Stainless Steel Casework & Cabinets
Custom & Standard Options
Stainless steel lab cabinets are an ideal solution for healthcare and medical research settings. The most commonly used alloys for these cabinets are types 304 and 316. Both produce non-porous surfaces, making them resistant to viruses, bacteria and other pathogens. On top of supporting infection prevention efforts, stainless offers a clean look and solid construction.
Why use stainless steel for lab and medical applications?
Laboratories and medical facilities that require sterile work and storage areas are a great fit for stainless steel. Harsh cleaning agents are common in hospitals, clean rooms and pharmaceutical settings. Where other cabinets and lab furniture might corrode or wear, 316 stainless maintains its integrity.
Stainless steel casework, countertops and cabinets are generally heavy duty as well. Many models of cabinets have customizable options including removable panels, soft closing drawers, glass fronts, sloped tops, adjustable shelves and interior racking systems.
Antimicrobial coatings are also available to further reduce viral and bacterial transmission.
Common applications for stainless steel cabinets and casework include:
- Surgical rooms
- Sterile cores
- Laboratories
- Endoscopy and radiology departments
- Hospital storage
- Cleanrooms
- Food sciences
- Pharmaceutical
Types of Stainless Cabinets
Many stainless steel cabinet and casework options are available to fit your specific lab design requirements.
Mobile cabinets are more flexible. They can be easily moved or modified while maintaining the benefit of built-in cabinets. Many options are available from side push/pull handles to locking casters making your laboratory interchangeable to your needs.
Mobile Cabinets
Mobile cabinets offer flexible storage that is easily optimized to the available space. Safe handling and retrieval of materials or supplies is as simple as wheeling it from one room to the next.
Mobile cabinets commonly have non-marking rubber swivel casters that also provide great traction. Other locking casters or leveling casters are also available. These are an ideal choice when flexibility is a must.
Lab Base Cabinets
Lab base cabinets, or floor mounted casework, hold heavy scientific equipment and lab countertops. They are available in various sizes and configurations, making it easy to design a functional lab. Typically these cabinets are used in applications where a worktop will be applied above for the use of a table top. Standard lab cabinets are 22”D with a 7”D rear chase opening behind left for any services such as plumbing or electrical needed to route in the space.
Tall Cabinets
Tall cabinets offer the advantage of vertical storage. They are commonly used for storing reagents, or act as catheter cabinets in medical settings. Available in a mix of heights and depths with tempered glass door windows or safety glass options. We can also help design and supply custom tall stainless steel cabinets to meet specific needs.
Pass Through Cabinets
Pass-through style cabinets make it easy for staff in two separate rooms to access and handle materials. Storage is accessible from both sides of the wall and is an ideal way to separate the public to laboratory gathering of samples. Security only having one side and door open at a time ensures privacy for the procedure.
Combination/Key Cabinets (Narcotic Cabinets)
Key cabinets are generally used in medical offices where more security is needed with storing important items. These cabinets have the option to come as either single door side by side door models. Other options would be single and double key lock cabinets, each with separate keying.
The stainless steel construction is manufactured from 20 gauge 316 stainless steel with a #4 finish. Many size options are available to choose from.
Drawer Style
Drawer style cabinets offer multiple sliding drawers stacked on top of each other or door drawer combinations. These cabinets have options for soft closing drawers and full extension drawer slides.
Freestanding/Medical
The freestanding medical cabinets come in both fixed and mobile models.They provide flexible storage and adjustable shelves.
Regardless of placement, they have the ability to stand alone. Use them in sanitary and heavy-duty applications such as cleanrooms, laboratories, medical supply storage and other healthcare applications.
Recessed Cabinets
Recessed cabinets are built into the wall to provide space savings. These cabinets are set into place and a 4” stainless trim kit is used all around the outside. Usually a General Contractor is involved for building the framing for this application and CFI can assist with all the coordination.
Recessed cabinets have many custom options to suit your specific needs. The glass doors provide visibility of while ensuring safe handling and retrieval of supplies.
Wall Mounted Cabinets
Wall cabinets are also known as wall mounted casework. Stainless steel casework is suited for environments that require a high degree of cleanliness, liquid, chemical, microbial and thermal resistance.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Stainless Steel Lab Furniture
Selecting the right stainless cabinets and casework for your application help ensure the longest possible lifespan.
Requirements:
Review laboratory requirements and purpose before deciding on the optimal cabinet and casework material. Stainless steel can withstand heavy use, but may scratch and dent more easily than other material types.
Space:
Optimized workspaces can improve productivity and flexibility. Modular and movable cabinetry makes future layout and design changes more efficient.
Cost:
Stainless steel cabinets and stainless lab countertops typically require a greater upfront investment. Movable stainless casework carriers a higher price, but offers additional benefits in a healthcare or lab setting for long term usage.
Final Word
Most stainless steel medical cabinets are ergonomically designed to meet your needs. Stainless steel medical cabinets, custom, louver doors and mobile cabinetry are all options we can help provide. Reconfiguration with modular cabinet designs make it easy when moving or renovating the facility down the line.
Custom Fabricators provides lab furniture, storage cabinets, fume hoods, stainless steel walled cabinets, countertops, lab design consulting and more with over 60 years experience.
Contact our team for a quote or additional information.