Stainless Steel Work Table or Equipment Stand?

What Do You Need?

When setting up and equipping your workspace (commercial or home), there are several factors you need to consider when it comes to work/prep tables versus equipment stands.

One of the first, and most obvious, factors is the overall size of the area. Will the work table or stand fit in your space? Height is also important since equipment stands aren’t as tall as prep tables.

You also want to make sure whatever you buy will fit your needs. Is it for your home or commercial space? Will you be leaving it in one area, or does it need casters for mobility? Will you be using it for smashing, chopping, tenderizing, or other manual labor? Or for storing equipment on?

You might also be looking for something to use, and possibly leave, outdoors - if that’s the case then stainless steel is best since it can withstand the elements. These types of tables are also easy to clean if used outdoors since you can just spray them off with a hose. 

This type of construction is also good for several indoor uses, including:

- Your kitchen, garage, laundry, or utility room

- Home workshop/workspace

- Restaurants, hotel kitchens and bars

- Hospital kitchens and laundry rooms

- Catering halls

- School cafeteria kitchens and more

Whichever one you purchase also needs to be safe, commercial grade and reliable. If you’re debating whether to get a stainless steel work table or equipment stand, here are some questions to consider, a look at the functionality of each and what they’re best suited for.

Consider Your Workflow

When designing your workspace, you also need to think about the flow of the room and how easy it is to move in and get around.

You don’t want tables and stands, or the equipment on them, impeding your movement, blocking shelves, storage containers, etc.

A prep/work table is great for extending a countertop or functioning as a standalone workstation. If you do use it to extend a countertop just make sure it doesn’t jut into or block any entranceways or areas that get a lot of foot traffic.

By mixing work tables and stands in the same area, and taking advantage of their different sizes, you can create a workspace that’s functional, stores everything you need, is easy to get around, and convenient to work with.

Different Weight Capacities

What’s the weight of the equipment or item you need a table or stand for?

While both options are heavy-duty, equipment stands typically are built to handle heavier items, usually in the 700- to 900-pound range. This makes them ideal to serve as a grill table in a restaurant or hotel kitchen or for heavy items at home you need a stand for.

They’re also perfect for:

- Convection ovens

- Char broilers and griddles

- Beverage dispensers and mixers

- Ice cream machines

- Deli meat slicers and more 

You could also use one to store items on in your garage, laundry room, home work space, etc.

Most worktables have a weight capacity of 300 to 400 pounds, making them ideal to serve as prep tables, kitchen islands (mobile with the addition of casters) and for use as long-term storage of various items.

They’re perfect for countertop equipment that includes:

- Toasters

- Microwaves

- Slow cookers and air fryers

- Food warmers

- Dispensers and more

They’re sturdy and well suited for chopping and smashing garlic, grinding seeds, kneading dough and TONS of other tasks. You could also use one of these tables in your laundry room, garage, workshop, or pool/grill area.

Height Matters

Another thing to consider is the differences in height, since equipment stands are not as tall as work/prep tables.

Most equipment stands are 24” high. This is done on purpose to allow for the additional height of whatever piece of equipment is on it. If you’re using one for a buffalo chopper or other food processor that’s around 16” high you’ll be working at a level of 40”, which allows you to work comfortably next to the stand.

Many prep tables are 34” tall, the same height found on many residential kitchen counters. This is an ideal height to work at, while also giving you plenty of room for any equipment placed on top of the table.

Safe Yet Sleek

We constantly hear about safety first for a reason. In any commercial or home setting your workspace needs to be safe.

Gridmann’s tables look great with their sleek design and are crafted out of 18-gauge #430 stainless steel. They’re durable, commercial grade, and have several safety features to help reduce the chances of accidents and injuries. These safety features include:

- Rounded front and back edges that provide easy access to the table and help prevent clothing snags, bumping up against a sharp edge, etc.

- NSF certified to meet strict standards for public health protection

- Adjustable feet that eliminate table wobble on uneven floors

- Optional caster wheels with locking brakes

- Heavy-duty, highly durable tops

Other features and options include:

- An adjustable height, galvanized undershelf

- Galvanized legs

- Nor-marring feet to protect floors from getting scratched or scuffed

- A backsplash to help protect walls and prevent items from falling off the back of the table

- Double over shelf and folding tables

An Equipment Stand Built to Last

Gridmann’s equipment stands are also sleek, commercial grade, and feature a 16-gauge, #430 stainless steel top shelf. They’re safe, strong enough for heavy equipment and durable enough for any daily tasks you put them through. They’re perfect for filling spaces between equipment or performing as a standalone workstation for your heavy tools and equipment.

Features include:

- Raised safety edges that help to prevent heavy equipment and appliances from sliding or falling off

- NSF certified

- An adjustable, heavy-duty galvanized undershelf perfect for pots, pans, additional equipment and supplies

- Backsplash

- Adjustable, non-marring feet for sturdiness and to protect floors. Adjusts up to 1” to prevent wobbling.

Designing your workspace isn’t difficult. Keep in mind a few factors, including the size of the area, the height and weight of the equipment, workflow, and accessibility, and choosing the right worktable or equipment stand becomes a much easier task.