At Douglas Equipment, we serve the material handling needs of many industries, and the one that probably has the most diverse set of caster requirements is the medical industry. Medical casters need to be smooth, quiet, shock absorbent, durable, and easily sanitized. They need to move heavy but delicate, expensive equipment, as well as emergent and recovering patients who need to be handled with great care. They may need to be anti-microbial, anti-magnetic, and anti-static. And all at a price that doesn’t contribute to the rising costs of health care.
Enter MedCaster, one of America’s premier manufacturers of casters for the medical and pharmaceutical industries. MedCaster rises to the unique challenges of handling medical materials (and patients!) with a top-quality caster for every type of hospital task or environment, from beds to gurneys to IV stands to equipment carts. MedCaster’s motto is “If it moves in a hospital, we move it,” and Douglas Equipment is proud to be MedCaster’s distributor in Miami, Florida. We’ve been in business since 1955, and our years of service to the medical industry give us the knowledge and experience to help you find the MedCaster model that is perfect for your needs. Let’s take a look at a sampling of the models in MedCaster’s extensive product line.
NeoTeq Dual (DN) Comfort Roll
This dual-wheel equipment caster is designed to turn and maneuver easily while rolling smoothly and quietly. Dual ball swivel raceways strengthen this caster, while the precision ball bearings keep the wheels rolling without a hitch. The non-marking, soft-neoprene rubber wheels feature matching chrome thread guards, and an upper dustcap keeps dirt from building up. This model is available with swivel top plates, rigid top plates, threaded stems, and hollow kingpins. With capacities from 250 to 300 pounds, this model excels for lab equipment, IV stands, mobile computer stands, and medical equipment.
Next Generation Nylon (NG)
This maintenance-free, versatile model has capacities from 200 to 325 pounds. Its glass-filled nylon construction makes this an option for medical equipment and hospital carts. The precision-sealed ball bearing raceway design gives it a long-lasting smooth, quiet ride. Directional and Total Lock braking is built right into the caster, with the Total Lock models able to lock both the swivel and the wheel, while the Directional Lock locks just the swivel to assist steering. This caster is chemical resistant and easily washed down, and it has fully integrated thread guards to keep it from picking up hair, string, sutures, and other debris. Three- to six-inch wheel diameters and custom colors are available.
Non-Magnetic Nylon (NM)
For some hospital equipment, such as MRI machines, care must be taken not to expose it to magnetism in order for it to function correctly. The steel used in typical industrial casters has magnetic properties, which isn’t acceptable for moving this type of equipment. To address this need, MedCaster offers this line of non-magnetic casters to reduce their magnetism to workable levels. This free-swivel caster’s nylon and 316S stainless steel construction means you can transport the most magnetically sensitive components with confidence. The sealed precision bearing raceway ensures a smooth, quiet performance, and the wheels feature Delrin bearings. Its recessed axle with plastic cap covers help keep this caster maintenance free, and its resistance to most chemicals means you can sanitize it and expose it to most hospital environments without compromising its long product life. This model is also available with total lock or directional lock brake options.
Antistatic Chrome Hospital (CH) and Stainless Steel (SS)
Another natural force that can be harmful to hospital equipment is static electricity. Even an electrostatic discharge from a human’s touch is sufficient to cause damage. To ensure that the carts transporting your equipment don’t generate static electricity that could cause the equipment to fail, MedCaster has developed this series of antistatic casters and wheels to protect your sensitive equipment. This series conforms to CEN standards with resistance values of less than 10,000 ohms (measured at 500V DC, with minimum output of 50V DC at 1,000 ohms resistance). These casters feature a chrome finish and dual ball swivel raceways for strength. The conductive rubber wheels help keep the static electricity in check and have thread guards for added protection against static and debris. Wheel diameters run from 3 to 6 inches and capacities range from 190 to 260 pounds. Choose between total lock or directional lock brakes. Antimicrobial wheels are also available for this series.
Primacy Twin Wheel (PT) Hospital Bed Series
Aside from being smooth, quiet, and durable, hospital bed casters must also conform to ISO Standard 22882: 2004 Caster & Wheels – Requirements for Casters for Hospital Beds. The Primacy series meets these standards while delivering top-notch performance. These casters feature a smooth integrated central locking selection for free swivel, total lock, and directional (steer) lock. Durable, non-marking twin polyurethane wheels are available in 4, 5, and 6-inch diameters and have a capacity of 275, 286, and 330 pounds, respectively. This caster is constructed with a high-quality synthetic cover over a die-cast aluminum frame, with precision bearings in the swivel section and sealed precision bearings in the wheels. An antistatic option is available for this series as well. This caster excels for use with hospital, OR, and ICU beds, stretchers, radiology tables, mobile ultrasound equipment, medical chairs and recliners and radiology tables.
MedCaster and Douglas Equipment: Partners in Keeping Health Care Moving
This is just a small glimpse into the vast array of medical bed, cart, and equipment casters MedCaster has to offer. Douglas Equipment is committed to helping you find the very best casters to keep your health care operations moving smoothly. Our knowledgeable and friendly customer support staff will be more than happy to answer any questions or offer ideas on how to find the MedCaster products that will work for you. Contact us online, or if you’re local to South Florida, call us at 305-888-3700. National customers can call us at 800-451-0030.
