The Definitive Guide to Stainless Steel Kitchen Units for Commercial Use Commercial kitchens serve hundreds of meals each day and have tens of staffers working in them at any given time. Consequently, they need to be built to handle the wear and tear. Vinyl, wood, and other traditional kitchen furnishing materials are rendered useless and stainless steel kitchen units for commercial use are the best solution. Domestic Kitchens Versus Stainless Steels Kitchen Units for Commercial Use Commercial units are sturdy kitchen units constructed for commercial use in offices, factories, old age homes, crèches, and other commercial spaces where traffic is more than at homes. However, commercial kitchen units are distinct from catering kitchen units’ which serve thousands of people in hostels, dormitories, college cafeterias etc. Commercial kitchen units are made from food grade stainless steel. The steel is welded as opposed to being riveted or crimped to improve the structure’s strength. Handles, hinges and other hardware are fitted using threaded screws instead of self-tapping screws used in domestic kitchen units to ensure sturdiness. Drawers are installed using heavy-duty ball bearing pulls to handle bulky loads. Commercial kitchen unit are designed to be practical, not decorative like home kitchen units. Lastly, commercial units are treated with an extra coating of polymer powder and corrosion-preventing materials. What Does a Commercial Stainless Steel Kitchen Unit Include? A word that is thrown around a lot in kitchen furnishing jargon is “fabrication”. When you buy or order a commercial stainless steel kitchen unit, it will include only fabrication: storage spaces and work areas, not appliances and equipment. Here is a list of units that are usually included in commercial stainless steel fabrication: Stainless Steel Worktops and Tables: These can be made in any size and to accommodate any fittings like integral upstands, workstations, and sinks. These are usually made in 40mm thick 304 grade steel. Freestanding tables and kitchen islands also fall under this category. Stainless Steel Storage Units: Racks, cupboards, shelves, gantries, and drawers constitute the majority of storage space in commercial kitchen units. Pullouts and sliding doors are, in a variety of configurations are available. Trolleys and other mobile storage options are also provided as a part of commercial kitchen fabrication. All of them are made in grade 304 stainless steel. Stainless Steel Sinks and Splashbacks: Sinks can either be fixed in the wall units or housed on tables. Single or multiple drainer sinks (600-800 mm deep) are usually mounted on flat tables that can have either right-handed or left-handed configuration, depending on convenience. Stainless steel is also a popular material for splashbacks used behind sinks or cooking areas to protect the wall from washing or cooking splashes. 10 mm thick steel, mounted on a moisture resistant polymer core is used in commercial splashbacks. Stainless Steel Extractor Heads: Available in countless styles and also called cooker heads these collect the smoke from a cooking process and keep it away from the kitchen. The steel used here is again 304 grade stainless but it is thinner, along the lines of 1-2 mm sheet metal.
Modular and Customizable Stainless steel kitchen units for commercial use are usually modular. This means that the unit is not constructed as one bulky structure. Instead, it is composed of many smaller structures that fit together to make the bigger structure. Modularity ensures easier installation: you just wheel in individual units and then screw them all together. Modular structures are also easier to maintain and repair. If, say, a cupboard wall collapses, you can replace that wall alone; you don’t have to rebuild the whole unit. These can be made according to your needs, considering size specifications, space and ventilation constraints, and intended purpose of the unit etc. Many customers choose to add electrical and gas appliances like fryers, ovens, ranges, griddles, pasta machines, panini makers, refrigeration systems and toasters to their unit. Some manufacturers may include also include flooring pertinent to your unit. Stainless steel is the best commercially and economically feasible material for commercial kitchen units. Stainless steel kitchen units for commercial use can be expensive, with prices running into thousands of dollars. These include everything that a commercial kitchen will need: storage, cooking, and cleaning facilities. The rule of thumb while shopping for them is to look at as many options as possible, compare alternative, get quotes from multiple vendors, and finally negotiate.