Iceman

What Iceman does

Iceman Corporation (アイスマン株式会社) is a privately held Japanese industrial equipment manufacturer headquartered in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, specializing in custom industrial ice-making machines and automated ice storage/discharge systems. Founded in 1956 as Akiyama Refrigeration Industry and incorporated in 1974, the company holds over 40 patent applications and is recognized as the No. 1 domestic supplier of industrial ice-making machines in Japan, serving fisheries cooperatives, agricultural cooperatives, wholesale markets, ski resorts (~30 locations), chemical/paper plants, and spa facilities.

Its core product portfolio spans flake ice machines (1-35 tons/day), seawater flake ice machines, plate ice machines (1.5-35 tons/day), the Marine Stir slurry ice maker, the proprietary Caterpillar-Type Ice Storage System that eliminates root-ice accumulation, the Snow Accela artificial snow machine, the Snow Jet container-based snow maker, and the ECONICE family of natural-refrigerant (CO2) ice-making systems co-developed with Mayekawa Manufacturing. IoT-enabled remote monitoring is integrated across the deployed fleet for predictive maintenance.

The business model combines (1) one-off sales of made-to-order ice machines and storage systems priced by capacity and configuration, (2) a self-invested "ice sales business" with six unmanned 24/7 ice vending plants at fishing cooperative and wholesale market sites, (3) after-sales service and maintenance contracts, and (4) co-investment projects with the agent partner Tokyo Sanyo. Customers include JA Shimabara Unzen, Mii Agricultural Cooperative, Ito Fisheries Cooperative Atami Branch, Osaka Central Wholesale Market, Kyoto Central Wholesale Market, and Kurume Central Wholesale Market, with export activity via Japan's ODA program and JICA technical training partnerships across Africa, the Caribbean, and Oceania.

Name

Iceman

Legal name

アイスマン株式会社

Website

https://iceman.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Iceman Corporation is a privately held Japanese industrial equipment manufacturer, the No. 1 domestic supplier of custom industrial ice-making machines and automated ice storage systems, serving fisheries cooperatives, agricultural cooperatives, ski resorts, wholesale markets, and chemical plants across Japan and select ODA-export markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Ice-Making Equipment

NAICS

Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341), Ice Manufacturing (312113)

SIC

Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Snow & Ice Management (Plowing, Salting, De-icing) (IMAIAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ice Machine Installation, Cleaning & Repair (HSAOAJAH)

Keywords

• Industrial ice machines
• Plate ice systems
• Flake ice equipment
• Slurry ice makers
• Automated ice storage

Headquarters

HQ city

Fukuoka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Industrial Ice Machine Manufacturing and Sales: Design, manufacture, and sale of custom industrial ice-making machines and automated ice storage/discharge systems. Products are predominantly made-to-order 'one-of-a-kind' designs tailored to customer specifications for ice type, transparency, hardness, production volume, and intended use. Revenue is generated through upfront equipment sales with ongoing after-sales service and maintenance contracts.
2. Ice Sales Business (Owned Ice Plants): Company invests its own capital to build ice-making facilities at fishing cooperative sites; facilities operate 24/7 unmanned with automated ice vending. Ice sales revenue generates investment returns. Iceman handles all machine maintenance and operating costs; fishing cooperatives receive management fees and commission without any initial investment or running costs.
3. After-Sales Service and Maintenance: Rapid after-sales service including maintenance, repair, and remote support for deployed ice machines nationwide through a network of local partner companies.
4. Ice Making Equipment Leasing / Investment Projects: Co-investment projects where Iceman and its agents jointly fund ice-making facility construction at fishing cooperative sites, recovering investment through ice sales revenue over time.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Iceman Corporation designs, manufactures, and sells custom industrial ice-making machines and automated ice storage/handling systems, including flake ice, plate ice, seawater flake ice, slurry ice, and artificial snow equipment. The company also operates an ice sales business, investing its own capital to build unmanned 24/7 ice-making and vending facilities at fishing cooperative sites, and provides nationwide after-sales service and maintenance for its deployed fleet.

