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Swiss Engineered · Lab-Proven · Built for Malls & Retail

Glice Mall Rink - The Glice Mall Rink. The foot traffic magnet that pays for itself.

Lab-proven by Fraunhofer to match real ice glide. No ice plant, low infrastructure — installed in any atrium, courtyard or anchor space.

Trusted by leading shopping centres and retail destinations across 100+ countries.

See Mall Case Studies Get a Foot Traffic Projection
Increase Foot Traffic Boost Tenant Sales No Ice Plant Cost
Mall of Switzerland Otay Ranch Town Center Westfield Coca-Cola Red Bull CCM Harvard University

Glice is a Swiss-engineered synthetic ice rink system — solid polymer panels that deliver a real skating experience using regular ice skates, with no refrigeration, no water, and no electricity. Installed in over 3,000 rinks across 100+ countries, with performance independently validated by Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute.

Reviewed by Viktor Meier, Co-Founder & CEO, Glice AG · Last reviewed: June 2026

Skating. Without Ice.

Synthetic ice is a system of engineered polymer panels that lets you skate with normal ice skates - no refrigeration, no water, no freezing. Panels install on any flat surface and connect to form a complete skating rink. Operable anywhere, in any climate.

Solid polymer, not ice.Synthetic ice is a dry, solid surface made from engineered polymer panels - no water, no refrigeration, no electricity required. Panels are ambient temperature and never melt.
Standard skates, no special gear.You skate with the same ice skates you'd use on a refrigerated rink. No modifications needed.
Independently tested performance.Fraunhofer Institute testing confirmed that Glice synthetic ice achieves glide performance comparable to real-ice skating speeds.
Self-improving surface.Sintered panels release fresh lubricant as blades create microscopic scratches - the more you skate, the better it glides.
Tongue-and-groove connection.Panels interlock like parquet flooring - precision-machined joints create a seamless surface. Seams are 100% flush and undetectable underfoot.
Install anywhere, no permits required.Panels lay directly on concrete, asphalt, sport flooring, or event flooring. No anchoring, no drilling, no construction permits. Premium panels last 10+ years per side and are reversible.
Easy to manage with Rink Manager Certification.Glice provides Rink Manager Certification to help your team operate and maintain the rink, supporting long-term surface quality and a world-class skating experience.
Glice synthetic ice rink with recreational skaters - modular polymer panels with dasher boards

How Malls & Retail Centres Benefit from a Glice Rink

Children skating at a Glice rink inside a shopping mall

The Destination Magnet

A skating rink gives families a reason to choose your mall over the competition. It's the anchor experience that drives visits, extends catchment, and fills the car park.

Hockey players on a Glice rink in a mall atrium drawing a large crowd

Increased Dwell Time Across Stores & F&B

Skating sessions keep visitors on-site longer. Longer visits mean more spend across retail tenants, food courts, and restaurants - a measurable uplift in per-visit revenue.

Glice rink installed in a mall atrium activating underused retail space

Activate Atriums, Plazas & Underused Space

Empty atriums, courtyards, and vacant anchor spaces become shareable, memorable experiences - no construction, no structural reinforcement. Installs directly on existing surfaces.

Children skating at a branded Glice rink outdoor activation with ticket and rental revenue

New Revenue: Tickets, Skate Rental & Sponsorship

Session tickets, skate hire, branded activations, and tenant sponsorships - multiple revenue streams that recover your investment faster than most attractions.

Discuss how a Glice rink can drive traffic to your centre →

Identical Glide. Zero Infrastructure.

Independent Fraunhofer testing confirms a friction coefficient matching freshly resurfaced real ice at lower speeds.

