Metro Antimicrobial Shelving
Metro (InterMetro Industries) offers Microban antimicrobial product protection on MetroMax i polymer shelf mats and its Metroseal wire finish. Compare MetroMax i with Q and 4, Metroseal and mobile options.
Shop MetroMax i Antimicrobial Shelving
MetroMax i starter units, with shelf mats Metro states include built-in Microban, from our online store. Ask us about MetroMax Q, MetroMax 4 and Metroseal. Need a different size, casters or a full room? Request a quote below.
Browse all plastic shelving · Request a MetroMax quote →
MetroMax: Metro’s antimicrobial polymer shelving
Metro is the brand of InterMetro Industries, founded in 1929 and based in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and the creator of the original Super Erecta wire shelving. Its MetroMax family is polymer shelving designed for wet, cold and frequently cleaned areas, and Metro offers Microban antimicrobial product protection on MetroMax i shelf mats.
MH-USA represents Metro. We supply MetroMax for hospitals, kitchens, coolers and labs, with common units in our online store. For other manufacturers and materials, see the antimicrobial shelving hub.
Important: Antimicrobial product protection is built into specific shelf materials to inhibit the growth of odor- and stain-causing microbes on that product surface. It does not protect people, replace cleaning or disinfection, and is not a substitute for your facility’s infection-prevention protocols.
What Microban does on Metro shelving
For MetroMax i, Metro states that the shelf mats have built-in Microban antimicrobial product protection to keep the product cleaner between cleanings. Metro’s commercial catalog explains that Microban inhibits the growth of mold, mildew, fungus and bacteria that cause odors and stains on the shelf surface.
Microban is added during manufacturing, so it does not wash off the mat in normal use. It works alongside cleaning: wash the mats on schedule, using Metro’s guidance for approved methods.
Microban also lists Metro as a partner for antimicrobial shelving and carts. When you need the protection on a specific component, such as a solid mat versus an open-grid mat, or on a cart rather than shelving, we confirm it for the exact model numbers on your quote.
Metro’s other cleaning-friendly design choices matter as much: removable mats that fit most commercial dishwashers, rounded corners, and polymer and stainless parts that resist rust and corrosion. Together these make MetroMax easier to keep clean than bare steel in damp rooms.
Compare MetroMax i, MetroMax Q and MetroMax 4
| Series | Construction | Shelf mats | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MetroMax i | Polymer shelves with Type 304 stainless steel corners; polymer posts | Removable open-grid or solid mats with built-in Microban | Heavy-duty storage in kitchens, coolers, SPD, labs; Metro’s strongest plastic system |
| MetroMax Q | Open-grid plastic mats on epoxy-coated wire frames | Removable open-grid mats | High-capacity general storage, can racks and utility carts at a lower cost |
| MetroMax 4 | All-polymer shelving system | Removable mats | Kitchens, coolers and wall systems such as SmartWall Life |
Metro states MetroMax i is NSF Listed for all environments and backed by a lifetime warranty against rust and corrosion and Metro’s Never Collapse guarantee. MetroMax Q is also NSF Listed for all environments per Metro. Listings are model-specific, so we confirm each item on your order in writing.
For a deeper comparison including Super Erecta wire, read our MetroMax i vs Q vs 4 vs Super Erecta guide.
MetroMax configurations
Sterile processing mobile units
Metro offers MetroMax i 9-shelf and 5-shelf sterile processing mobile units, the latter with roll-under storage. They move clean packs between processing and storage and fit exchange-cart workflows.
Drying racks
MetroMax i and MetroMax 4 mobile drying racks combine tray racks, pan racks, drop-ins and bulk shelves. Washed ware drains on polymer, not on rust-prone wire.
Wall-mounted SmartWall Life
SmartWall Life kits use MetroMax 4 shelves with stainless steel components for prep areas where floor space must stay clear for cleaning.
Utility carts and par level carts
MetroMax i and Q utility carts and MetroMax i par level carts carry the same polymer shelves into mobile work, from supply restocking to food transport.
Where Metro antimicrobial shelving is used
- Walk-in coolers and freezers: polymer will not rust in condensation. See walk-in cooler shelving.
- Commercial kitchens and dish rooms: drying racks and dishwasher-safe mats.
