Using dry ice equipment and supplies can be a challenge for a business without the knowledge needed to handle and use it. There are various ways to use dry ice from dry ice machines in an industrial setting to use as a packing material for perishable items. If you haven't considered using dry ice for other business uses, look into options beyond the more common uses of dry ice fog machines or packaging, while making the most out of these typical uses, too.

Making the most of dry ice equipment and supplies will be an easy venture if your business works with the companies that specialize in the specific way you need to use the dry ice. Industrial blasting dry ice equipment should not be purchased from a dry ice packaging supplier; likewise, dry ice for decorative uses shouldn't come from a medical supply company. Make the most of your dry ice equipment and supplies by:

1. Working with dry ice suppliers for food and storage needs.

2. Buying dry ice supplies and equipment specifically designed for medical use.

3. Finding out about dry ice blasting for industrial equipment.

4. Considering dry ice for branding as an alternative to heat brands on livestock.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy dry ice for food storage and shipping perishables

Buy dry ice online for storing perishable foods or shipping them. Dry ice comes in liquid, crystal or block form and can be purchased from many online vendors. If you're not sure what form of dry ice to use with your products, contact the vendors for their opinion. Most are experts in the dry ice business and will be able to counsel you in your purchase and storage of dry ice products.

I recommend: Get dry ice storage boxes from C02 Air if you will be using large quantities of the substance. Boxes are USDA approved and can handle blocks or pellets. Get large quantities of dry ice blocks or pellets at Dry-Ice.Net. There is a minimum order requirement of 500 pounds. For more information about dry ice use, read all about the substance and how to handle it safely at DryIceInfo.com.

Get dry ice for a dry ice machine and shipping medical uses

If your medical organization requires the use of dry ice for procedures, storage or shipping of perishables, the best suppliers are those with experience selling to medical organizations.

I recommend: Get the Deep Frozen Container from Chinook Medical Gear that uses state-of-the-art technology to keep your items cooler with the use of less dry ice. The container works well for pharmaceuticals and other medical shipping, too. Get dry ice from Frozen On Time, a company specializing in medical shipping.

Buy dry ice for cleaning industrial equipment

Dry ice is the latest in blast cleaning technology used for industrial equipment. While there are many blasting service providers, your company can do the blasting with the right equipment. When buying dry ice blasting machines online, look for suppliers who provide safety and procedure training.

I recommend: Buy dry ice blasting machines at ICE TECH where you'll find not only machines for sale, but also rental machines, if that works better for your company. Precision Iceblast Corporation offers ice blasting services, rental equipment or machines to purchase.

Consider dry ice for agricultural use

Freeze branding is a new way to brand livestock. Instead of burning the hide with hot brands, the freezing kills skin cells that turn hair color leaving only white hair where the animal was branded.

I recommend: Get dry ice for branding from companies that make dry ice for branding like Continental Carbonic, or find a wide variety of branding irons to use with dry ice branding oat L&H Branding.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Because dry ice releases carbon dioxide into the air as it melts, a Co2 gas detector is a wise addition to any business that uses a lot of dry ice. The detector safeguards against high concentrations of CO2 in the air.

Dry ice often times conjures up visions of witch's brew at Halloween or fog effects on a concert stage; however, it also has many "useful" applications in both industrial and commercial settings. In addition to being popular in food distribution and transportation, dry ice equipment and supplies are used for things such as removing floor tile, shrinking metal, removing skin imperfections and blast cleaning fire-damaged buildings.

Whether you're looking to buy dry ice, buy dry ice equipment to make dry ice of your own or explore new ways to clean with dry ice, there are some important safety tips to be aware of:

1. Always use insulated gloves when handling dry ice, and never let it touch your bare skin.

2. Because dry ice displaces oxygen in the air, always use it in a well-ventilated area or, if transporting it in your car, roll the windows down.

3. If you use dry ice in a shipment, notify both the carrier and the recipient that dry ice is in the package.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Decide whether you are going to buy or make dry ice

If you have a one-time or occasional need, it obviously makes sense to buy dry ice rather than investing in dry ice equipment and your own dry ice machine. If, however, you plan to use dry ice on a regular basis, then you'll want to explore your options for dry ice manufacturing or dry ice machines.

I recommend: Because the majority of dry ice is sold locally, PartyPOP has an extensive listing of dry ice suppliers by both city and state--most with phone numbers to call with your order. If you're shopping for equipment to make your own dry ice, check out the offerings at Cole Parmer. USA Restaurant Equipment offers a nice dry ice maker, too.

Consider how you'll use your dry ice

Dry ice equipment and supplies vary based on how the dry ice will be used.

I recommend: Dry-ice.net lists four basic sizes and shapes of dry ice it offers and has a form visitors can complete to request additional information. Continental Carbonic Products is another great resource that shows the different dry ice varieties and their typical purposes.

Think about having a dry ice blast

Dry ice blasting is quickly gaining in popularity as our nation 'goes green' and explores new ways to protect our environment. The process is said to be similar to sandblasting, without the abrasive effect. It is an approved cleaning method in the food industry and also is being used effectively in smoke- and fire-damage situations.