Source: Fraunhofer IWM, Zwischenbericht V1184-2025

Friction comparison chart: Glice vs refrigerated ice - Fraunhofer validated

Glice vs Refrigerated Ice at a Glance

Refrigerated Ice Glice
Energy consumption ~1,050,000 kWh/year No refrigeration kWh
Water consumption ~126,000 litres/year No resurfacing water
CO₂ emissions ~519 tonnes/year Lower operating CO2
Installation Days or weeks, permits, chiller space needed Hours, any flat surface
Temperature dependency Degrades above 10°C/50°F Performs at any temperature
Surface consistency Zamboni downtime ~20 min between sessions Consistent all day, no downtime
Maintenance staff Refrigeration engineers required Any staff, trained in 45 min
Lifespan Continuous repair, maintenance and replacement costs 10+ years per side, reversible
Injury risk Hard, unforgiving surface Shock-absorbing, fewer injuries
Noise Compressor and generator noise Silent - no generator noise
Cooling agents Refrigerants - potent greenhouse gases No refrigerant plant
Infrastructure requirements Chiller plant, pumps, HVAC, piping, electrical upgrades No refrigeration infrastructure
Technical back-of-house space ~90 m² service & plant area 0 m²
Ice waste handling space ~9 m² melt pit & drainage area 0 m²
Air conditioning & dehumidification (indoor) Significant additional energy and equipment Not required

Ice Quality Throughout the Day

Glice maintains 100% surface quality all day. Refrigerated ice degrades between Zamboni cycles.

Glice (synthetic) Refrigerated ice Zamboni resurfacing
Resurfaced every ~90 min · ~20 min closure per session · Total daily downtime: ~180 min (3 hours)

Figures based on a standard Olympic-size rink (60 × 30 m). Actual values may vary depending on rink size, climate, and operating conditions.

Refrigerated Ice vs Glice — Resource & Space Calculator

m
m
weeks
Refrigerated Ice
Glice

Operational Cost Projection

Refrigerated Ice
Glice

Electricity rate: 1.6 kWh/m²/day · Water: 70 L/m² (operating period) · CO₂: 0.494 kg/kWh (IEA global average)

These calculations are based on international averages and are intended for indicative purposes only. Actual energy consumption, water usage, CO₂ emissions, and infrastructure requirements may vary depending on rink size, climate, operating conditions, and local utility rates. Contact Glice for a tailored project assessment.

Not All Synthetic Ice Is Equal.

Fraunhofer lab tests confirm Glice leads every performance metric in the category.

52%
Lower friction than the next best competitor
45%
Less blade sinking than the next best competitor - no plough resistance
6%
Less abrasion - lowest shavings output in the industry

Source: Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM, Freiburg. Zwischenbericht V1184-2025.

Skate blade fixed in a tribometer during friction testing at the Fraunhofer Institute

Independently tested at the Fraunhofer Institute

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is Europe's largest applied research institute with 76 institutes and over 32,000 researchers. Testing was conducted at the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM in Freiburg - specialists in tribology, surface science, and material characterisation.

Test Setup

  • › Skate blade fixed in a tribometer
  • › Synthetic ice panels act as counterbodies, moving beneath the blade
  • › Friction measured directly on the blade
  • › Normal force applied by pulling the blade head downward
  • › Blade cleaned with acetone & isopropanol before and after each test, installed in the same position

Test Parameters

Frequency
10 Hz
Amplitude
12 mm
Normal force
300 N
Sample rate
100,000 Hz
Recording interval
1 s
Duration
200 cycles (20 s)
Friction comparison: Glice vs competitor synthetic ice brands - 52% lower friction

52% Lower Friction

In the test, a hockey skate blade moved back and forth over a sample of synthetic ice, while a tribometer recorded how much friction each surface creates.

The coefficient of friction determines the resistance a skate blade encounters when gliding. A lower coefficient means the blade glides more effortlessly, faster, and for longer distances. It also reduces blade wear, keeping edges sharper and extending the time between resharpening.

Source: Fraunhofer IWM, Zwischenbericht V1184-2025

45% Less Blade Penetration

Blade penetration (indentation) is a key factor in synthetic ice performance. The deeper the blade sinks, the more material it pushes forward - like an icebreaker through ice. This increases skating effort and reduces glide speed.

