Medical Industry

Medical casters must do two things that general industrial casters do not: move patient equipment with zero audible noise and leave no marks on sealed hospital flooring. The medical range on this page is built around that requirement, with soft-compound TPR, PVC and rubber wheels in 1 to 8 inch sizes and load ratings from 15kg up to 1000kg for heavy treatment tables and imaging support frames.

Start the selection from the load. Hospital beds and stretchers typically carry 100-250kg including the patient, so the per-wheel rating after the 2.5 safety factor should sit at 60-160kg, which points to 4-6 inch medical casters. Lighter chairs, examination couches and bedside trolleys work well with 2.5-3.5 inch units at 25-75kg ratings.

Wheel compound matters twice as much in healthcare. TPR wheels are the standard choice for patient rooms: they are silent on vinyl and linoleum floors and generate low push-back force, which matters when a nurse repositions a bed alone. PVC wheels suit cleanrooms and wash-down areas because the compound wipes clean and does not pick up dust. For heavy tables on stone or ceramic, solid rubber carries 200-350kg per wheel without deforming.

Mounting in medical equipment is usually top plate with M6 or M8 bolts; the 01 and 011 series forks here are produced in both swivel and rigid configurations. Rigid casters on the front pair keep a gurney tracking straight under braking, while swivel casters at the rear allow 360-degree repositioning. Brake versions are available on most 4 inch and larger sizes, which is mandatory for stretchers and examination tables.

As a factory, Sumatic supplies medical equipment OEMs with custom forks, anodised or stainless finishes, low-profile wheels for narrow bed frames, and documentation support (material certificates, load test reports). If your design uses a non-standard plate or stem, send the drawing: many medical projects start as tooling-free modifications of our 01 series fork.

Use the RFQ form to request a medical caster quotation, load test data or samples for evaluation. Medical OEM enquiries typically get a reply within one business day.