Knocked-down Equipment

If you're ordering commercial kitchen equipment for the first time, you may be surprised to find it often arrives in pieces. Many items, such as commercial ranges and ovens, arrive at your business requiring a little more work than just being plugged in and hooked up. Read on to learn what to expect when your new commercial kitchen equipment arrives.

Knocked-down Shipping

While it may seem inconvenient for equipment to ship in pieces because it creates more work for you once it arrives, it actually has several benefits. Depending on the unit you order, having equipment shipped assembled might be entirely unreasonable; having legs attached to a commercial oven would make for exorbitantly expensive shipping and increase the chances of the unit sustaining damage during shipping due to its unwieldy size.

In addition to avoiding shipping trouble, receiving your commercial kitchen equipment knocked down means the unit should be able to fit through most standard-width doors upon arrival. Ranges with convection ovens in their bases ship with the motor assemblies strapped down in their oven cavities. Also packed into the cavities are the oven racks, which are zip-tied in place, and boxes containing the units' legs or casters, regulator, and any additional fittings. Because lifting the motor assembly into place adds more depth to the unit, it's important to bring the equipment into the room where the unit will be located before installing it.

Upon Delivery

The first thing you should do when any equipment is delivered is carefully unpack and inspect it for any damage it may have incurred during shipping. If you find any, report it to the carrier as soon as possible, if possible before the driver leaves. When unpacking an oven or range, place it in an area with room to work, ideally near where it'll be installed. To prevent accidental damage, do not lift the unit by its doors or handles.

After unpacking your unit, be sure to carefully follow the manufacturer's assembly and installation instructions. Straying from these could result in the warranty being voided.