- Sterile processing and central supply: mobile MetroMax i units and par level carts.
- Pharmacy: clean, organized storage, see pharmacy shelving.
- Laboratories: polymer surfaces that tolerate frequent wiping.
- Food and beverage production: washdown-area storage and can racks.
The full Metro range is on our Metro page.
Metroseal wire shelving with Microban
Not every Metro antimicrobial option is polymer. Metro explains that its Metroseal finish for Super Erecta wire shelving has two layers: a zinc chromate plated layer and an epoxy top layer. Metro states the epoxy layer includes Microban, which helps fight the growth of stain- and odor-causing bacteria on the shelf.
Metroseal is offered in green and gray. It suits dry and damp storage where you want the open wire design and lower cost of Super Erecta rather than polymer.
MetroMax or Metroseal?
Choose MetroMax where shelves are washed often, sit in condensation or need mats that come out for the dishwasher; polymer will not rust if scratched. Choose Metroseal wire when airflow, visibility and budget matter most and the coating can be kept intact. In both cases the antimicrobial protection is for the product surface and works with, not instead of, regular cleaning.
Our Metro wire shelving finishes guide compares chrome, Metroseal epoxy and stainless steel in more detail.
Open-grid vs solid MetroMax mats
MetroMax shelves use removable mats. Open-grid mats let air move and water drain, which suits coolers, drying and anything stored damp. Solid mats contain spills and keep dust and floor splash off items on the bottom shelf.
Many rooms use both: solid mats on the bottom shelf and open-grid above. Either way, the mats lift out for washing, so cleaning does not mean emptying and dismantling the unit.
Keep a few spare mats so units stay in service while others are washed. Order spares in the same series and size as the unit; MetroMax i, Q and 4 parts are not all interchangeable.
Cleaning, care and lifecycle of MetroMax
Cleaning routine
Wash removable mats on a set schedule; Metro designs them to fit most commercial dishwashers. Wipe frames and posts with cleaners approved for polymer and stainless parts, and dry the unit before restocking. Leave space under the bottom shelf and behind units for floor and wall cleaning.
Durability in wet rooms
Polymer does not rust, which is why MetroMax is often chosen over epoxy wire for walk-in coolers and dish rooms. Metro backs MetroMax i with a lifetime warranty against rust and corrosion. Epoxy-coated wire can work in coolers too, but a chipped coating exposes steel.
Total cost
MetroMax costs more than chrome or epoxy wire up front. In wet areas the longer service life often makes up the difference. We can quote MetroMax against wire options for the same room so you can compare.
Microban protection supports, but never replaces, your cleaning schedule. It helps the mats resist stains and odors caused by microbes on the mat surface between cleanings.
How to specify Metro antimicrobial shelving
Pick the series
MetroMax i for the heaviest use, Q for value and capacity, 4 for all-polymer and wall systems.
Choose mat type
Open-grid for airflow and drying; solid to contain spills and protect bottom-shelf items.
Size the unit
Depth, length and height; add-on units share posts to extend a run.
Stationary or mobile
Add stem casters for mobile units; consider cart-washable casters in wash areas.
Confirm protection and listings
We verify Microban and NSF details for each model number on your quote.
Common units ship from our online store. For full rooms, send dimensions and photos; we lay out MetroMax runs, mobile units and wall systems, then quote freight and installation. MH-USA has served the West since 1997 and ships nationwide.
MetroMax vs. other antimicrobial options
Choose MetroMax when you want polymer that will not rust and mats that can go through a dishwasher. Choose an aluminum system like Pegasus Hygieia for ISO-tray sterile storage, or epoxy wire when budget matters most in dry areas.
Request a Metro antimicrobial shelving quote
Tell us the room, temperature, cleaning method and what you store. Include your ZIP code.
Metro antimicrobial shelving FAQs
Does Metro make antimicrobial shelving?
What does Microban do on Metro shelving?
What is the difference between MetroMax i, Q and 4?
Is MetroMax NSF listed?
Can MetroMax mats go in a dishwasher?
Can I buy Metro antimicrobial shelving online?
Is Metro antimicrobial shelving good for walk-in coolers?
Plan your MetroMax shelving
Send your room, environment and storage list. We will match the right MetroMax series.