Metro Shelving Walk-in Cooler Solutions


Walk-in coolers can help ease your cold storage headaches, but the cooler on its own isn't enough. You need the right shelving to make the best use of your cooler's space and store your products in a safe, sanitary environment. Not all shelves can be put into a walk-in refrigerator or freezer; they must be able to withstand high humidity and cold temperatures, as well as the weight, scrapes, and general abuse shelving takes in that environment. Metro offers a wide range of NSF-certified metal and polymer shelving so you can find the right blend of affordability and features to build the storage solution your walk-in cooler requires.

Metal Shelving

Super Erecta Metroseal 3

Super Erecta® shelving's open-wire design allows optimal air circulation and minimizes how much dust and debris can settle on the shelves. Metroseal 3™ epoxy is the recommended finish for shelves to be used in a cooler. This finish makes use of a Microban® antimicrobial compound to help inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold, mildew, and fungus. This coating is available in a variety of colors, making it easy to designate shelves for specific applications, like holding canned goods or produce. Like most wire shelving systems, Super Erecta shelf kits can present some challenges, particularly for those who have never worked with split sleeves and grooved posts. The shelves can be adjusted in 1-inch intervals, so you can customize your shelves to meet your needs. However, if you need regular flexibility you may be better served by shelves from the MetroMax lines, which are designed to offer easier assembly and adjustment. Metro Super Erecta units also have adjustable bolt feet that enable you to achieve level installation, even on uneven floors. Super Erecta Metroseal 3 is the most economical walk-in cooler shelving option from Metro.

Shelf Capacities:

  • 18 to 48 inches: 800 pounds per shelf
  • 54 inches or longer: 600 pounds per shelf

Stainless Steel Shelving

Stainless steel is the standard in foodservice for a reason: It is durable and corrosion-resistant. The same properties that make it the ideal material for building large equipment make it perfect for walk-in cooler shelving. Stainless steel shelves are available in solid and louvered/embossed designs. Louvered shelves, with their regular intervals of open vents, are usually preferred for refrigeration because they allow air circulation around stored items, which helps ensure consistent cooling. These shelves are made of 18-gauge Type 304 stainless steel for durability, with epoxy-coated corners that cover potentially sharp edges. The shelves can be adjusted in 1-inch increments and the posts have adjustable feet that allow for easy leveling. Shelf ledges are available to keep products safely on the shelves, and shelf dividers can help with organization. Undershelf slides can also be attached to allow food pans to hang underneath the shelf.

Shelf Capacities:

  • Shelf length up to 48 inches: 800 pounds
  • 60-inch shelf: 600 pounds

Polymer Shelving

MetroMax 4

MetroMax 4™ is an all-polymer shelving system that is completely rust-proof, which is reflected in the company's lifetime corrosion warranty on the line. These shelves have polymer shelf mats that can be open-grid or solid, all of which formed with plastic infused with Microban antimicrobial protection that reduces microbe growth on the surfaces of the shelves. When cleaning is necessary, the mats can be easily removed and put through the warewasher. High-density tracks provide more options for how to make the best use of your space with Metro shelving. While these shelves have lower storage capacities than the MetroMax i® series and there are fewer shelf size options, they are also priced lower than that step-up line, so they can be a good choice for restaurateurs who want the advantages of polymer shelving without breaking the bank.

Shelf Capacities:

  • Shelf length up to 48 inches: 600 pounds
  • Shelves 54 inches and longer: 500 pounds

MetroMax i

MetroMax i durable plastic shelving has strong stainless steel corners and uses shelf mats that can be easily removed for cleaning in a warewasher. This line also has a lifetime warranty against rust and corrosion, while the growth of mold and mildew are inhibited by the integral Microban antimicrobial protection. These shelves are available in solid and open grid, with open grid usually preferred in coolers because it allows for air circulation and complete cooling. The shelf mats provide smooth surfaces that help protect stored items from being nicked, torn, or otherwise damaged. Shelves can be adjusted in 1-inch increments, and shelving units can be attached to high-density top or floor tracks to help you get the best use out of your space. This type of shelving has the greatest stability and highest weight capacity of the shelves Metro offers.

Shelf Capacities:

  • Standard shelf, up to 48 inches: 800 pounds
  • Standard shelf, 54 inches or longer: 600 pounds
  • Dunnage shelf, up to 48 inches: 1,200 pounds
  • Dunnage shelf, 54 inches or longer: 900 pounds

Hybrid Shelving

Super Erecta Pro

The Super Erecta Pro line takes the best of the metal and polymer shelving and combines it into one sturdy unit. The "skeleton" of the shelves of this line are made of the same enamel-coated steel as the Metroseal 3 line mentioned above, making these units durable and helping bring the price of the shelving down. The shelves have enameled metal supports, but stored products sit on polymer mats that lie on top of the metal. These mats are easy to remove for cleaning and feature Microban antimicrobial compound to inhibit bacterial growth. Because the mats are smooth, they do not tear or otherwise damage product containers.

Shelf Capacities:

  • Shelves up to 48 inches long: 800 pounds
  • Shelves 54 inches or longer: 600 pounds

MetroMax Q

MetroMax Q shelving is similar to Super Erecta Pro in that it also uses wire shelf frames with polymer open grid mats, but how the shelving unit works is quite different. You have options on which posts to use between epoxy-coated steel and polymer. The epoxy-coated steel has a 15-year warranty against rust and corrosion, while the polymer posts have lifetime rust and corrosion warranties. One of the biggest differences between this shelving line and Super Erecta Pro is that Metromax Q uses a patented corner release that makes adjusting the heights of the shelves quick and easy. The shelf mats can be removed easily for cleaning, and have Microban antimicrobial compound built into them to help prevent bacterial growth between cleanings. Because of their more robust build, these shelves can be used in overhead track or floor-mounted track configurations to help conserve space.

Shelf Capacities:

  • Standard shelf up to 48 inches: 800 pounds
  • Standard shelf 54 inches and longer: 600 pounds
  • Dunnage shelf up to 48 inches: 1,200 pounds
  • Dunnage shelf 54 inches and longer: 900 pounds