With this global boom, however, comes a fundamental pragmatic question: How do we provide the infrastructure? Surprisingly, the main reason why many countries lack a sufficient number of ice rinks is not the initial investment in building the arena itself. The biggest "bogeyman" for investors, municipalities and sports clubs is the subsequent, extremely costly maintenance and day-to-day operation.
Even in traditional hockey countries, the question of sustainability is now being intensively addressed. At a time when energy prices are extremely volatile and unpredictable, and rink operators often have no idea what bills will land on their desk next month, economic stability is becoming a key factor for the survival of the entire sports sector. Every ice rink manager is looking for where and how to save every crown without compromising ice quality.
Where do the biggest expenses arise?
If we look at the energy audit of an average ice rink, the largest item in the budget is undoubtedly the refrigeration system. Keeping a huge ice surface in perfect condition amid fluctuating ambient temperatures requires an enormous amount of electricity. And it is precisely at this critical point that a fundamental technological turnaround comes in.
The Czech technology company Boson Distribution SE has brought the groundbreaking HIPPOTRON® ICE technology to the market. This innovative technology, which builds on almost thirty years of research and is now in its 4th development generation, changes the physical properties of water without the use of chemicals. The device effectively simulates the natural effect of the sun on liquids in nature and uses controlled electromagnetic pulses to modify the structure of the water that is subsequently used to make and maintain the ice. The result is radical energy savings and a higher-quality playing surface.
Key benefits: How is HIPPOTRON® ICE changing the rules of the game?
- Faster freezing and harder ice: Water treated by HIPPOTRON® ICE technology sets much faster. The resulting ice is stronger, homogeneous, smoother and more resistant to the formation of deep grooves or unevenness. For players and goalkeepers, this means one thing – the puck glides faster and more evenly, and significantly less skate-shaved snow forms on the ice, which would otherwise slow the game down or stick to the puck.
- Higher cooling temperature = huge savings: Thanks to the changed physical properties of the water, the system makes it possible to operate the cooling concrete slab 1 to 2 °C higher while maintaining an identical ice surface temperature. In practice, this means that the compressors do not have to run at full capacity, which brings immediate and lasting energy savings in the order of tens of percent.
- An end to limescale problems: Every operator knows how aggressive untreated water can be. Limescale is the enemy of both cooling circuits and the internal systems of the ice resurfacer. HIPPOTRON® ICE effectively minimises limescale deposits inside the snow auger and in the nozzles of the ice resurfacer. This not only extends the service life of expensive equipment but also shortens the time needed to maintain the ice surface.
Practical experience: What do ice rinks say?
References from dozens of domestic and foreign rinks testify that these are not just theoretical promises but real, measurable results.
- O2 arena, Prague: The technology passed a prestigious test during the 2024 World Championship. The top-quality ice in Prague's O2 arena earned enormous recognition from the organisers and the players themselves. The system helped maintain stable, hard and fast ice even under extreme load, when one match followed another in the arena and the stands were filled to the last seat.
- Chrudim ice rink: The local facility manager Jan Makeš confirms that after installing the device they shaved the existing surface down by 1 cm and raised the cooling temperature. "Thanks to the HIPPOTRON® ICE device, we cut the time needed to build the ice in summer by a third. Even though the season was significantly warmer, we ran on just one compressor the whole time, which brought us huge energy savings. We often have ice like a mirror," he says of the operation.
- Chur ice rink, Switzerland: Positive feedback is also coming from the cradle of Alpine hockey. Immediately after the technology was deployed in Chur, the operators were able to raise the set temperature of the concrete slab by +2 °C. Coaches and players praise the fact that the ice is much more durable even after demanding, physical training and shows excellent glide. Both professionals from the top Swiss league and NHL players who have had the opportunity to test this technology either directly in Chur or at other ice rinks speak highly of the exceptional quality of ice treated in this way.
- Other successful installations: Rinks in Jaroměř, Poděbrady, Kladno, Beroun, Nejdek and Ústí nad Labem all report the same: faster surface maintenance, reduced water consumption in the ice resurfacer and, above all, economic relief for budgets that were previously crushed by the uncontrolled rise in electricity prices.
An investment with a fast payback and a global reach
HIPPOTRON® ICE technology is installed without the need for any construction work or interruption of the rink's operation – installation takes only a few hours. As it is classed among socially responsible and sustainable technologies, it helps operators not only to meet strict environmental targets and reduce their carbon footprint, but also to achieve a fast economic payback.
Further evidence of its international success and technological maturity is the recent signing of an exclusive distribution agreement for the Hungarian market in May 2026, with which the platform officially expanded into a fourth European country.
Running a modern ice rink in the 21st century no longer has to mean a financial gamble. With HIPPOTRON® ICE technology, rinks gain a strong ally that enables them to offer hockey players and the public ice with excellent parameters while keeping energy costs fully under control. If you are looking for a way to effectively combine sporting success with economic sustainability, the answer lies in the physical treatment of water.
