Metro TableWorx Stainless Lab Tables
How to choose Metro TableWorx stainless work tables for labs, cleanrooms, compounding and research — Type 304 or 316 steel, perforated or solid tops, frames, heights, casters and risers — then design and price your table online.
Why Labs Choose a Modular Stainless Table
A lab table has to do more than hold equipment. It has to be cleaned with the chemicals your program uses, carry the weight of instruments without flexing, sit at a height that suits the people working at it, and adapt when the room changes. Metro TableWorx is built as a modular platform of stainless work tables for exactly that kind of work. Metro describes it as a system of performance work tables designed so you can customize the right solution.
The building blocks are straightforward: a Type 304 or Type 316 stainless work surface, a solid or perforated top, a flat edge or backsplash, stationary legs or casters, an undershelf or a three-sided frame that leaves knee space, and productivity risers that add overshelves or grids above the work surface. Because the parts are modular, a table bought for one bench can take a riser later, move onto casters or be reset to a new height.
Labs USA supplies Metro products to research labs, hospitals, pharmacies and controlled manufacturing from Salt Lake City. For lab tables from several manufacturers, including phenolic, epoxy and adjustable-height benches, see our lab tables page. When you know the size and use, the Metro TableWorx configurator builds a valid table and saves a shareable quote.
Type 304 vs Type 316 Stainless for Lab Work
Steel grade is the first decision. Type 304 is the general-purpose stainless: corrosion resistant, easy to clean and right for most labs, prep rooms and support areas. Type 316 adds molybdenum, which improves resistance to chlorides, salt and many disinfectants. It is the safer choice where tables are cleaned with chlorine-based agents or sporicides, in compounding and aseptic areas, and around saline or brine.
| Factor | Type 304 TableWorx | Type 316 TableWorx |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion resistance | Good for most labs | Better against chlorides and harsh disinfectants |
| Typical lab uses | General benches, prep rooms, packaging, support areas | Compounding, aseptic support, chlorine-cleaned rooms, saline work |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Surface build | 16-gauge stainless on many models | 16-gauge 316 surface reinforced with hat channels on 316 Series |
| Legs and frames | Stainless | Model-dependent; some pair a 316 top with 304 legs |
According to Metro’s product data, 316 Stainless Series tables use a 16-gauge Type 316 work surface reinforced with 16-gauge hat channels, with a sound-deadened top and turned-down edges on all four sides. Some 316 models pair the 316 work surface with Type 304 legs and leg mounts. If your validation requires 316 on every component, check the full description of the exact model before you order.
Load ratings vary by size, top and base. Metro lists ratings per model, so confirm the current spec sheet for the table you choose instead of relying on a typical figure, especially for heavy instruments.
Bring your cleaning-agent list. Repeated use of chlorine-based disinfectants is the most common reason a lab specifies 316 instead of 304. Your contamination-control or safety team and your disinfectant supplier are the right people to confirm the grade.
Perforated, Solid and Backsplash Tops
The top decides how the table behaves in the room. A solid flat top works for general benches and islands that are used from both sides. A backsplash keeps liquids, small parts and labware from going over the back edge when the table sits against a wall. A perforated top is designed for cleanrooms and controlled environments.
Backsplash table
Stationary 304 table for wall positions.
Flat top, 304
Open frame for general lab benches.
Undershelf table
Storage level below the work surface.
Metro designs the perforated-top TableWorx table for cleanroom and controlled-environment use. According to Metro’s product data, the perforated top supports laminar airflow and helps reduce particle accumulation during sensitive processes such as electronics assembly, pharmaceutical production and laboratory work, and the 304 perforated tables are built from 16-gauge stainless and electropolished. Metro also states the perforated tables are designed to meet ISO 14644-1 cleanroom standards; cleanroom classification still applies to the room and its operation, so confirm documentation for your room class with your quality team before ordering.
Below the top, an undershelf adds a full storage level for bins, consumables and small equipment, while a three-sided frame leaves the front open for seated work or for rolling a cart or waste bin underneath. Seated technicians, microscopy and data-entry stations usually want the frame; prep and packaging benches usually want the shelf.
Working Height and Ergonomics
Out of the box, Metro says TableWorx can be assembled at any one of six working heights: 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39 inches. That range covers most standing lab work and many seated stations with a lab stool. Fine work such as pipetting, dissection or microscopy is often more comfortable slightly higher, while heavy work such as lifting carboys or instruments is easier slightly lower.
Ask the people who will use the bench before you choose, and remember that equipment on the table raises the real working height. A balance or hood sash at the wrong height causes strain every shift. If a station is shared by people of very different heights, a dedicated height-adjustable bench from our lab tables range may suit better than a fixed-height table.
Productivity Risers: Storage Above the Bench
A TableWorx productivity riser mounts at the rear of the table and stays within its footprint, so it adds storage without adding floor space. Risers can be added or removed at any time. Metro notes they are only compatible with TableWorx work tables, so plan on TableWorx if you want this option.
Riser options include cantilevered stainless wire drop-mat overshelves for reagents, labware and containers, and SmartWall grids in Metroseal gray or stainless steel for hanging tools, bins, pipette holders and labels. Risers are sized to table lengths from 36 to 96 inches.
Drop-mat overshelves
Two cantilevered stainless overshelves.
Stainless grid riser
Long grid for tools and bins.
Mobile workstation
Riser and shelf on a mobile table.
In a cleanroom, think about what a riser adds to the airflow and cleaning plan. Open wire overshelves and grids are easy to wipe, but every added surface is one more thing to clean. Keep risers to the items that genuinely need to be at the bench and store the rest in a nearby cabinet.