Product overview

Iceman offers a comprehensive portfolio of industrial ice making equipment and systems. The core product line includes flake ice machines (1-35 tons/day), seawater flake ice machines, plate ice machines (1.5-35 tons/day), and slurry ice makers (Marine Stir) for fisheries applications. Supporting infrastructure includes the proprietary Caterpillar Ice Storage System (AD series) for automated ice storage and discharge. Specialized snow generation products include the Snow Jet SN30FA container-based system (30 tons/day capacity, 100m transport) and Snow Accela for artificial snow. Environmental sustainability is addressed through the ECONICE series (ECONICE-P for plate ice, ECONICE-F for flake ice, and ECONICE-ZERO for ultra-low temperature applications), developed jointly with Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd. using natural refrigerants. The company also operates ice sales facilities nationwide providing 24-hour unmanned ice vending services with integrated IoT remote monitoring systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ECONICE（エコナイス）: Non-fluorocarbon automatic ice-making system co-developed with Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd. Available in two variants: ECONICE-P (plate type) and ECONICE-F (flake type). Uses natural refrigerants with GWP of 1 or below.
• マリンスター (Marine Stir)
• スノーアクセラ (Snow Accela)
• スノージェット (Snow Jet)

Products and services

• Flake Ice Machine (フレーク製氷機) Produces thin, light flake ice at minus 25°C for rapid cooling of aquatic products, vegetables, and other perishables. Models range from 1 to 35 tons per day capacity. Designed for fisheries cooperatives, agricultural cooperatives, food factories, and industrial users.
• Seawater Flake Ice Machine (海水フレーク製氷機) Produces flake ice from seawater or salt water at minus 25°C for freshness preservation of seafood during transport. Features simple drum-based structure with internal cooling surfaces and blade removal system. Designed for fishing vessel operators and seafood processors.
• Plate Ice Machine (プレート製氷機) Produces thick, hard, transparent plate ice ideal for fisheries applications. Features long melting time and superior cooling retention. Models range from 1.5 to 35 tons per day capacity. Designed for fisheries cooperatives, wholesale markets, and seafood processors.
• Snow Jet SN30FA (スノージェット) Container-based snow making machine using 20ft high cube container. Features 30 tons per 24 hours snow production capacity with flexible hose transport up to 100m. Equipped with IoT remote monitoring and control. Designed for ski resorts and snow play facilities.
• Marine Stir Slurry Ice Maker (マリンスター) Slurry ice maker that circulates seawater/salt water over cooled metal surfaces to produce slurry ice at minus 1°C to minus 5°C with 0.3mm particle size. Provides rapid cooling of freshly caught fish with superior freshness preservation. IPF up to 35% standard, 50% optional. Power consumption approximately half of conventional systems. Designed for fishing ports and seafood processors.
• Caterpillar Ice Storage System (キャタピラ式貯氷庫) Automated ice storage and discharge system featuring moving metal floor that prevents root ice formation. Enables fully automated operation with various conveyor and loading options including IC cards and POS systems. Designed for ice plants, fisheries cooperatives, and wholesale markets.
• Snow Accela Artificial Snow Machine (スノーアクセラ) Artificial snow generator that produces natural snow-like crystal formations by spraying fine mist onto freezing surfaces and scraping with blade. Patented technology. Designed for spa and hot spring bathing facilities for cooling room use.
• ECONICE-P Non-Freon Plate Ice System (エコナイス-P) Non-fluorocarbon automatic plate ice making system developed jointly with Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd. Uses natural refrigerants (CO2/NH3) with minimal global warming potential (GWP of 1). Produces hard, transparent, high-quality plate ice with superior cooling properties. 40% improvement in ice-making capacity and approximately 20% improvement in system COP versus conventional systems. Designed for fisheries and industrial users seeking environmental sustainability.
• ECONICE-F Non-Freon Flake Ice System (エコナイス-F) Non-fluorocarbon automatic flake ice making system developed jointly with Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd. Features CO2 indirect cooling system with 40% improvement in ice-making capacity and approximately 20% improvement in system COP compared to conventional systems. Designed for fisheries and industrial users seeking environmental sustainability.
• Ice Sales Business — Self-Operated Ice Plants Company-owned and operated unmanned 24/7 ice-making and vending facilities at fishing cooperative sites. Operates 6 locations nationwide (Chiba, Shizuoka, Oita, Osaka, Kyoto, Saga) with plate ice production ranging from 2-40 tons/day and storage from 8-150 tons. Fishing cooperatives receive management fees and commission without initial investment or running costs. Serves fisheries and general public customers via IC card and coin-operated vending.

