Learn more about the use of stainless steel in the hospital industry!

You walk into any healthcare facility and there they are, always clean and with a mirror-like shine! It's stainless steel, a metallic blend of iron, chromium, carbon, and nickel.

This blend provides high resistance to corrosion and heat. It is precisely because of these properties that the use of stainless steel in the hospital industry is highly welcome.

While common steels suffer from rust, stainless steel resists corrosion. Therefore, it is the most widely used material for the production of utensils, furniture, and hospital equipment. Stainless steel offers many benefits.

Want to learn more about the use of stainless steel in the hospital sector? Then keep reading!

 The advantages of stainless steel in the hospital industry

The stainless steel surface is non-porous; bacteria, viruses, and even stains cannot penetrate it. A simple cleaning is enough to keep it clean. Even with the use of harsh chemicals, its surface is unaffected. Furthermore, stainless steel resists corrosion and does not rust.

Within the medical industry, its properties make this material perfect for use in hospital manufacturing. See its advantages:

• versatile, can be applied to different furniture and equipment;
• reduced risk of contamination;
• low oxidation rate;
• heat resistance;
• high corrosion resistance;
• hygienic and easy to clean;
• antibacterial properties;
• non-magnetic; perfect for surgical rooms;
• 100 % recyclable and sustainable design;
• keeps its shape for many years;
• non-porous surface: does not cultivate colonies of pathogenic agents;
• less maintenance, more economical.

Studies confirm that bacterial contamination decreases surprisingly after cleaning, ensuring the well-being of patients, families and staff.

Stainless steel classification

Stainless steel in the hospital industry comprehensively meets the sector's demands. It is divided into categories. Learn about the types employed in the manufacture of items for hospitals.

Austenitic

Very resistant to corrosion, easy to weld. 304, 304 L, 316, and 316 L steels are the most suitable for manufacturing furniture, equipment, and utensils.

Martensitic

It is highly resistant, making it suitable for manufacturing scalpels, knives, tweezers, valves, and other healthcare accessories.

Stainless steel in the hospital kitchen

THE kitchen The hospital staff is responsible for preparing food served to patients and hospital staff. Therefore, equipment must be made of stainless steel and meet health surveillance hygiene requirements.

The equipment ranges from ovens, stoves, refrigerators and freezers, to items such as drains, grills, trash cans, sinks, washbasins, pans and cutlery.

Stainless steel in the surgical block

This is the unit where surgical procedures are performed, consisting of rooms and the equipment and materials used by the team. The rooms undergo rigorous disinfection processes, and the use of stainless steel furniture and equipment facilitates daily cleaning. Some examples:

• transport car;
• transfer stretcher;
• serum support;
• swivel lifting stool, among others.

Although there are other inputs, stainless steel in the hospital industry continues to be the most widely used metal in medical, dental, and veterinary clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare institutions.

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