Manitowoc LuminIce® and iAuCS® Automatic Cleaning Systems

Manitowoc Automatic Ice Cleaning

All commercial foodservice establishments struggle with maintaining their ice machines. Regular cleanings tie up labor sorely needed elsewhere, while the machines' complexity can require frequent servicing, which costs capital operators don't need to spend. Chemical cleansers can run up the bill too, leaving aside the nastiness that can grow if employees decide to skip a cleaning cycle or two.

Manitowoc has developed a few ice machine cleaning parts so operators can avoid these headaches and present clean, fresh ice to their customers. The Manitowoc LuminIce II Growth Inhibitor and the iAuCS Automatic Cleaning System both help operators keep their ice machines free of slime and algae growth, decrease required maintenance, and provide peace of mind in a hectic restaurant. The LuminIce II Growth Inhibitor uses UV light and "active air" to inhibit the growth of yeast and other bacteria. This Manitowoc iAuCS automatic cleaning system goes a step further, performing routine ice machine cleaning that otherwise requires a technician's visit. We'll discuss the advantages these two systems can bring to your establishment to help you find the best solution for these common problems.

Manitowoc LuminIce Growth Inhibitor

The LuminIce II Growth Inhibitor is a customization option that utilizes UV lightbulbs inside the ice machine to create antimicrobial "active air." This active air is circulated over the ultraviolet light and then passed over the food zone components, which impedes the growth of yeast and other potentially harmful bacteria. This capability can be added to a variety of Manitowoc ice machines in the factory or field-fitted with kits. The LuminIce system is energy efficient and draws power from the ice maker itself, so you don't need to find additional outlets to add this feature.

LuminIce II creates photoplasma in the air that's circulated through the cavity. Photoplasma is a fully ionized gas containing particles that are reactive to the microorganisms they encounter. Similar technology is used in water sanitation and medical facilities to keep vital equipment safe for use.

How does UV light protect my ice machine?

Short-wavelength ultraviolet light kills or inactivates microorganisms by irradiating them and disrupting essential cellular functions1. The LuminIce Growth Inhibitor produces specific wavelengths of ultraviolet light that have been proven effective for deactivating or killing the microorganisms responsible for unsanitary growths in ice machine food zones, including yeast. The UV light provides very low-level radiation that can prevent growth at a cellular level but doesn't harm anyone who consumes the ice.

What does LuminIce mean for my business?

LuminIce provides cleaner ice and less maintenance for your ice machine. LuminIce Growth Inhibitor has several advantages:

  • Reduced yeast and bacterial growth
  • Less slime means easier cleaning
  • Low maintenance – replace the bulb once a year
  • Internal installation saves space

Manitowoc iAuCS

The iAuCS, or Automated Cleaning System, that Manitowoc has developed is an active method of keeping your ice machine free of slime and your final product crystal clear. It's a useful addon to Indigo NXT ice machines that costs less than three routine cleanings, meaning you'll save the cost of the iAuCS very quickly. As opposed to LuminIce, which provides a constant stream of antimicrobial air, this Manitowoc ice cleaning addon automatically cleans your ice machine on an adjustable schedule. This saves you from hiring a technician to clean your ice machine and keep the machine running at maximum efficiency, increasing total production and lowering energy costs over an inefficient machine.

Benefits of iAuCS

  • Hassle-free cleaning
  • Automatic scheduling
  • Reduced cleaning costs
  • Clean or sanitize

What are the differences between cleaning and sanitizing?

This Manitowoc ice cleaning system can clean and sanitize your ice machine, but not at the same time. Different chemicals must be loaded into the iAuCS to perform each task, but the ability to do both can significantly benefit your business.

In our Cleaning vs. Sanitizing article, we analyze the differences between the two processes, but for the Manitowoc iAuCS system, the differences are simple. Its cleaning protocol removes lime and other mineral buildup from the water system, while the sanitizing process kills algae and yeast growth. Both aid in keeping your machine functioning efficiently and producing clean, quality ice. Buildup of any sort will slow your ice machine, cause it to use more power to achieve the same results, and can contaminate the ice that ends up in your customers' glasses. Using both Manitowoc ice cleaning functions can keep your machines humming.

Choosing a Manitowoc Ice Cleaner

These two technologies protect your ice machine from growth and contaminants in different ways, and many operators use both. The LuminIce II Growth Inhibitor system constantly combats bacterial growth, while the iAuCS cleaning system actively dispenses cleaning or sanitizing solution into the water. The iAuCS performs routine maintenance that otherwise would fall to a service technician, saving you lots of money over the course of its life. The iAuCS system is designed for use with the Manitowoc IndigoNXT series, which you can find here at KaTom. LuminIce II Growth Inhibitors can work with both the IndigoNXT series, QuietCube series, and NEO undercounter units.

Be sure the LuminIce or iAuCS you choose works with your machine. The product specification page for each item will detail which machines the accessory fits.


  1. Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation. Wikipedia. Accessed May 2020.