CFX3 55IM from Dometic Group AB - mobile ice maker for off-grid kitchens

Reviewed: ad hoc news B2B & Pro desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-27, 17:51. Details in the imprint.

The CFX3 55IM from Dometic Group AB sits in the sand next to a folding camping chair, the lid glides up with a muted thunk, and fresh ice cubes rattle into a glass from the built-in tray. You hear the quiet compressor hum, not a noisy generator, while the display glows in soft white numbers.

Ice maker in a cooler body

The CFX3 55IM is a compressor-driven 12/24-volt and 100-240-volt portable cooler with around 53 litres of usable volume, split between a main cooling compartment and a dedicated ice cube section. Dometic positions it for campers, overlanders, boat owners and mobile catering operators who want both refrigeration and on-site ice production.

Product manager Jonas Persson describes the CFX3 series as built for mobile travellers and professional users who rely on stable cooling, with the 55IM version adding a separate ice maker that uses plate cooling rather than a simple frozen corner in the box. The compressor can pull the temperature down to about -22 degrees Celsius depending on settings, enough for frozen goods or rapid ice formation.

What the cooling system delivers

The integrated compressor in the CFX3 55IM is designed for deep cooling down to roughly -22 degrees Celsius, while still running off vehicle batteries thanks to multi-stage battery protection that prevents complete discharge. The unit can switch between 12/24-volt DC and 100-240-volt AC automatically, making it flexible for vans, RVs and static camp setups.

A digital control panel on the front lets users set precise temperatures, monitor battery status and check ice production, with settings stored even when power is disconnected. The ice maker uses its own tray and plate-cooling zone, so cubes are formed in a predictable area instead of floating in a generic frozen layer inside the box.

Daily use on the road

In practice, the CFX3 55IM feels like a compact kitchen island that you can strap into a van or SUV: you open the lid, grab chilled food, then tilt the small ice bucket to hear cubes clink into metal mugs at dusk. The compressor runs with a quiet, steady tone, more like a distant fridge in a hotel room than a rugged field machine.

Persson and his team aimed for a tidy interior layout, with baskets and clear separation between the cooling space and the ice section, so caterers or guides can work by feel in low light without mixing raw food with drink ice. The focus is on predictable cold, not abstract specifications, which is why many CFX3 units end up in professional mobile kitchens as well as private vans.

Where it fits in the Dometic range

Dometic's CFX3 line sits above simpler passive coolers and absorption fridges, bringing compressor power, app connectivity and accessories into a family that covers different volumes and features. The 55IM variant is one of the few in the range that combines a sizeable 53-litre cooling chamber with a dedicated ice-compartment feature.

Online listings in Europe typically place the CFX3 55IM in the upper three-digit euro price bracket, reflecting the mix of compressor cooling, dual-voltage electronics and the added ice functionality. It targets users who treat mobile cooling as infrastructure, not a casual picnic add-on, which is why dealers often pitch it for overlanding rigs, charter boats and food trucks.

Company context and shares

Net-net, the CFX3 55IM underlines how Dometic Group AB is pushing beyond simple camping coolers toward integrated mobile kitchen hardware for both private travellers and pro fleets. Dometic Group AB shares (ISIN SE0007691613) are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, giving European investors a liquid way to follow this mobile-living strategy.

This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without guarantee; prices and availability may change at short notice. No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Stock-market transactions involve risks up to total loss.