Quantifiable outcome

• ECONICE-P achieved approximately 20% improvement in ice-making capacity and ~20% improvement in system COP vs conventional systems
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• Mayekawa Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (株式会社前川製作所)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term strategic co-development partnership for non-freon ice-making systems. Jointly developed the ECONICE-P (plate ice) and ECONICE-F (flake ice) product lines using Mayekawa's natural refrigerant (CO2/NH3) refrigeration technology combined with Iceman's ice-making systems. Both products have received Demand-Side Management awards. The partnership leverages Mayekawa's refrigeration expertise and Iceman's ice-making technology.
• Tokyo Sanyo Co., Ltd. (東京産業株式会社)keyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTokyo Sanyo acts as Iceman's agent partner in the ice sales business investment projects. The two companies co-invest in ice-making facility construction at fishing cooperative sites. Tokyo Sanyo provides capital and local business support alongside Iceman.
• Hakataurei Kogyo (株式会社博多雨中)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor partner for ice vending system components, including custom coin design and manufacturing services for the ice sales business. Minimum order quantity of 1,000 coins.
• Japan International Cooperation Agency — JICA (独立行政法人国際協力機構)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJICA sends international trainees to Iceman for training in fisheries cold chain equipment maintenance and ice-making technology. Iceman provides classroom lectures, factory training (copper pipe welding), and on-site equipment visits. Countries include Guinea-Bissau, Grenada, Saint Vincent, Solomon Islands, Dominica, and Morocco.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• GEA Group AG: Global large-cap industrial refrigeration and cold-chain equipment supplier. Overlaps with Iceman's industrial refrigeration/ice-making equipment category as part of a much broader food processing and refrigeration portfolio, but does not focus on small-scale custom industrial ice systems like Iceman.
• Manitowoc Ice (Welbilt / Ali Group): Major US-based industrial and commercial ice machine manufacturer, now part of the Ali Group. Comparable on core ice-machine product line serving similar end markets including fisheries and food processing, but operates at global scale with standardized catalog products versus Iceman's made-to-order industrial systems.
• Hoshizaki Corporation: Japan-based global leader in commercial ice machines and refrigeration equipment. Directly comparable to Iceman as a Japanese-headquartered ice-making equipment manufacturer, but Hoshizaki operates at vastly larger scale across commercial foodservice globally, whereas Iceman is specialized in industrial-scale custom equipment for fisheries and adjacent verticals.
• Scotsman Ice Systems: One of the world's largest commercial and industrial ice machine manufacturers, headquartered in the US. Directly comparable as an ice-making equipment OEM serving foodservice, fisheries, and industrial customers; however Scotsman is global and broad-line, while Iceman is highly specialized in custom industrial Japanese installations.

Direct peers

• North Star Ice Equipment Corporation: North American industrial ice equipment manufacturer focused on large-capacity flake and tube ice systems for fisheries, food processing, and concrete cooling. Closely comparable on industrial-scale flake ice and plate ice product category serving fisheries as a primary vertical.
• TechnoAlpin AG: Global leader in snow-making systems for ski resorts. Highly comparable to Iceman's Snow Jet SN30FA container-based snow-making product and ski-resort customer vertical; differs in being global and snow-only versus Iceman's broader ice portfolio.
• Mayekawa Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Japanese industrial refrigeration specialist and Iceman's strategic co-development partner for the ECONICE natural-refrigerant product line. Highly comparable on the industrial refrigeration technology stack (CO2/NH3 compressors, ammonia systems), though Mayekawa is a much larger diversified industrial refrigeration group while Iceman focuses on ice-making machinery integration.
• Howe Corporation: US-based industrial refrigeration and ice-making equipment maker serving fishing, food processing, and concrete cooling. Direct peer on industrial refrigeration equipment product category with similar end-market focus on fisheries and large-scale industrial cooling.

Regional players

• Starfrost (UK): UK-based industrial ice equipment manufacturer specializing in flake ice, tube ice, and slurry ice systems for fisheries and food industries. Comparable on industrial ice-making product line, but operates primarily in European and emerging-market geographies rather than Japan.
• KTI Plersch Kältetechnik GmbH: German manufacturer of industrial ice and refrigeration systems, including snow-making equipment. Comparable to Iceman on industrial ice-making equipment product line, but focused primarily on European and Middle Eastern markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ICEMAN_Corp_
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@%E5%85%AC%E5%BC%8F%E3%82%A2%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B9%E3%83%9E%E3%83%B3%E6%A0%AA%E5%BC%8F%E4%BC%9A%E7%A4%BE
• Instagraminstagram.com/iceman_corp_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Iceman