Indentation depth was measured using a white light optical profilometer. Glice shows 45% less blade sinking than the next best competitor.

Source: Fraunhofer IWM, Zwischenbericht V1184-2025

Blade penetration depth: Glice shows 45% less blade sinking than competitors
Abrasion test: Glice produces 6% less material wear than the next best competitor

6% Less Abrasion

Using the standard DIN ISO 4649 method, samples from the top synthetic ice brands were tested to see how quickly they wear down. Each sample is rubbed against sandpaper under controlled conditions, and the material lost is measured.

The less material that wears off, the fewer shavings are created during skating - keeping the surface cleaner, improving glide, and reducing maintenance.

Source: Fraunhofer IWM, DIN ISO 4649 standardized abrasion test

Figures based on a standard Olympic-size rink (60 × 30 m). Actual values may vary depending on rink size, climate, and operating conditions.

Independent lab report published by the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM.

View the official Fraunhofer press release

The Skate Effort Equation

Friction Sliding resistance
at the blade
×
Indentation Ploughing resistance
as the blade sinks
=
Skate effort What the skater feels
push by push

Skate Effort Matrix

Less Skate Effort. Fuller Rinks.

Move your cursor across the chart. Watch the business outcomes on the right shift as skate effort changes.

Low Smooth Moderate Heavy High Low Mild Medium High Very high Max Relative glide effort Surface response Fresh ice 30 min 60 min 90 min Competitor 1 Competitor 2 Competitor 3 Competitor 4 Glice Sources: Fraunhofer IWM synthetic-surface testing and rink-tribology literature; chart normalized to a relative scale. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR BUSINESS Effortless skating Happy skaters Magnet effect Good press & social media Low sharpening cost Hover the chart to see how skate effort drives the business

A Bad Skating Experience Costs More Than You Think.

Low-quality synthetic ice destroys what you built. Glice protects it.

When skaters experience slow, sticky, shavings-covered ice - they leave early. They don't come back. They don't recommend your venue.

Low glide on cheap synthetic iceLow glideSkaters leave early. Lost forever.
Blade dulling from low-quality synthetic iceBlade dullingConstant sharpening. No grip.
Excess shavings on cheap synthetic iceExcess shavingsClothing complaints. Skaters don't return.
Poor aesthetics of cheap synthetic ice rinkPoor aestheticsCheap look. Weak venue impression.

Glice is engineered to protect the experience you invested in - from the first skater to the last.

Talk with a rink specialist →

Your Success Goes Beyond the Surface.

How Glice makes your project successful beyond surface technology.

Glice premium dasher board system

Premium Dasher Boards

A premium dasher board system designed to elevate any venue.

Glice Rink Manager Certification

Rink Manager Certification

A structured certification program helps your team run a world-class operation.

Glice global team in 100+ countries

Global Team in 100+ Countries

A passionate team - we're where you are.

Independent lab report published by the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM.

View the official Fraunhofer press release
Jessica Janssen
The synthetic ice rink from Glice convinced us and delights our customers.
★★★★★
Jessica Janssen, Center Manager, Mall of Switzerland
Alfredo Moguel
What really lights up the whole scene is the sight of so many happy faces on the rink.
★★★★★
Alfredo Moguel, Center Manager, Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mall
Eli George
We were immediately drawn to Glice because of its high-quality products.
★★★★★
Eli George, President, Otay Ranch Town Center
Talk to a rink specialist → Get The Complete Rink Planner

Recognised on the World Stage.

Selected by leading sports organisations to showcase the future of ice sports.

NHL Sport Innovation Conference 2026 featuring Glice synthetic ice

Presented by the NHL

Selected as a breakthrough in hockey technology at the 2026 Sport Innovation Conference.

ISU World Congress 2026 featuring Glice synthetic ice demonstration

Chosen by the ISU

Selected to demonstrate the future of figure skating at the 2026 ISU World Congress.

