Sustainably and efficiently to perfectly prepared ice

In the LANXESS arena in Cologne, Germany the ice hockey cracks of the Kölner Haie are guaranteed perfect ice. This guarantee is also grounded in technology from Italy: WM technics supplies WM Connect, a system that represents a “quantum leap” in efficiency and sustainability in ice resurfacing. 

It is one of the largest multifunctional halls in Europe. Its schedule includes major concerts, significant sporting events, and hilarious carnival shows: the LANXESS arena in Cologne is an event hall par excellence. It is particularly well-known as the venue for the home games of the eight-time German ice hockey champions, the Kölner Haie. And for the best of the best, only one thing comes into question: the best of the best - in the case of the Haie, a perfectly prepared ice surface on which the Cologne team competes for the championship title every year.

WM technics: A revolution rarely comes alone

This season, the Haie do find themselves in the middle of the pack. But there is still a long way to go, and that should not defy the fact that only the best ice is good enough. To this end, the Mammoth ice-resurfacing machine from Italian manufacturer WM technics has been pulling its rounds with electrical quietness for the past six years.

An ice-resurfacing machine with an electric engine is undoubtedly one of the most revolutionary advances in the industry in recent years. But anyone who knows WM technics knows that the ladies and gentlemen from Prato all’Isarco in South Tyrol don’t like to stand still - and already have the next milestone in the starting blocks.

WM’s latest achievement is called WM Connect. It certainly doesn’t take an energy crisis like the current one to make us more emphatic about our energy consumption. However, it is precisely this crisis that has increased our focus on it. With WM Connect, WM technics provides its customers with a tool to meet these new demands in energy management.

WM Connect: Real-time data, communication tool, and e-shop all in one 

WM Connect is a data tool, communication assistant, and e-shop in one. A sophisticated system that kills three birds with one stone in terms of efficiency through real-time data collection, over-the-air error messages, and access to the WM e-shop “WORKspace”.

The centerpiece is the real-time data collection: the system collects data on water consumption (litres), electricity consumption (amps), and thermal energy required (kWh) during each ice processing operation and displays it live on the dashboard provided. The dashboard can be accessed anywhere: with a smartphone, a PC, a tablet, or the WM screen.