Cabinet stainless benches combine a 304-grade stainless prep top with enclosed under-storage — sliding doors, hinged doors or drawer fronts. They are the storage-and-prep dual-use bench used along walls, in dishwash zones and at service pass. Hospitality Connect stocks cabinet benches from Modular, 3Monkeez, Brayco and Mixrite — in sliding-door, hinged-door and drawer formats from 1200mm to 2400mm length.
Types and configurations
- Sliding-door cabinet benches: Two- or three-door slides — saves swing room in tight galleys; common in fish and butcher prep.
- Hinged-door cabinet benches: Lockable hinged doors for chemical storage or controlled-access stock.
- Drawer-front benches (4-drawer): Equal-height drawer fronts for utensil and small-tool storage near the line.
- Combo bench (drawer + cupboard): Top drawer with cupboard below — flexible storage for prep stations.
- Splashback variants: 100–150mm rear upstand or full-height splash for wet zones.
Sizing and material
Standard depth runs 600mm or 700mm; 700mm gives enough landing room for GN 1/1 work. Length scales 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100 and 2400mm. Top gauge in commercial cabinet benches is 1.0–1.2mm 304-grade stainless; door gauge is typically 0.7–0.9mm. Confirm shelf load — most cabinet benches rate 60–100kg per internal shelf; reinforced models step higher. Sliding doors save up to 600mm of swing space vs hinged in narrow service corridors.
Installation and use cases
- Floor levelling: Adjustable feet or castors; doors won't seat properly on uneven slabs.
- Door alignment: Sliding doors need correctly aligned tracks — check before sign-off.
- Underbench heat: Cabinet benches under heated equipment trap heat; vent the back panel where possible.
- HACCP separation: Use locked cabinets for chemicals; never store with food prep tools.
- Adjacent equipment: Confirm bench height matches adjacent prep fridges and ovens — 900mm working height is the AU standard.
Sliding-door vs hinged-door is a workflow decision. Sliding doors save 600mm of swing space per door — useful in narrow service corridors and tight prep zones. Hinged doors give full-width access for loading wider items (sheet pans, large trays). Drawer fronts work best where staff need granular access at the line — utensils, small tools, frequently used inserts. For HACCP-controlled storage (chemicals, allergens), specify lockable hinged doors with a key system; sliding doors are difficult to lock reliably. Confirm the bench foot levellers handle slab unevenness — doors won't seat properly on a sloping floor.
Pair with
Round out a prep zone with stainless steel work bench, stainless single sink bench and commercial shelving overhead.