HOSHIZAKI CORPORATION (Head office: Toyoake City, Aichi; President & CEO: Yasuhiro Kobayashi; hereafter “Hoshizaki”) has developed a custom display case with a built-in defrost function for B-R 31 ICE CREAM CO., LTD. (Head office: Shinagawa City, Tokyo; Representative Director, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO: John Kim; hereafter “Baskin-Robbins Japan”). Production units of the model will be delivered to selected stores in Japan and Taiwan in stages starting April 14, 2026.
Built-In Defrost Function Reduces the Need for Manual Defrosting
Baskin-Robbins Japan currently uses static-cooling dipping cabinets that chill the interior by drawing heat away through cold cabinet walls. Because the doors are opened and closed frequently to serve customers, room-temperature air enters the cabinets, and the temperature difference between the warm and cold air causes moisture to condense, building up frost on the chilled walls over time. Defrost functions typically work either by melting frost with heat or by halting cooling so the frost melts on its own. However, to protect ice cream quality, the current model does not include a defrost function. As a result, staff have to switch the units off and defrost them manually, about once a week.
Production Model Refined Through On-Site Testing Now Rolling Out in Japan and Taiwan
Hoshizaki has developed a fan-cooled (forced-air) model that circulates chilled air through the cabinet, making frost less likely to form. Since January 2025, prototypes have been deployed at several Baskin-Robbins stores in Japan, where Hoshizaki has refined the design based on staff feedback to prepare for supplying a production model that combines proven performance with improved cost efficiency.
The unit is equipped with multiple evaporators (heat exchangers): while one is taken offline for defrosting, the others continue to maintain cabinet temperature, allowing defrosting to take place without compromising ice cream quality. A timer activates the cycle outside business hours, when door openings (the main cause of temperature rise inside the cabinet) are not occurring. As a rule, this removes the need for manual defrosting by staff. After delivery, Hoshizaki will provide maintenance support throughout Japan via its own nationwide service network. The same level of support will be provided in Taiwan through Hoshizaki’s local subsidiary.
Hoshizaki will continue to pursue product development that solves customer challenges and delivers real value.
The information presented here is current as of the time of announcement. Please note that it may differ from the latest information.
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