Metro SmartWall & SmartLever Wall Shelving
How Metro’s wall-mounted SmartWall and SmartWall Life systems and SmartLever cantilever workstations get storage off the floor — kits, finishes, load planning and installation — then design and price them in the Metro Wall & Cantilever Shelving BuildQuote.
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Why Put Shelving on the Wall
Floor-standing shelving needs aisle space and leaves a floor to clean under. In a small prep kitchen, dish room, pizza line or lab, that floor is often the scarcest thing you have. Wall shelving puts storage above a work table, sink or counter, keeps the floor clear for mopping and puts ingredients, tools and supplies within reach of the person working there.
Metro builds three ways to do it. SmartWall is a wall-mounted track system: a horizontal track is fixed to the wall, uprights hang from it and shelves fit at the height you choose. SmartWall Life uses the same idea with stainless components and a range of holders for gloves, bottles and utensils. SmartLever is an adjustable cantilever system for building workstations and shelving that stand on their own legs. For simple runs, Super Erecta wall-mount brackets hold a standard wire shelf directly on the wall.
We have planned Metro storage for kitchens, labs and workshops across the West from Salt Lake City since 1997. When you know the wall, the Metro Wall & Cantilever Shelving BuildQuote builds a valid kit with freight to your dock.
SmartWall: Track-Mounted Wall Shelving Kits
SmartWall is usually bought as a complete kit sized to the job: one or two shelves over a prep table, a pizza prep or boxing wall, or a double-wide sink kit. Kits include the wall track, uprights, shelf supports and shelves, so nothing has to be matched by hand. Shelves come in Metroseal gray epoxy wire or MetroMax 4 polymer, the same corrosion-resistant materials used on Metro floor shelving.
1-shelf food prep kitA single shelf above a prep table.
Pizza prep kitSized for the make line.
Pizza boxing wallHolds flat boxes above the boxing station.
Double-wide sink kitFour shelves over a sink on an 80 inch track.
Prep table with SmartWallTable, wall shelving and cart as one station.
Super Erecta wall bracketDirect wall mount for a single wire shelf.| Choice | Options | What it decides |
|---|---|---|
| Track length | Matched to the width of the table, sink or wall | How many shelf bays fit and where uprights go |
| Shelf count | 1, 2 or more tiers | Storage volume versus head clearance over the work surface |
| Shelf material | Metroseal gray epoxy wire or MetroMax 4 polymer | Corrosion resistance, airflow and cleaning |
| Shelf depth and length | Common 14 to 18 inch depths in standard lengths | Reach over the work surface and load per shelf |
| Accessories | Holders, ledges, hooks, dividers | Organisation at the point of use |
SmartWall Life: Stainless Components and Point-of-Use Holders
SmartWall Life combines MetroMax 4 polymer shelves with stainless steel components and adds a set of holders that clip onto the system. That makes it popular on cook lines, bars and dish rooms, where gloves, squeeze bottles and utensils need to be at hand and everything is cleaned several times a day. Kits range from a single prep shelf to a five-tier wall.
Because accessories hang from the same uprights as shelves, the layout can change as the menu changes. Move a glove box holder to a new station, add a ledge shelf for small containers, or swap a shelf for utensil holders without new holes in the wall.
Life pizza prep kitSingle shelf for the make line.
Utensil holdersStainless holders at the station.
Glove box holderKeeps gloves where hands are washed.
Squeeze bottle holderSauces and oils within reach.
Ledge shelfLight-duty shelf with side ledges.SmartLever: Adjustable Cantilever Workstations
SmartLever is different. Instead of hanging on the wall, it builds free-standing or against-the-wall workstations from uprights, cantilever arms, legs and work surfaces. Arms project forward from the uprights, so shelves and surfaces have no front posts in the way — useful for packing benches, assembly stations, labs and prep areas where people work along the front edge.
The usual way to buy is a base kit plus add-on kits: the base kit forms the first bay, and each add-on shares an upright to extend the run. Cross-brace kits stiffen longer runs, and hook kits attach grid brackets or accessories. Heights of arms and surfaces adjust, so a station can be set for standing or seated work.
Add-on kitExtends a run by one bay.
UprightsCarry arms and shelves.
ArmsCantilever support with no front posts.
Work surfaceSurface for packing or assembly.Design & price it online: Metro Wall & Cantilever Shelving BuildQuote
Pick SmartWall, SmartWall Life, SmartLever or Super Erecta wall mounts, enter the wall or run length, choose shelves and accessories, and the designer validates the kit, totals it and rates freight to your ZIP. Save and share the quote.
