Hospital beds have special features both for the comfort and well-being of the patient and for the convenience of health care workers. People may focus on features that include adjustable height for the entire bed, the head, and the feet, adjustable side rails, and electronic buttons to operate both the bed and other nearby electronic devices. However, there is an unremarkable part that could cause inconvenience or discomfort to the patient if it is malfunctioned – a caster.
Bed casters are available in various sizes and are commonly made of rubber, plastic, aluminum, or stainless steel. Hospital bed casters are not just wheels that can move. Casters shall be made as durable, easy to manoeuver, and maintain. For hospital bed casters, they shall meet the technical requirements, the appropriate dimensions, and the requirements for testing. All standards are specified in DIN EN 12531:1998.
The Taiwanese TPE specialist Phon Tech offers a range of Phoenix TPS that help customers to design the caster with an elastomeric tread that passed those tests described in EN 12531 and EN 12527. The compounds are designed to meet the stringent requirements of hospital bed caster. Moreover, they do not break down in water or steam, and it does not squeak like polyurethane wheels.