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InterMetro Industries Corporation, doing business as Metro, is an American manufacturer of commercial storage and transport equipment headquartered in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The company began as a manufacturer of wire kitchen small wares and later expanded into modular wire shelving and plastic shelving systems used in food service, healthcare, laboratory, and industrial environments. Since 2015, the company has operated as a subsidiary of the Italy-based Ali Group[1].

History

Early history (1929–1958)

The company was founded in November 1929 in New York City by Louis Maslow under the name Metropolitan Wire Goods Corporation[2]. Initially, it manufactured wire kitchen small wares, including egg beaters, whips, draining grates, and baskets for commercial foodservice use.

The company's first patent, filed in December 1930 and granted in 1933, was for a wire egg beater[3]. Later, Maslow received patents for other wire products, including dishwashing trays[4] (marketed as Sani-Stack) and a nesting shopping cart[5].

Operations were first based in Manhattan before relocating to a larger facility in Brooklyn in 1939. During World War II, the company suspended commercial production to support U.S. war-related manufacturing[6]. Commercial production resumed after 1945.

In January 1958, production began in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, following the company's relocation from New York[7].

Expansion and product development (1958–1980s)

In 1956, the company introduced its first Erecta wire shelving system, a modular, easy-to-assemble line of open wire shelving[8]. In 1969, it released the Super Erecta Shelf, which became one of its most widely distributed product lines. Additional shelving variations were introduced in the early 1970s as the company expanded beyond small wares into modular storage systems.

In the 1980s, new corporate headquarters opened at the former George W. Guthrie School,  which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980[9]. The school was renovated into offices by the architectural firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson in 1984[10].

Corporate ownership (Emerson and Ali Group)

Emerson acquired InterMetro Industries in 1997 as part of its Commercial and Residential Solutions segment[11]. In 2015, Emerson sold the company to Ali Group in a transaction with undisclosed terms[12][13].

Following the acquisition, InterMetro Industries continued operations under the Metro trade name as part of Ali Group's portfolio[14]. In 2016, the company sold its Healthcare Technology division to TouchPoint Medical[15]. In the 2000s, portions of the company's manufacturing operations shifted to Mexico[16].

Products

InterMetro Industries manufactures storage and material handling systems for commercial and institutional use. Its product lines include wire shelving systems, utility carts, plastic shelving systems[17], medical carts, holding cabinets, and stainless steel tables.

Certain Metro-branded objects have been included in institutional collections, including the Yale University Art Gallery[18] and the Museum of Modern Art[19].

References

  1. "Ali Group Acquires InterMetro Industries". Foodservice Equipment Reports Magazine. 2015-09-17. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
  2. "At Innovation Forefront". www.timesleader.com. 2007-09-09. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
  3. US1910302A, Louis, Maslow, "Egg beater", issued 1933-05-23 
  4. US2832499A, Louis, Maslow, "Dishwashing tray", issued 1958-04-29 
  5. US2583513A, Louis, Maslow, "Portable marketing truck", issued 1952-01-22 
  6. "To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle 3 December 1869 • Brooklyn, N.Y. (Brooklyn Eagle, 4 Dec 69)", 1869, University of California Press, 1992-12-31, pp. 417–417, ISBN 978-0-520-90608-2, retrieved 2026-04-02
  7. Leader, Times (2015-09-24). "InterMetro sold to Ali Group of Italy". www.timesleader.com. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
  8. US2894643A, Louis, Maslow, "Shelving unit", issued 1959-07-14 
  9. Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (03/02/1934 - ). Pennsylvania SP Guthrie, George W., School. Records of the National Park Service.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. pls4e (2018-07-17). "Intermetro Industries (George Guthrie Elementary School)". SAH ARCHIPEDIA. Retrieved 2026-04-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. "December 23, 1998 - ANNUAL REPORT - 10-K: Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405] | Emerson (EMR)". Emerson. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
  12. "Ali Group Acquires InterMetro Industries". Foodservice Equipment Reports Magazine. 2015-09-17. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
  13. Leader, Times (2015-09-24). "InterMetro sold to Ali Group of Italy". www.timesleader.com. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
  14. "Metro". Ali Group Worldwide. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
  15. Mag, H. M. T. (2016-06-02). "InterMetro sells healthcare tech business to TouchPoint". HCI Innovation Group. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
  16. "Intermetro Is Moving Operations To Mexico". www.timesleader.com. 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
  17. US4964350A, Kolvites, Albert; Cohn, Robert J. & Welsch, John H. et al., "Plastic frame system having a triangular support post", issued 1990-10-23 
  18. "Utility Cart".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. "Louis Maslow. Whisk. 1940s | MoMA". The Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved 2026-04-02.