Ice and ice packs both absorb heat by melting; the difference is the temperature at which that happens and where the meltwater goes. Pure water melts at 0 °C. Next to frozen goods that must stay at -18 °C, ice melting at 0 °C does not protect the product, it warms it. The term ice pack covers several products, from gel pouches to rigid eutectic plates; for that distinction see what an ice pack is and how it differs from a eutectic plate.
| Measure | Ordinary ice | Sealed pack or eutectic plate |
|---|---|---|
| Melting temperature | 0 °C | Depends on the filling; GEBHARDT plates melt at -3, -14, -18 or -21 °C |
| Meltwater | Free water collects in the box | The filling stays inside while the shell is intact |
| Use | One way; new ice and waste every time | Frozen and reused; needs return, washing and damage checks |
| Preparation | Ice machine or bought ice | In a freezer at least 5 °C below the melting point |
With ordinary ice, most of the work is managing water. Meltwater soaks cartons and labels, reaches poorly packed goods and leaks out when the lid opens. An ice pack-out therefore plans a liner, an absorbent pad and a drainage path from the start, and never assumes the box is watertight.
The cost of a sealed pack is volume and cycle. The pack takes up space, has to be frozen in advance, and reuse brings losses, washing and crack checks into the workflow. The contents of a cracked pack must also be known; GEBHARDT plates use a food-safe polyethylene shell and a non-toxic brine.
Choose in this order: first the product's target temperature, then whether the product can tolerate contact with water, and last the return arrangement. For frozen goods ordinary ice drops out at the first step. Chilled goods in water-resistant packaging can travel with ice on a short one-way delivery; for containers that run the same route every day, a sealed pack or plate takes the water and waste steps out of the workflow.
