Wire Forming for the Food Industry

Commercial kitchens, cafeterias, and other food service and preparation facilities often turn to wire formed products for cooking and storage. Food safe materials like stainless steel and specialized nylon coatings and nickel plating make wire forming a versatile and cost-effective solution for many food and beverage applications. By applying mechanical force to wire material, it can be bent, shaped, flattened, or coiled into specific forms. These can be welded into assemblies, coated, or further finished to meet application needs.

Here we’ll look at some examples of wire formed items commonly used in food and beverage industry settings. We’ll also show how Rockford Specialties can manufacture these and more, drawing on our decades of experience with custom wire forming and laser cutting.

Food Grill Grates and Smoker Racks

Materials for grilling and smoking racks must be sturdy to support the weight of food, and made from stainless steel to withstand high temperatures, flames, and acidic marinades. Heavy gauge wire and secure welding are used to create a grid that resists warping or bending.

Why Custom Wire Forming Capabilities Matter

Custom wire formed grills and racks can be designed for your specific cooking applications, equipment, and processes. Slight variations are needed for baking, grilling, broiling, and smoking, as well as restaurant versus industrial plant settings. Look for a manufacturing partner, such as Rockford, with comprehensive wire forming capabilities to meet your product criteria, such as:

Wire Frying Baskets

Another wire forming application in the food and beverage industry is frying baskets. Wire baskets come in a range of shapes and sizes for preparing items from french fries to breaded chicken to deep-fried confections. Regardless of the food being prepared, fry baskets need to be robust enough to withstand high temperatures and immersion in hot oil, but also lightweight and open to allow the contents to cook evenly. The basket design must also be compatible with frying tanks and drainage racks, and include handles for safe and efficient handling.

Custom Baskets Tailored to the Ingredients and Cooking Process

Look for a wire forming specialist that can manufacture baskets in a range of sizes and wire materials and gauges to meet the needs of the process, ingredients, and production volume. The best suppliers will partner with customers to create products made to their specifications at competitive prices. Services like an in-house engineering and design team and the ability to accommodate short-term and long-term production runs save hassle and improve turnaround times.

Food Racks and Shelves

Racks and shelves are common in ovens and drying units in which food is cooked or dehydrated. Many foods intended for consumption by humans or by animals also require cooling, drying, or storage during production. Sturdy wire shelves and racks help keep products sanitary and allow for airflow to prevent spoilage. They can also be used in retail or wholesale stores to store or display food products.

Construction Details and Finishing Options

Attention to detail is often the difference between a product that is sufficient and one that stands up to continual use, especially when it comes to cooking and food preparation. Precision cuts, well-formed welds, and careful finishing all add up to racks and shelves that are strong and durable for daily commercial or industrial use. Rockford Specialties offers the fit and finish options that make cleaning easier and contribute to a long service life, including:

Wire Forming for Food and Beverage Applications from Rockford Specialties

Established in 1979, Rockford Specialties has been meeting the needs of many industries, including the food service industry, with high-quality custom wire-formed products. Our family-owned company has continued to invest in practices that result in on-time delivery, competitive pricing, quality assurance, and unsurpassed customer service.

Contact us today to learn more about Rockford Specialties and our custom wire-forming capabilities.