Our History

Pure Dependability

Founded in 1920 in Dayton, Ohio, the company originally manufactured domestic water pumps. In 1926, the founders purchased the company, Uniflow Mfg., and moved it to its present location in Erie, Pennsylvania.

It was from this location that the reputation for innovation and pure dependability began. Beginning with electric water coolers, its famous KOLD-DRAFT® circulating ice water draft beer systems debuted in 1936. This was the beginning of the KOLD-DRAFT brand name and several lines of equipment including walk-in coolers and freezers, bottled beverage coolers, and, later, tray-type ice cube makers.
This commercial ice machine was in service for 43 years and still works today.

 

The KOLD-DRAFT Horizontal Ice Machine is Born

In 1955, KOLD-DRAFT began producing automatic ice cube machines. Using a unique evaporator and water plate system, KOLD-DRAFT’S design produced perfect, pure, clean, clear, hard ice cubes—every time. The horizontal ice-making system was the key. It was, and still is, the system used by KOLD-DRAFT’Scommercial ice machines, producing pure ice “upside-down.” Water is pumped “up” into the cells and freezes from the outside in—washing out minerals and foreign substances before the water forms into cubes, producing pure ice.

Fresh Approach

KOLD-DRAFT is a division of The Legacy Companies. KOLD-DRAFT was founded in 1954. Since then, Kold-Draft has manufactured the longest lasting and most reliable commercial ice machines and ice equipment on the market. Through continuous improvement, new products, and waste-free flow manufacturing, you can profit from the pure dependability of KOLD-DRAFT, worldwide.