At Stephens Catering Equipment, we are proud to be taking part in Manufacturing Month NI by showcasing the innovation, craftsmanship, and expertise that drive our fabrication department in Broughshane every day.
Manufacturing Month shines a spotlight on the strength of Northern Ireland’s manufacturing sector, celebrating the businesses, people, and products helping to shape the future of industry. For our team, it is an opportunity to highlight the work that goes on behind the scenes in creating high-quality commercial catering solutions for customers across the UK and Ireland.
A key highlight for us this year is the recent launch of our innovative Hot Counter with Chilled Shelf at IFEX, which has now been shortlisted in the Made in NI Awards.
Designed and Manufactured in Broughshane
Manufactured by our skilled in-house fabrication team in Broughshane, the Hot Counter with Chilled Shelf was designed to offer operators a smarter, more efficient serving solution for busy retail and foodservice environments.
The unit combines a UBERT Hot 5 Well Display Cabinet with an integrated chilled drinks shelf positioned directly beneath the hot display. The upper hot counter uses a humidified gentle convection heating system, ensuring even heat distribution across all wells to maintain food quality, presentation, and freshness for longer periods without drying food out.
The integrated chilled shelf provides convenient storage for bottled and canned drinks, creating a compact all-in-one solution that improves customer flow, enhances merchandising opportunities, and maximises valuable counter space.
Innovation Through Practical Design
What makes this product particularly innovative is its ability to combine hot food display and chilled beverage storage within a single footprint. Traditionally, operators would require separate equipment for hot food and refrigerated drinks, increasing both space requirements and energy consumption.
By integrating both functions into one streamlined unit, the Hot Counter with Chilled Shelf helps businesses make better use of available space while improving convenience for staff and customers alike. It is a practical example of how thoughtful design and fabrication can deliver real operational benefits to modern foodservice businesses.
Built with Sustainability in Mind
Sustainability has also been an important consideration throughout the design and manufacturing process.
Combining hot and chilled functions into one unit reduces the need for additional refrigeration equipment, helping lower overall energy consumption. Within our fabrication department, stainless steel cut-offs from bespoke manufacturing projects are recycled and reused wherever possible to minimise material waste.
The unit is also constructed using durable, high-quality components designed for long service life, helping reduce the need for premature replacement and supporting a more sustainable approach to commercial catering equipment manufacturing.
Celebrating Northern Ireland Manufacturing
Being shortlisted in the Made in NI Awards is a fantastic recognition of the hard work, creativity, and technical expertise of our fabrication team in Broughshane.
As we celebrate Manufacturing Month NI, we are proud to continue investing in innovative manufacturing solutions that support the hospitality and foodservice industries while showcasing the strength of local manufacturing talent here in Northern Ireland.