Rousseau Metal

Rousseau Metal (Rousseau Métal) is a Canadian manufacturer of heavy-duty industrial storage and workspace solutions, headquartered in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec. Founded in 1950 by André Rousseau, the company began as a metalworking shop producing hardware for furniture, mailboxes, lockers and other metal specialties. Over the decades it evolved into a specialist in modular industrial storage systems, including drawer cabinets, workbenches, shelving and specialized tool storage. Today Rousseau describes itself as North America's leader in the organization and optimization of sustainable, scalable workspaces, with products sold through a distribution network covering North America and parts of Europe. The company's product ecosystem is built around modular, customizable steel products. Its flagship lines include heavy-duty drawer cabinets (stationary, mobile, door, R2V vertical drawer and stacking cabinets), Spider® shelving and Mini-Racking, workbenches and ElevaTek® adjustable workstations, TekZone hutches, MultiTek carts, and specialized storage for machining, bending and punching tools, as well as weapon storage and computer stations. Products are available in 20 colors and are designed to integrate with one another, with a wide range of accessories to increase storage density and efficiency. Rousseau serves a broad range of industrial sectors, including manufacturing, automotive, defense and government. Its products are distributed through specialist distributors who provide project-specific design and configuration services. The company emphasizes durability, modularity and high customization potential, and has invested in modern manufacturing facilities and quality management systems, including ISO 9001 certification. It holds Canadian and American patents for drawer mechanisms, tool holders, drawer compartmentalization and accessory mounting systems. Ownership remains private. The company was led by founder André Rousseau from 1950 to 1985, after which Simon-Pierre Paré succeeded him. Rousseau Metal has been recognized as one of the largest employers in the Quebec City region and received the Lachance-Morin prize in 2007 for its commitment to workplace injury prevention. In 2025 the company marked 75 years of innovation, continuing to develop modular storage solutions for industrial environments.

Rousseau Metal was founded in 1950 by André Rousseau in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec, Canada. Initially named Métal Rousseau Metal, the company manufactured hardware for furniture, tables and chairs (including bridge tables), locks, mailboxes and lockers, mail chutes, grilles and specialties used in public buildings, sheds, electrical meter boxes, scientific and multi-purpose cabinets, work tables for technical workshops and stores, and even snowmobiles and nickel tokens for transit companies. While serving the specific needs of governments and private companies, Rousseau Metal took advantage of a changing economic climate in 1975 and turned its attention to the industrial sector. The company then specialized in the manufacture of industrial storage systems such as mail sorting and distribution equipment, modular drawers and cabinets, shelving, work centers and tables, storage systems for numerically controlled tools, and specialized supports for the automotive industry. Its products were intended for the private and government sectors as well as wholesalers in manufacturing and automotive fields. They became available in Canada through a distribution network and, since 1989, in the United States through distributors assisted by manufacturer's agents. In July 2004, independent tests were conducted on Rousseau's drawers by the mechanical engineering department of Université Laval. Successful cyclic tests were performed on the number of openings and closings of drawers loaded with 400 lb. Rousseau also holds Canadian and American patents: one-at-a-time mechanism, tool holder for numerically controlled tools, drawer fastening and compartmentalization system, integrated closed locking mechanism, plastic box, and accessory mounting system on posts. The company also holds protection for the visual appearance of the heavy-duty drawer. In 2009, Rousseau Métal was part of the list of the 500 largest employers in the Quebec City region with 325 employees. The company has continued to modernize its facilities to be more energy efficient. In 1997, Rousseau obtained its first certification to the ISO 9002-1994 standard, and in November 2003, its accreditation to the ISO 9001-2000 standard. In its continuous improvement approach, Rousseau relies on employee participation. Work groups are formed and use the Kaizen method to apply Toyota Production System tools such as 5S, Poka-yoke, work cells, lot size reduction, just-in-time (pull flow), Kanban, Andon system, mapping, etc. Rousseau was also the recipient of the Lachance-Morin prize in 2007, awarded annually by the board of directors of ASP Métal Électrique to companies that have distinguished themselves through sustained joint commitment to the prevention of occupational injuries. Rousseau is a member of several associations including MHIA (Material Handling Industry of America), C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism), SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) and CADSI. According to its official website, the company marked 75 years of innovation in 2025, with key milestones including Plant 3 in 2023, Plant 2 in 2018, the R Cabinet in 2005, scaling back industrial subcontracting in 1990, corporate outsourcing in 1980, and Rousseau products in 1970. Today Rousseau designs, manufactures and markets cabinets, workstations and shelving tailored to a wide range of industries, sold through a strong distribution network covering North America and parts of Europe.

• 2025

  Celebrated 75 years of innovation.

• 2023

  Plant 3 milestone.

• 2018

  Plant 2 milestone.

• 2009

  Listed among the 500 largest employers in the Quebec City region with 325 employees.

• 2007

  Received the Lachance-Morin prize for commitment to workplace injury prevention.

• 2005

  R Cabinet milestone.

• 2004

  Independent cyclic tests on drawers loaded with 400 lb conducted by Université Laval.

• 2003

  Accredited to ISO 9001-2000 standard in November.

• 1997

  Obtained first certification to ISO 9002-1994 standard.

• 1990

  Industrial subcontracting scaled back.

• 1989

  Products became available in the United States through distributors assisted by manufacturer's agents.

• 1985

  André Rousseau retired; Simon-Pierre Paré succeeded him.

• 1980

  Corporate outsourcing milestone.

• 1975

  Company turned its attention to the industrial sector, specializing in industrial storage systems.

• 1970

  Rousseau products milestone.

• 1950

  Founded by Mr. André Rousseau in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec.

North America's leader in the organization and optimization of sustainable, scalable workspaces, offering durable, modular and highly customizable industrial storage solutions.

• Heavy-duty drawer cabinets

  Stationary, mobile, door, R2V vertical drawer and stacking cabinets designed for industrial storage.

• Spider® shelving

  Modular shelving system with open, closed, sloped, sliding panel and mobile configurations.

• Mini-Racking

  Compact racking solution for dense storage.

• Workbenches (WS/EW)

  Workbenches and workstations for industrial environments.

• ElevaTek® adjustable workstations

  Height-adjustable workstations for ergonomic industrial work.

• TekZone hutches

  Overhead storage hutches for workstations.

• MultiTek carts

  Mobile carts for flexible storage and transport.

• Specialized tool storage

  Storage for machining, bending and punching tools, as well as weapon storage and computer stations.

1. 1Rousseau: Industrial Storage Solutionsrousseau.com
2. 2About us | Rousseaurousseau.com
3. 3Heavy-duty products that stand up to the toughest… | Rousseaurousseau.com
4. 4Rousseau Metalwikidata.org
5. 5Rousseau Métalfr.wikipedia.org