Winter Olympics 2026 House of Switzerland featuring Glice synthetic curling

Featured at the 2026 Winter Olympics

Selected by the House of Switzerland to showcase synthetic curling on the world stage.

CCM Hockey Lab selects Glice synthetic ice in blind skating test

Selected by CCM

Chosen in a blind skating test as the synthetic ice selected by CCM for the world's largest Hockey Lab.

Large-format synthetic ice rink installation in Mexico

Large-Format Artificial Ice Rink

Glice delivered a 4,000 m² / 43,056 sq ft public rink project in Mexico.

Want the same technology trusted by top organisations? Let's talk about your project →

Quality Visitors Can Feel.

Compared to conventional synthetic ice, the difference is immediate.
Every detail reflects the premium your centre demands.

Effortless Glide

52% lower friction than the next-best synthetic ice (Fraunhofer-validated). Shoppers experience genuine skating - they stay longer, spend more, and come back.

Skate blade staying sharp on Glice synthetic ice

Blades Stay Sharp

45% less blade indentation means skates perform well and stay sharper for longer - less sharpening interval and cost, better visitor experience.

Clean professional Glice rink surface

Clean Surface

6% less abrasion than the next-best competitor. Minimal shavings, much less shavings sticking to clothes or scattered around the rink - the clean look retail demands.

Glice is engineered to protect the visitor experience you invested in - from the first skater to the last.

Make your centre a destination →
Glice premium dasher board system

Premium Aesthetics

Designed to Elevate Retail Environments

A premium dasher board system built not just for functionality, but as a centrepiece that tenants and visitors notice.

  • ✓ Lightweight to handle
  • ✓ Adjustable to uneven ground

Proven at Retail Destinations Worldwide.

Retail destinations use Glice to turn plazas and atriums into high-dwell-time skating attractions.

Explore a similar installation for your centre ->

Free Planning Guide

Get The Complete Rink Planner.

Everything you need to evaluate, plan, and launch a synthetic ice rink - in one document.

  • Site requirements and Planning Checklist
  • Six financing paths, including grants and sponsorship
  • How to test, compare, and choose any provider

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Glice synthetic ice hockey rink
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Planning Guide

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Costs, layouts, revenue projections & everything you need to launch your synthetic ice rink.

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A Rink Your Team Can Run.

No refrigeration. No engineers. No complexity.

Running a skating rink should not require specialists. Glice is designed so your existing staff can install, operate, and maintain it with minimal effort.

Installs on any flat surface

Concrete, asphalt, sport flooring, event flooring. No permits required.

Ready in hours

Modular system assembled by your team, not contractors.

No ice plant, no resurfacing water

No refrigeration infrastructure. No water consumption.

Minimal maintenance

Simple daily cleaning with one machine. No technical staff required.

Staff trained in 45 minutes

Glice Rink Manager Certification included.

Stackable storage

Full rink packs flat in Glice FlatPacks™ for off-season.

Curious how easy it is to run? Ask our team → Get The Complete Rink Planner

Our Rink Systems

From backyard training setups to full-size professional arenas - every system is Swiss-engineered and built to last.

Not sure which solution fits? We'll help you choose → Get The Complete Rink Planner
Trees for the Future

Sustainability Built In

A Rink That Plants a Forest

170,000+

Trees Planted and Counting

Every panel we produce plants a tree. Through Skate for the Planet, Glice's reforestation program, 170,000+ trees have been contributed to date - currently with Trees for the Future, a UN World Restoration Flagship partner. A concrete ESG line item for your annual report.

As Seen In

The New York Times BBC Forbes Entrepreneur Bloomberg CNN FOX NEWS

From Idea to Rink. Fully Guided.

A clear, structured process from first concept to successful community launch.

1

Consultation

Define goals, evaluate your space, outline size and configuration.

2

Planning & Funding

Budget support, sponsorship guidance, council presentation.

