For a first container, a visit or a live video audit is worth the cost. For repeat orders, third-party inspection is usually enough.
What Incoterm should I use? FOB gives you control of freight; CIF is simpler; DDP shifts customs risk to the supplier at a price. Choose based on who you trust to clear customs.
How long does delivery take? Our listings quote per model, typically days to a few weeks depending on configuration and quantity; confirm the schedule on the proforma, not in a chat.
Ask us for the full certification package, the compressor brand statement and a pre-shipment inspection plan for the model you are considering. See the 500–1000 kg/24h series, the 60 kg ETD-C120P, or the one-tonne Copeland unit, or request a compliance checklist for your market.
Ihre Nachricht muss zwischen 20 und 3.000 Zeichen enthalten!