When a New Jersey (NJ) commercial printing company approached Mezzmaster by Westhead Associates for a new equipment platform, they brought a highly specific, non-negotiable structural requirement. The platform was being installed to support their incoming delivery of heavy-duty printing presses. This meant that maximizing floor space and ensuring machine clearance were absolutely critical to their daily operations.
In the commercial printing business, equipment integration leaves zero room for error. Standard, off-the-shelf mezzanine structures simply will not work for these facilities because traditional support column placements would block the exact paths needed to operate, load, and service the machinery.
The Structural Challenge: Eliminating Warehouse Floor Obstructions
To keep the operational paths completely clear for the new printing presses, our design team had to drastically limit the number of vertical steel columns on the shop floor. Standard platform layouts typically rely on a rigid grid of multiple columns to distribute weight safely. However, this specific machinery setup required a heavy-duty industrial structure that could support intense weight loads while leaving the ground space completely unobstructed.
The Mezzmaster Solution: A Custom Cantilevered Platform Design
Our structural steel engineering team developed a fully custom cantilevered platform utilizing only two structural columns.
To achieve the necessary clearance for the printing equipment, the column-to-column width was locked in at 3 feet 6 inches. From that final set of supports, we engineered a custom cantilevered span that extended an additional 4 feet out over the open floor. This unique steel overhang allowed the platform to fulfill its functional footprint requirements up top without intruding on the equipment pathways below.
To handle the weight distribution and rigorous structural demands of the printing facility, the platform deck was built utilizing heavy-duty B-deck and finished with robust steel diamond plate flooring. This specific material combination provides the rigid structural support, high capacity, and durable walking surface necessary for industrial manufacturing environments.
The Mezzmaster Advantage: Custom Steel Fabrication and Stamped Drawings
This project highlights exactly why industrial facilities partner with Mezzmaster by Westhead Associates for their space-saving needs. We do not force your warehouse operations to fit into a pre-packaged mezzanine kit. Every single equipment platform, industrial stair system, and mezzanine we deliver is engineered custom to your exact operational requirements, facility constraints, and machinery specifications.
Security and compliance are built into our workflow from day one. Every custom platform design meets all local and national building codes, complete with certified engineering stamped drawing approvals from the state to ensure total safety before installation even begins.
Looking for a Custom Industrial Real Estate Solution?
Do you have a challenging layout, tight clearances, or strict equipment constraints in your manufacturing facility? Contact the Mezzmaster team today to discuss how our custom structural steel fabrication and engineering services can maximize your vertical space.