I recommend: Take a look at Cold Jet to explore the "whats and whys" of dry ice blasting. Seeing is believing at Cryo Services, where some before and after pictures truly tell the story of how effective dry ice blasting can be for fire and mold restoration. Cryo Services offers dry ice machine equipment leasing for do-it-yourselfers, as well.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Dry ice is great for use in science experiments. A quick search of the Internet is bound to result in some wonderful ways to spend some rainy-day time with your curious kids.

Dry ice is pure, solid carbon dioxide that keeps things cold much longer than traditional ice, and being in the dry ice business requires some specialized know-how. Dry ice is used "mess-free" in a variety of applications. In addition to common uses such as shipping frozen foods and making "fog" in the entertainment industry, it also is used in little-known applications such as cleaning fire-damaged buildings and removing floor tiles.

Cool as it is, dry ice also can be dangerous and needs to be handled with care. Because of its extremely low temperature of -109F and the fact that it's a natural gas, it's very important to make safety a priority when working with dry ice. Gloves are a necessity, as is good ventilation and a dose of common sense.

Whether you plan to make dry ice, sell dry ice, buy dry ice or just need some dry ice equipment and supplies education and training, it's important to:

1. Familiarize yourself with the different types of dry ice manufacturing equipment and supplies.

2. Learn about the dry ice equipment and supplies necessary for safe handling and shipping.

3. Understand the function of blasting dry ice equipment.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Understand the options and uses for dry ice manufacturing equipment and supplies

Dry ice equipment can make dry ice in a variety of forms, with the most common being pellets and blocks. It's important to know which dry ice machine equipment and supplies are typically used in various applications.

I recommend: You can familiarize yourself with dry ice manufacturing equipment at dryiceInfo.com. Continental Carbonic Products provides information about different forms of dry ice, machines used in production, manufacturing processes, dry ice uses and required safety gear.

Explore dry ice equipment and supplies necessary for handling and shipping

Before working with dry ice in any situation or application, it's important to be well-versed on how to handle it safely. Because it's considered a hazardous material, knowing the equipment and supplies you need to store, ship and dispose of it is key.

I recommend: Amherst College offers information that covers the ins and outs of safe handling, regulatory compliance and storage procedures. Sign up for a more comprehensive certification course in dry ice shipping from the Dangerous Goods International Training Center.

Learn about blasting dry ice equipment and its uses

Blasting dry ice equipment uses compressed air to propel dry ice pellets onto industrial equipment surfaces to remove residues such as ink, glue, paint, food, rubber, mold release agents, dirt, grease, oil and numerous other contaminants. Dry ice blasting equipment and supplies can be either purchased or leased.

I recommend: Learn what air pressures are needed with various types of dry ice blasting equipment at Diamond Dry Ice Blasting. Cold Jet can help you begin using dry ice blasting equipment with a technical how-to article and video.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A variety of dry ice equipment and dry ice suppliers can be found online. Most sites offer both written and in-person support to ensure you not only get what you need, but you also understand how to use it safely.

With the many modern-day applications for dry ice comes a variety of dry ice equipment and supplies key terms you should know to get the job done. Whether you need to buy dry ice, make dry ice, ship dry ice, clean with dry ice or store dry ice, it's a sure bet there's a piece of equipment available to help you accomplish the task at hand. As you set out on your journey to buy, rent or simply educate yourself on dry ice equipment and supplies, there are a few key terms that likely will come in handy.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Block press

A typical dry ice block press makes 55-pound blocks of dry ice without the saws, conveyors or hassles typically associated with making such blocks of dry ice.

I recommend: Learn about what a block press does, its specifications and advantages at TOMCO2.

Storage box

Dry ice storage boxes are insulated energy-conserving containers made specifically to hold and store dry ice.

I recommend: View the selection of storage boxes manufactured to store dry ice at Dryicebox.com. If you plan to ship dry ice, head over to Continental Carbonic to see their selection of dry ice shipping containers.

Pelletizer

Pelletizers make pellets, or nuggets, of dry ice primarily used in dry ice blasting applications.

I recommend: Take a look at the pelletizers manufactured by Cold Jet. The primary difference between the models shown is their hourly production capability.

Blasting machine

Blasting machines use dry ice pellets in an increasingly popular industrial cleaning method called dry ice blasting. Dry ice blasting is similar to sandblasting, but without the abrasive effect.

I recommend: Check out all of the blasting machines -- new, refurbished and for rent -- at Diamond Dry Ice Blasting.

Block machine

A dry ice block machine makes small, on-demand general use blocks of dry ice from an attached liquid CO2 cylinder.

I recommend: The insta-dry ice block machine at USA Restaurant Equipment is available in three different sizes, depending on your size and quantity needs.

Reforming press

A reforming press can turn scrap and otherwise wasted pieces of dry ice into pellet form and/or pellets into slab form.

I recommend: Visit CO2 Air to see a handful of reforming presses, complete with pictures and specifications.