Metal Cabinets
Metal cabinets are pieces of industrial furniture used for storage purposes. These cabinets can be built-in units or freestanding. Built-in units are usually custom designed and can be attached to a wall or ceiling, whereas freestanding cabinets can be moved from one location to another when the need arises.
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Metal cabinets are built using pieces of sheet metal, which involves a fabrication process to produce thin broad sheets of metal. Heat treatment is usually the first step during which the metal can be treated to improve strength and ductility. The processes of heating, reheating and cooling (through annealing or quenching methods) help make the metal into the size and shape desired. The fabrication processes producing sheet metal include stretching, bending, drawing, cutting and punching. To stretch the metal, the edges are clamped and the metal is pulled into the shape that is needed. Bending involves bending the metal over a straight axis. Drawing along with deep drawing are stamping procedures that make flat sheet metal into different three dimensional forms. Cutting is used to alter the size or shape of the sheet. Meanwhile punching is used to cut specific shapes out of the metal. All of these and other heat treating and fabricating processes make the metal being worked with its desired surface, size and shape.
Metal cabinets usually have a rectangular structure and come equipped with doors. They can also have various configurations of shelves or drawers. For security purposes, some units come equipped with locking mechanisms on their doors. Metal cabinets can be made out of a variety of different metal materials, including steel, aluminum, and stainless steel. Metal cabinets are commonly used as lockers, bookcases, for file storage in drawers and for generic storage needs. For the storage of furnaces, metal cabinets are also typically employed. Advantages of metal cabinets are they are incredibly durable and can hold heavy objects. Yet they also can remain lightweight in many cases, making them easy to move and putting less strain on the floor. They also come in a variety of different shapes and sizes, and are relatively easy to maintain. Metal cabinets can also be less expensive and more affordable than other cabinets.