About us
The Smoke&Steel smoker factory story since 2012
It started in 2012 in Kharkiv. Roman Gonta and a close partner combined an engineering mindset with a love of home hot smoking to build equipment families can trust on a stove, balcony, or open fire. The goal was concrete: natural delicacies at home — no preservatives, no compromise on metal quality.
Early prototypes were tested on real food — chicken, pork belly, fish — while we hunted weak points: uneven heat, smell in an apartment, thin walls that warp. That work led to the water seal, tighter weld tolerances, and a clear choice between heat-resistant AISI 409 and food-grade AISI 304.
Over more than 14 years we moved from a small workshop to steady production with checks on sheet thickness, chamber geometry, and kits. Every Mini, Standart, and Big Daddy run uses proven parts: body, racks, drip tray, optional thermometer. We do not just ship a steel box — we hand over a tool we smoke on ourselves and can explain to a first-time buyer.
Founder and production lead
Roman owns the smoker designs, steel-grade decisions, and quality control at our Kharkiv-region production. Legally the brand operates as FOP Gonta Roman Stepanovych — the same name on shipments, support, and returns. He sets the bar for welds, the water seal, and the thermometer so a beginner gets a predictable result on the first run.
Smoke&Steel production is based in the Kharkiv region. We cut and bend stainless sheet, weld chambers, kit racks and trays, check the water seal, and pack orders for Nova Poshta across Ukraine.
We stay a hot-smoking maker (about 80–120 °C), not a vague “do-everything” box. That focus keeps wall thickness, heat resistance, and stove/grill safety honest. Returns logistics run through Korotych (62454); pickup and advice are in Kharkiv.
You can see Mini, Standart, and Big Daddy in detail on the product galleries: stainless bodies, working chambers, and kits — not stock renders.
The design was refined on real cooks for over a decade. Beginners get steady results without fighting the fire.
AISI 409 for harder heat loads; AISI 304 food-grade stainless. We explain the difference before you buy.
Line changes come from reviews and messenger questions. Support is the same team that knows the workshop.
Families across Ukraine choose Smoke&Steel — from a first chicken on Mini to larger batches on Big Daddy. For Roman Gonta and the team that means responsibility for the metal, home safety, and a taste you can trace from chips to the table.
Choosing a first smoker or an upgrade in steel and thermometer? Message us. We will walk through chamber size, AISI grade, and kit options without a hard sell.
Taste the real thing. Choose quality from our own workshop since 2012.