Custom stainless fabrication
Made to fit your kitchen, workflow and service style. Coastal Metal manufactures and supplies custom stainless steel items in Cape Town for food service sites that need practical, hard-wearing equipment built around the space available.
Built for kitchens that do not suit off-the-shelf equipment
Commercial kitchens rarely have perfect wall lengths, level floors or spare room around cooking lines. A custom stainless steel build helps you use awkward corners, narrow passages and service areas properly while keeping surfaces easier to clean and maintain. We manufacture and supply stainless steel fabrication for restaurants, hotels, canteens, takeaways and food service kitchens from Cape Town, with freight available to the rest of South Africa.
This section covers the main fabrication work we handle, including custom benches and cupboards, extraction hoods and canopies, and made-to-order stainless items for prep, wash-up and pass areas. If your site is near the coast, stainless remains a practical choice because it handles damp air better than painted steel, though regular cleaning still matters. In busy kitchens where staff move fast and power cuts interrupt service, layouts also need to be sensible and easy to work around.
What we can fabricate for your kitchen
Our fabrication work is centred on everyday kitchen use rather than show pieces. That means practical stainless items that fit the room, support the equipment you already use and leave enough access for cleaning, service and maintenance. We can build around existing walls, columns, drains and service points where needed.
- Prep benches for general food preparation and plating
- Wall benches and centre benches for line kitchens and bakery areas
- Base cupboards, wall cupboards and undershelf storage
- Splashbacks, upstands and protective cladding behind wet or hot work zones
- Sink units, pot wash stations and drain areas linked to your workflow
- Extraction hoods and canopies for cooking lines and heat-producing equipment
- Stainless frames, stands and support tables for specialist kitchen equipment
If you need something outside a standard category, send the rough size, intended use and site details through the enquiry form. A simple hand sketch or kitchen plan often helps more than a long explanation.
Choosing between benches, cupboards and open shelving
The right choice depends on how the area is used, how often it is washed down and whether stock needs to stay enclosed. Open items are quicker to access, while enclosed storage keeps supplies cleaner in dusty or greasy areas. The best option is usually decided by cleaning routine, kitchen traffic and what gets stored there.
- Open benches: best for fast prep areas, plating sections and spaces where staff need quick access below the worktop.
- Benches with undershelves: useful when you need extra storage without fully closing the base.
- Base cupboards: better for dry goods, smallwares and items that should stay protected from splashes.
- Wall cupboards: good where floor area is tight and vertical storage makes more sense.
- Open shelving: suitable for frequently used containers and lightweight items, but it needs regular wiping in cooking zones.
Where hygiene rules are strict or grease is an issue, enclosed cupboards can make day-to-day housekeeping easier. Where speed matters most, open layouts often work better, but they can look untidy if the section is not managed properly.
Extraction hoods and canopies for cooking areas
Heat, smoke and grease build-up can quickly affect working conditions in a commercial kitchen. A properly planned stainless extraction hood or canopy helps manage vapour over cooking equipment and supports a cleaner service area. The exact setup depends on the cooking line, the room shape and the requirements for ducting, ventilation and cleaning access.
Different kitchens need different canopy arrangements. A compact takeaway line may only need a focused hood above a small cooking bank, while a larger hotel or canteen kitchen may need a longer canopy covering several workstations. Qualified installers must handle the installation, and municipal and compliance requirements apply.
- Wall-mounted canopies for cooking lines set against a wall
- Island-style canopies where equipment sits away from the wall
- Made-to-fit extraction hoods for irregular layouts or restricted ceiling space
Information that helps us quote accurately
Custom work goes smoother when the basic site details are clear from the start. You do not need a formal drawing, but accurate measurements and a few site notes help avoid delays and back-and-forth. If the job includes existing equipment, mention what is staying in place and what still needs to be sourced.
- Overall length, width and height in millimetres
- Wall positions, door swings and any columns or bulkheads
- Whether the item is for prep, storage, washing or extraction
- Sink positions, tap holes or waste locations if relevant
- Nearby services such as water, drainage, gas or power points
- Site access details such as stairs, narrow doors or lift limits
For extraction work, include the cooking equipment involved and any known building restrictions. For benches and cupboards, a quick note on what will be stored there is often enough to guide the layout, and it saves a bit of time later.
Planning for fit, cleaning and daily use
A fabrication item should do more than fill a gap. It must leave enough room for staff movement, suit the pace of service and stand up to regular cleaning. In Cape Town kitchens, especially close to the sea, moisture and salt in the air can put extra pressure on exposed surfaces, so routine care is important even with stainless steel.
Think about trolley paths, sink splashes, cooker heat and where staff queue during busy periods. Avoid overbuilding an area with storage if it blocks circulation. In wash-up zones, drainage and splash control matter a lot. In prep areas, cleanable joints and sensible shelf heights make a real difference over time. If you are comparing options in this section, start with the function first, then available space, then cleaning needs. Ask for a quote through the contact page and include your measurements so we can advise on the most suitable fabrication route.
What our Catering Equipment customers say
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Questions we get asked
Can you make stainless items to fit an existing kitchen?
Yes. We fabricate made-to-fit stainless steel items for commercial kitchens, including benches, cupboards and extraction canopies, based on your site measurements and layout.
Do you install extraction hoods and canopies?
We can supply fabrication for extraction applications, but installation must be handled by a qualified installer and the municipal and compliance requirements apply.
How do I request a quote for custom fabrication?
Use the enquiry form on our contact page and send the item type, sizes, site location and any sketches or photos you have. Ask for a quote.
Ask for a quote
Send a note through our contact form with the equipment you are looking at, the kind of kitchen it is for and your delivery town, and our sales team will reply with a quote.
Open the contact form