Stationary or Mobile Lab Tables
Stationary TableWorx tables stand on legs with adjustable feet for levelling. Mobile tables use casters so the bench can be moved for cleaning, rolled into a new layout or shared between rooms. Mobile versions exist for the main table types, including long backsplash benches and workstations with risers.
Choose mobile when floors are cleaned by moving furniture, when a research lab is reconfigured for each project or when a bench serves two spaces. Choose stationary for balances and sensitive instruments, benches tied into utilities and long fixed runs. Locking casters are essential on a mobile bench that carries instruments.
Planning TableWorx for Your Lab
| Space | Usual TableWorx pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cleanroom or ISO-classified suite | Perforated top, 304 electropolished or 316 | Airflow and cleanability |
| Compounding or aseptic support | Type 316 table, solid top | Resists chlorine-based disinfectants |
| General research bench | 304 table with three-sided frame and riser | Knee space and tools above |
| Prep or media room | 304 backsplash table with undershelf | Clean wall edge and storage below |
| Packaging or kitting | Long mobile tables with risers | Reconfigurable runs |
| Vivarium support | Type 316 or 304, mobile | Wash-down and frequent moves |
- What work is done at the bench, and is it seated or standing
- Cleaning agents and how often they are used
- Room classification and airflow pattern, if any
- Wall position or island, which decides backsplash or flat top
- Instrument weight and footprint on the work surface
- Storage needed below and above the bench
- Whether the bench must move for cleaning or re-layouts
- Door widths and the delivery route into the lab
Design & price it online: Metro TableWorx configurator. Pick the steel, size, top, base, height and casters, add risers and grids, and the configurator validates the build, totals it and saves a shareable quote. Open the Metro TableWorx configurator or browse every tool in the Metro configurator hub.
TableWorx makes the most sense when a bench must be reconfigured, extended with risers or matched to Metro shelving and SmartWall already in the room. For chemical-resistant phenolic or epoxy resin tops, sit-stand benches and fixed casework, compare our wider lab table range before deciding.
Care and Long-Term Value
Stainless lasts when it is cleaned with the grain, rinsed after chlorinated cleaners and kept away from steel wool and carbon-steel tools that leave rust spots. Wipe disinfectant residue at the end of each shift, since dried chloride residue is the most common cause of pitting on 304 surfaces. Electropolished perforated tops should be cleaned with non-abrasive wipes to protect the finish.
Because TableWorx is modular, its value builds over time: a bench can gain a riser, move onto casters or change height as projects change, instead of being replaced. Lead times vary by configuration; common 304 sizes are often quicker than 316 or perforated models, so ask for current lead times with your quote and plan around move-in or validation dates.
- Buying 304 for a chlorine-cleaned room. Choose 316 where harsh disinfectants are routine.
- Guessing the height. Use the six assembly heights and ask the users.
- Adding too many riser surfaces in a cleanroom. Every surface must be cleaned.
- Forgetting locking casters. Mobile benches with instruments must lock.
- Ordering by photo. Order by full model number and confirm the spec sheet.
Pairing TableWorx With Other Metro Lab Storage
A bench rarely works alone. Most labs pair TableWorx tables with stainless or epoxy wire shelving for reagents and consumables, utility carts for moving samples and instruments, and wall grids for tools. Because TableWorx risers use the same SmartWall grid family as Metro wall shelving, accessories such as bins, hooks and holders can move between the bench and the wall, which keeps a lab consistent and makes it easier to restock.
In cleanrooms, a common layout combines perforated-top TableWorx benches with Type 304 or 316 stainless carts for material transfer and open stainless shelving in the anteroom, so every surface in the controlled space is open, smooth and easy to wipe. In research labs, mobile TableWorx benches sit beside fixed casework and fume hoods, giving the room flexible work surface that can be pushed aside when a large instrument arrives.
If you are planning a full room, send us a sketch with door locations, utilities and the instruments you use. We will suggest a mix of TableWorx benches, shelving and carts, and you can refine the tables yourself in the configurator before you request the final quote.
Related Pages
- Metro TableWorx configurator — design and price TableWorx lab tables online
- Metro configurator hub — all 17 Metro online configurators
- Metro cleanroom furniture — stainless carts, gowning benches and Starsys
- Metro wire shelving for cleanrooms and hospitals — stainless and epoxy wire shelving guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Metro TableWorx?
A modular platform of stainless work tables with Type 304 or 316 surfaces, solid or perforated tops, flat or backsplash edges, stationary or mobile bases, undershelves or three-sided frames, and productivity risers.
Is TableWorx suitable for cleanrooms?
The perforated-top models are designed for cleanrooms and controlled environments. Classification applies to the room and its operation, so confirm documentation for your room class with your quality team.
Should my lab choose Type 304 or 316?
Type 304 suits most labs. Type 316 resists chlorides and harsh disinfectants better and is common in compounding, aseptic support and chlorine-cleaned rooms.
What heights are available?
According to Metro, TableWorx assembles at six working heights from 34 to 39 inches. Confirm the spec sheet for your model.
Can I add shelves above the table?
Yes. Productivity risers add cantilevered overshelves or SmartWall grids within the table footprint and are only compatible with TableWorx tables.
Can I price TableWorx lab tables online?
Yes. The Metro TableWorx configurator validates the build and saves a shareable quote. Or call (800) 326-4403.
Planning lab benches?
Send us your room list, instruments and cleaning agents and we will recommend TableWorx tables and risers. Call (800) 326-4403 or request a quote online.