Design & Price It Online All Metro Designers Call (800) 326-4403
Installation and Load Planning
A wall system is only as strong as what it is fixed to. Plan the wall before the shelving:
- Locate studs or confirm masonry; fix the track with fasteners rated for the wall type
- Avoid hollow drywall anchors for loaded shelves; add blocking or a backer board if needed
- Keep the lowest shelf high enough to clear faucets, equipment and the cook’s head
- Leave clearance for hoods, sprinklers and outlets, and check local fire code
- Put heavy items on the lowest tier and keep the top tier for light, occasional items
- Use ledges or dividers where items could slide off over a work surface
- In seismic areas, ask about restraint and fastener requirements
Rated capacities depend on shelf size, the number of uprights and the wall fixing, so we confirm the current spec sheet for your layout with every quote. If the wall cannot carry the load, a SmartLever station or floor-standing shelving is the safer choice.
SmartWall vs SmartWall Life vs SmartLever vs Wall Brackets
| System | Mounting | Shelves | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| SmartWall | Wall track and uprights | Metroseal epoxy wire or MetroMax 4 | Prep tables, pizza lines, sinks |
| SmartWall Life | Wall track and uprights, stainless parts | MetroMax 4 polymer | Cook lines and bars needing holders |
| SmartLever | Uprights on legs, cantilever arms | Shelves and work surfaces | Packing, assembly and lab workstations |
| Super Erecta wall mounts | Brackets direct to the wall | Standard Super Erecta wire shelves | Simple single shelves and short runs |
Pick SmartWall for most kitchen walls, SmartWall Life where organisation and frequent cleaning matter, SmartLever where you need a workstation rather than a shelf, and simple Super Erecta brackets when one shelf is all the wall needs. For corrosion questions, our MetroMax vs Super Erecta comparison explains the shelf materials. For floor-standing wire, see wire shelving.
Typical Layouts
| Space | Layout | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pizza make line | SmartWall pizza prep kit over the make table, boxing wall by the oven | Keeps boxes and ingredients off the floor and in sequence |
| Dish room | Double-wide sink kit in MetroMax 4 | Polymer shelves for wet racks and chemicals |
| Cook line | SmartWall Life with glove, bottle and utensil holders | Moves with menu changes |
| Bar back | SmartWall Life two-shelf kit | Bottles and glassware above the bar sink |
| Packing bench | SmartLever base plus add-on kits | Open front for reaching and packing |
| Lab bench wall | SmartWall or SmartLever | Reagents and supplies at eye level, floor clear |
Measure the wall and the equipment below it, then work out how high each shelf needs to be for the person using it. The most common correction we make to wall-shelving quotes is shelf height: too low over a cook’s head, or too high for the shortest person on the shift.
Cleaning, Food Safety and Materials
Wall shelving sits right above food and work surfaces, so it has to be easy to clean and must not shed rust or flakes onto what is below. That is why SmartWall shelves come in Metroseal epoxy or MetroMax 4 polymer rather than chrome. Polymer shelves can be lifted off and washed in a sink or dish machine; epoxy shelves are wiped down with warm water and mild detergent. Stainless SmartWall Life components tolerate frequent sanitising and the chemicals used on cook lines.
| Area | Recommended shelf | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Over a sink or dish machine | MetroMax 4 polymer | Constant moisture and splashing |
| Over a prep table | Metroseal epoxy or MetroMax 4 | Daily wipe-down, airflow around containers |
| Cook line near heat | SmartWall Life with stainless parts | Frequent sanitising; keep clear of open flame and hoods |
| Dry store or office wall | Metroseal epoxy or Super Erecta brackets | Light cleaning, lowest cost |
Keep raw proteins and chemicals off shelves above ready-to-eat prep, and give every shelf a clear purpose so staff do not stack items where they could fall onto the work surface. Ledges and dividers help on shelves directly over prep areas.
What to Send Us for a Wall Shelving Quote
- Wall width and height, with the positions of outlets, faucets, hoods and windows
- Wall construction: stud, masonry, tile over block or panel
- What sits below: prep table, sink, counter or open floor, with its height
- What will be stored and roughly how heavy it is
- Preferred shelf material and the number of tiers
- Any accessories: glove boxes, bottle holders, utensil holders, ledges
- Photos of the wall if you have them
With those details we can check the kit against the wall and suggest the right track length, shelf heights and fasteners. If you prefer to work it out yourself, the BuildQuote asks the same questions and lets you compare a SmartWall kit with a SmartLever station or simple wall brackets before you order.
Shop Metro Wall Shelving Online
Buy select items directly from our online store, or request a quote for volume, custom sizes and freight-rated orders.
Need a bench rather than a wall shelf? See our Metro SmartLever & PrepMate workstations guide.
Metro SmartWall & SmartLever FAQ
What is Metro SmartWall?
What is the difference between SmartWall and SmartWall Life?
What is Metro SmartLever?
How much weight can SmartWall shelving hold?
Can I install SmartWall on drywall?
Can I change the layout later?
Which SmartWall shelf is best over a sink?
Can I price SmartWall and SmartLever online?
Plan Your Wall Shelving
Design it in the Metro Wall & Cantilever Shelving BuildQuote or send us the wall measurements for a layout review. Call (800) 326-4403 or request a quote online.