How a customer’s serving layout became a purpose-built refrigeration solution.
In commercial refrigeration, the right display cabinet is not always the one with the most familiar shape.
For hot pot restaurants, malatang shops and ingredient-service counters, the equipment often needs to do more than keep food cold. It must also support ingredient selection, make different food items easy to see, fit the available counter space and work naturally with the way staff serve customers.
That was the starting point for this custom refrigeration project.
The customer needed a stepped display cabinet for hot pot and malatang ingredients, with a long working surface, multiple display levels and a structure suited to a self-service or assisted-service food counter.
Instead of adapting a standard cabinet to the customer's layout, SOMCLAN developed the equipment around the intended use.
The objective was simple: create a refrigeration cabinet that fits the way ingredients are displayed and served.
The Customer's Requirement: More Than a Standard Display Cabinet
Hot pot and malatang ingredients are often arranged across several levels.
Vegetables, meat, seafood, noodles, tofu products and other ingredients may need to be displayed at different heights so customers can identify and select them more easily.
A conventional flat display surface may not provide the same presentation effect.
The customer therefore requested a custom cabinet with:
- A stepped display structure
- A long horizontal display area
- Multiple ingredient display levels
- A refrigeration system suitable for food-service use
- A layout that could be integrated into the customer's serving counter
- Dimensions developed around the intended installation space
This was not simply a request for a different appearance.
The cabinet needed to combine display organization, working space and refrigeration performance in one structure.
Developing the Cabinet Around the Intended Use
The project began with the customer's required dimensions and layout.
Rather than treating the cabinet as a standard product with a modified exterior, the design direction focused on how the equipment would be used.
The stepped arrangement was developed to create a more practical presentation surface for ingredients.
The customer could place different food items across the display levels, making the cabinet suitable for applications where ingredient visibility and access are important.
A Layout Designed for Ingredient Display
The stepped structure provides a more organized way to arrange food items.
Instead of placing everything on one flat surface, the different levels help create a more layered display.
This can be useful for:
- Hot pot ingredient counters
- Malatang ingredient displays
- Self-service food-service areas
- Prepared ingredient presentation
- Restaurant ingredient selection stations
The final layout was developed around the customer's specific requirements rather than a fixed standard configuration.
From Dimensions to a Working Equipment Structure
The customer supplied the required dimensions for the cabinet.
The design drawing shows the overall equipment length, depth and height, together with the stepped display arrangement and refrigeration structure.
The dimensions provided for this project were:
| Specification | Custom Requirement | Design Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Length | 3000 mm | Provides a long horizontal ingredient display area. |
| Overall Depth | 900 mm | Supports the required counter layout and working space. |
| Overall Height | 1000 mm | Developed around the customer's intended serving height. |
| Display Structure | Custom stepped arrangement | Creates multiple levels for ingredient presentation. |
| Application | Hot pot and malatang ingredient display | Designed for food-service ingredient selection and presentation. |
The dimensions were used as the basis for developing the cabinet structure.
This helped ensure that the finished equipment would match the customer's intended counter layout and available space.
Why the Dimensions Matter
For a commercial food-service cabinet, dimensions affect more than installation.
They also influence:
- Available display area
- Ingredient arrangement
- Staff working space
- Customer access
- Refrigeration layout
- Equipment integration with the surrounding counter
A cabinet that looks suitable in a product catalog may not work well in a real restaurant.
That is why custom dimensions are often an important part of the development process.
A Stepped Display Structure for Better Ingredient Organization
The finished cabinet uses a stepped display arrangement rather than a conventional flat counter.
This creates several levels for placing ingredients.
The design is particularly suitable for food-service environments where customers need to see a range of ingredients before making their selection.
The stepped layout can help separate different ingredient groups and make the display easier to organize.
For example, a restaurant may use different levels for:
- Vegetables
- Meat and seafood
- Noodles
- Tofu products
- Prepared ingredients
The exact arrangement depends on the customer's operating requirements.
The cabinet is designed to support the customer's serving process, not just to provide refrigerated storage.
A Long Display Surface for Commercial Food-Service Applications
The 3000 mm overall length gives this custom cabinet a long horizontal working area.
This makes it suitable for applications where a large selection of ingredients needs to be displayed in one continuous counter.
The long structure can help create a more complete ingredient presentation area while keeping the refrigeration equipment integrated into the counter.
For hot pot and malatang businesses, this type of layout can be useful when the cabinet needs to serve as both:
A refrigerated display cabinet + an ingredient selection counter.
The customer can arrange the equipment according to the actual serving flow of the restaurant.
From Design Drawing to Finished Production
The technical drawing was not the final product.
It was the starting point for production.
The finished cabinet was developed according to the customer's dimensions and structural requirements.
The production process included the development of the cabinet body, stepped display structure, refrigeration components and final equipment assembly.
The result was a custom refrigeration cabinet designed to match the customer's intended application.
From Drawing to Real Equipment
The finished product shows how the original design direction was translated into a working commercial refrigeration cabinet.
The stepped display structure, long counter layout and refrigeration body were developed together as one equipment solution.
This is an important part of custom refrigeration manufacturing.
The goal is not only to produce a cabinet that looks correct in a drawing, but to produce equipment that can be used in the customer's actual business environment.
Designed for Hot Pot, Malatang and Ingredient-Service Counters
This custom cabinet is particularly relevant to businesses that need to display a wide variety of ingredients.
Hot Pot Restaurants
Hot pot restaurants often need to display vegetables, meat, seafood and other ingredients in an organized way.
A stepped refrigerated display cabinet can provide a more structured presentation area for these products.
Malatang Shops
Malatang businesses commonly offer a wide selection of ingredients for customers to choose from.
The stepped arrangement can help create a more visible and organized ingredient display.
Other Food-Service Counters
The same design direction may also be suitable for other businesses that need:
- Long refrigerated ingredient displays
- Multiple display levels
- Custom counter dimensions
- A combination of display and working space
The exact configuration depends on the customer's requirements.
Why Custom Refrigeration Can Be the Better Choice
A standard refrigeration cabinet may be suitable for many applications.
But some businesses have specific requirements that cannot be met by a standard configuration.
For example:
- The available counter space may require a particular length.
- The display area may need a specific stepped arrangement.
- The customer may need a different working height.
- The equipment may need to integrate with an existing serving counter.
- The ingredient layout may require a custom structure.
In these situations, custom refrigeration can provide a more practical solution.
Instead of changing the customer's operation to fit the equipment, the equipment is developed around the customer's operation.
A Custom Project Built Around the Customer's Business
This project demonstrates how a refrigeration cabinet can be developed from a specific commercial requirement.
The customer did not simply request a standard display cabinet.
They needed a cabinet with a particular structure, dimensions and intended use.
SOMCLAN developed the equipment around those requirements and produced a finished stepped display cabinet suitable for hot pot and malatang ingredient presentation.
The result is a custom refrigeration solution that combines:
Display organization + refrigeration + commercial working space.
Custom Refrigeration for Your Application
If your business requires a refrigerated display cabinet with specific dimensions, display levels or structural requirements, a standard product may not always be the best fit.
SOMCLAN can work with your:
- Product dimensions
- Technical drawings
- Reference images
- Display layout
- Installation requirements
- Intended application
Whether you need a stepped display cabinet for hot pot ingredients, a custom food-service counter or another commercial refrigeration solution, the design can be developed around your actual requirements.