3

Production

Manufactured to specification. 4–12 weeks.

4

Installation

Glice supervisor on-site with your local team.

5

Training & Launch

Staff Training & Certification. Ongoing support.

Let us help you plan your project → Get The Complete Rink Planner

Frequently Asked Questions

Independent testing by Fraunhofer - Europe's largest applied research institute - confirms a friction coefficient matching freshly resurfaced real ice at lower speeds - the conditions where most visitor and recreational skating happens.
No - regular ice skating blades work on Glice without modification. Glice's low-friction surface protects blades and reduces wear compared to other synthetic ice surfaces.
Most rinks are installed in hours, not days. Modular panels lock together on any flat surface - no anchoring, no construction, no permits typically required.
Yes - Glice performs at any temperature. Unlike refrigerated ice which degrades above 10°C/50°F, Glice delivers consistent performance in any climate.
No refrigeration energy or rink water is required for the skating surface itself. Daily cleaning with a specialist machine is the primary operational requirement. No refrigeration technicians needed.
Daily cleaning with a Glice cleaning machine during non-operational hours. Skate sharpening depending on usage. No technical staff or refrigeration expertise required.
Testing by the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials (IWM, May 2024) measured Glice at 52% lower friction, 45% less blade indentation, and 6% less abrasion than the next-best competitor synthetic ice surface.
Glice rinks are Swiss engineered and manufactured in the European Union to precise specifications.
The cost of synthetic ice depends on product quality, rink size, and configuration - but price and true cost are very different things. The largest cost of an inferior surface is revenue you never see: skaters who try it once, leave unimpressed, and don't return - amplified by the reviews and word of mouth that follow. One bad season can quietly reset baseline attendance for years.

The second cost is operational. Lower-grade panels demand far more frequent sharpening, driving up labor and consumables. Worse, inconsistent blade results feed the same dissatisfaction loop - skaters blame the ice, but the surface is chewing up their edges.

Then there's durability: faster wear, earlier replacement, shorter lifespan. By the time those costs land on the balance sheet, the revenue and reputation damage is already done. A lower upfront price almost always ends up being the more expensive decision.
Glice rinks install on any flat surface - concrete, asphalt, sport flooring, or event flooring - indoors or outdoors. Each rink is delivered on pallets of modular panels, making it simple to transport, assemble, and relocate. This flexibility supports seasonal activations, permanent installations, and everything in between.
Yes. Glice synthetic ice rinks are available for rent as complete turnkey packages — including the synthetic ice panels, dasher board perimeter, skates, skate racks, and cleaning machine — so your shopping centre rink is fully operational from day one — a proven footfall driver without a long-term asset commitment.

The standard rental fleet consists of previous-generation Glice panels, refurbished and quality-checked between seasons. Brand-new rinks built on our latest panel generation — independently benchmarked by the Fraunhofer Institute — are available on request.

Demand peaks between September and January for winter and holiday installations, and rinks are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Early booking is strongly recommended.

Book your rental rink →
Glice shopping center ice rinks can install in 1-2 days inside an atrium, hallway, or concourse, turning retail dwell time into a destination experience. Retail destinations including Mall of Scandinavia, Lotte Mall, Mall of Switzerland, QASR Mall, and Otay Ranch Town Center have used Glice synthetic ice as a seasonal or year-round attraction.
Get All Answers in The Rink Planner Still have questions? Talk to a rink expert →
Working with Glice was different from any supplier relationship we had. They guided us through every step and made a complex project feel completely manageable.
★★★★★
Senior Venue Manager, International Hospitality Group

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Key facts

  • 3,000+ installations in 100+ countries, including hotels, retail venues, and private projects
  • Fraunhofer IWM measured Glice friction matching freshly resurfaced real ice at lower speed
  • No refrigeration plant, water system, or specialist ice crew required for the skating surface
  • Panels manufactured in Germany under exclusivity; accessories manufactured in the EU

Last updated: June 2026