# Sheet Metal Fabrication for Food & Beverage

https://kdisplay.com/industries/food-and-beverage

K-Display, a Chicago sheet metal fabricator, makes stainless and powder coated steel housings, hoppers, chutes, frames, control enclosures, and vending cabinets to food equipment makers' drawings. Parts are welded and powder coated, then delivered with hardware installed and graphics applied.

## Overview
In sheet metal fabrication for food and beverage equipment, the metal divides into product-contact surfaces and everything else. We make housings, skins, guards, frames, control enclosures, and vending cabinets in powder coated steel or mill-finish stainless steel, and hoppers and chutes in stainless steel. The 3-A general requirements set at least a 1/4 in radius on internal angles of less than 135 degrees on product-contact surfaces, formed angles included, so a formed hopper or chute corner takes a bend radius and not a sharp fold. We install hinges, latches, and leveling feet, and apply g…

## Process
- Cut, form, and weld the stainless and carbon steel: We laser cut and form housings, skins, frames, hoppers, chutes, and enclosures in stainless steel and carbon steel, then MIG and TIG weld the frames, hoppers, and chutes and blend or grind the welds you specify.
- Fit hardware, mask, and coat the steel: We install the hardware, then mask its threads and mating faces before we powder coat the steel parts, so the finish stays off the threads.
- Apply graphics and assemble: We apply graphics, assemble housings and cabinets with their doors hung, and label each part.

## Typical parts
- Equipment housings and skins: Outer panels, wraps, and door skins for cooking, prep, and refrigeration equipment, in stainless steel or powder coated steel, with cutouts for controls and handles.
- Hoppers, chutes, and guards: Formed stainless hoppers, transitions, and covers where product moves, and machine guards for the processing and packaging lines around them.
- Equipment frames and stands: Welded stainless or powder coated steel frames, legs, and stands with sealed tube ends and leveling-foot interfaces.
- Control and junction enclosures: Stainless or powder coated enclosures for line controls, with knockouts, gasket lands, and sloped tops.
- Vending cabinets: Cabinet bodies, doors, device panels, and internal mounts for vending machines, with cutouts for the payment and dispensing modules.
- Dispensing and service panels: Bezels, drip-tray surrounds, access panels, and mounting plates around dispensers, valves, and service points.
- Mixer and blender housings: Formed housings and covers for mixers and blenders, with the hinged lids and access doors the operator opens.

## Requirements
- Sanitary standard: NSF/ANSI 2 or 3-A named for the machine, with the product-contact surfaces marked on each drawing.
- Stainless grade and finish: Stainless grade and sheet finish, 2B mill for unpolished surfaces or No. 4 for ground ones.
- Contact-surface welds: Weld type on product-contact surfaces, with the welds to blend or grind flush marked on the drawing.
- Hardware and gasket interfaces: Hinge, latch, gasket, and leveling-foot part numbers, so hole preparation and gasket lands match.
- Steel finish: Powder coat color and texture for the steel parts, matched across housings and cabinets.
- Graphics and labels: Artwork and placement for decals, labels, and silk-screened marks on housings and cabinets.

## Related pages
- [MIG & TIG Welding](https://kdisplay.com/capabilities/welding/mig-tig-welding)
- [Powder Coating](https://kdisplay.com/capabilities/finishing/powder-coating)
- [Part Marking & Product Graphics](https://kdisplay.com/capabilities/finishing/part-marking-product-graphics)
- [Custom Machine Housings & Covers](https://kdisplay.com/products/panels-covers/machine-housings-covers)
- [Custom Hoppers, Chutes & Troughs](https://kdisplay.com/products/panels-covers/hoppers-chutes-troughs)
- [Custom Welded Frames & Weldments](https://kdisplay.com/products/frames-weldments/equipment-frames-weldments)
- [Custom Control Panel Enclosures](https://kdisplay.com/products/electrical-enclosures/control-panel-enclosures)
- [Custom Vending Enclosures](https://kdisplay.com/products/retail-displays/vending-enclosures)
- [Custom Front Panels & Bezels](https://kdisplay.com/products/panels-covers/front-panels-bezels)