How Leading Medical Furniture Manufacturers Pick Materials That Last For Years

As you step inside any well-managed hospital in India, you’ll see strong, clean, and functional furniture. It takes a lot of effort even before the furniture comes into the wards or the OT rooms; The effort starts with choosing the right material and dealing with the right manufacturer.

Procurement teams in hospitals devote an extensive amount of time researching the cost-effectiveness of various furniture items as well as their brands. Nevertheless, any comparison's relevance begins with what was utilized in constructing each piece of furniture.

The construction material determines all characteristics of furniture: longevity, ease of cleaning, patient safety, and so on. This guide highlights the 7 most frequently used materials for making furniture for India’s hospitals and why they’re important.

1. Steel Cold Rolled Close Annealed (CRCA)

The most used steel in the production of hospital furniture in India is CRCA. It provides a smooth finish to the metal and can be powder-coated very easily.

After the frames are shaped out of the CRCA steel, they pass through a series of seven tanks for chemical treatment, wherein all the rust, oils, and grease are removed. Then the dry powder coating process is done, followed by baking at 200 degrees Celsius. The advantage of using CRCA steel is its ability to withstand corrosion and wear and tear due to daily activities.

2.                   Stainless Steel

This metal belongs in settings where hygiene cannot be compromised. This includes the OT table, instrument trolley, IV stand, and examination couches. The inherent ability of stainless steel to resist rust and bacterial infection makes it ideal for high-exposure zones like hospitals.

Whereas mild steel requires painting or coating for protection, the same is not needed for stainless steel. The disinfecting agent used by the hospital staff will not alter or affect the quality of the metal.  

Why it matters: The first step in preventing cross-contamination is to ensure that the surfaces that patients will touch are protected.  

3.                   ABS Plastic (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)

This material is found in hospital furniture, including headboards, trolleys, side panels, etc. The material is light, resistant to impacts, and corrosion-free; thus, the material would be suitable for use in crowded wards since the furniture made from this material will be used in moving the items inside the hospital frequently. 

The material is non-absorbent, and hence bacteria will not grow on the surface of such items, which makes cleaning easier.

Why it matters: It ensures the material is light but still strong. It is important in a hospital where the number of patients is higher than normal, and there are fewer personnel.

4.                   High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

HDPE is utilized for mattress bases, bed pan holders, and storage trays. It is good with moisture, resists most hospital cleaning chemicals, and doesn't break even under pressure.

Indian hospitals – particularly those in small towns – face high usage and tight budgets when replacing parts. Components made of HDPE increase the life of furniture without increasing costs.

Why it matters: HDPE minimizes the need for component replacement, saving hospitals money and maintaining their hygiene standards.

5.                   Epoxy-Coated Mild Steel

One cost-efficient construction material for furniture used in wards, bedside lockers, and overbed tables is mild steel with an epoxy coating. It provides additional moisture and chemical protection suitable for use in general wards.

Why it matters: Different hospital departments don’t require the same grade of materials. Mild steel with an epoxy coating presents a good cost-efficient alternative for use in general wards.

6.                   Aluminum Alloys

Aluminum is found in light trolleys, wheelchair frameworks, and portable patient examination equipment. Because of its low weight, corrosion resistance, and resistance to damage, Aluminum is ideal for items that will need to be moved or transported repeatedly during a shift (i.e., tools). 

Why it matters: Proper handling and use of equipment by employees will be much easier when they are able to pick it up and move it around easily. Mobility can be assured without the risk of corrosion.

7.                   Medical-Grade Foam and Rexine Upholstery

Foam of medical standard provides the appropriate pressure distribution that prevents bedsore risk among patients admitted for long-term treatment. Rexine material covers the foam and provides a surface that staff can easily disinfect. Quality rexine does not split or absorb any liquid; inferior ones split and cause significant hygienic issues.

Why it matters: Upholstery directly comes in contact with patients. Poor quality of foam and rexine increases infection risks.

Why Material Transparency Is Critical for Procurement

Hospital furniture looks almost the same. The distinction comes six months later when a piece of metal in one frame begins to rust while another bed's upholstery starts tearing at the seams.

Asking a medical furniture manufacturer about material source & certification information to determine if the product meets certain standards of quality would not be unreasonable. The material used should protect the patients using the medical furniture; assist clinical staff in performing their duties, therefore providing savings over a longer time.

Ankitech Hospital Furniture

Ankitech Hospital Furniture produces high-quality medical furniture from Bhiwani, Haryana. The company's production process focuses on using CRCA and stainless steel frames, treating items in seven tanks, and conducting quality testing before sending any product.

Ankitech Hospital Furniture is known for various medical furniture offerings, such as ICU beds, beds/wards furniture, OT tables, patient transfer trolleys, etc. Their successful business experience has been established for over two decades, with a high retention percentage of 90%. Ankitech is recognized as one of India’s leading medical furniture manufacturers for healthcare and hospital furniture.

Final Thoughts

Each bed and trolley in a hospital holds patients at their most fragile times. Selecting proper material for the construction of furniture is not merely a purchasing decision but a healthcare one.