Cart Frames
304/316 stainless cart frames and mainframes with the welding route, datums and squareness checks defined by the released drawing and inspection plan.
Medical · Healthcare
Medical Cart & Trolley
Medical Cart & Trolley
Sheet Metal Fabrication
Build-to-print stainless steel cart frames, drawer housings, panels and tops for medical carts and trolleys. Full-seam welding, polishing, passivation and inspection are included only when drawing-specified and quoted. We fabricate the sheet metal structure; the OEM or assembly partner integrates and validates casters, slides, locks and other bought-out hardware.
✓ 304 / 316 stainless
✓ Weld & finish scope by RFQ
✓ Cleaning acceptance owned by OEM
304 stainless
304/316
Stainless Grades
RFQ
Welded & Polished
4
Cart Types
RFQ
Frame Tolerance
01 / What We Fabricate
Medical Cart Sheet Metal Parts We Fabricate
This page covers the build-to-print metal structure of a medical cart: frames, drawer housings, panels, tops, rails and brackets. The OEM owns the complete-cart design, cleaning validation, load testing and regulatory approval.
Drawer Housings & Bodies
Stainless drawer housings and drawer bodies formed to drawing-defined dimensions and interfaces for the OEM-selected slide and drawer configuration.
Panels, Tops & Shelves
Side panels, top caps and shelves with drawing-defined radii, edge condition, seam treatment and finish. The OEM validates cleaning compatibility.
Guide Rails & Brackets
Drawer guide rails, mounting brackets and accessory mounts built to released positions and functional datums for OEM assembly validation.
Our scope: the sheet metal structure
We fabricate the stainless steel structure — frames, drawer housings, panels, tops and brackets — to the released drawing and quoted weld, finish and inspection scope. Bought-out components such as casters, ball-bearing drawer slides, ABS panels, locks, and electrical fittings are integrated by you or your assembly partner. We build the structure to drop into your assembly line, with mounting provisions sized to your chosen hardware. The OEM validates final cart performance and cleaning suitability.
02 / Cart Types
Drawing-Defined Structures for Common Cart Formats
The examples below illustrate common RFQ categories; actual geometry, load, hardware and finish requirements come from the released cart design.
Crash Cart Crash / Emergency Carts
Multi-drawer stainless structures for emergency carts — robust frames with the drawer-housing array and lock provisions a crash cart needs.
- Build Multi-drawer frame
- Material 304 stainless
- Feature Lock-ready
Procedure Procedure / Treatment Trolleys
Shelf-and-drawer trolley structures with guardrails and adjustable shelf provisions — for dressing, treatment, and utility trolleys.
- Build Shelf + drawer
- Material 304 stainless
- Feature Guardrails
Anesthesia Anesthesia Carts
Modular drawer-housing structures supporting buyer-selected drawer depths in one frame for configurable anesthesia and medication carts.
- Build Modular drawers
- Depths Drawing-defined
- Feature Configurable
Instrument Instrument Trolleys
Shelf structures in drawing-specified 304/316 stainless for instrument and dressing trolleys, with weld and finish requirements confirmed at RFQ. The OEM validates suitability for the intended area.
- Build Shelf structure
- Material 304/316 stainless
- Feature Drawing-specified finish
03 / Technical Capabilities
Technical Inputs for Medical Cart RFQs
Material, seam design, edge condition, finish and dimensional checks must be released by the OEM and agreed before quotation.
| Material | Drawing-specified 304 or 316 stainless; the OEM validates chemical and cleaning compatibility |
|---|---|
| Construction | Welded or knock-down construction to the released seam and joint design |
| Surface Finish | Brushed, polished or electropolished when drawing-specified and available at RFQ |
| Edges | Drawing-defined radii, deburring and edge acceptance |
| Frame Tolerance | Drawing-defined tolerance and inspection method |
| Drawer Depths | Configured from the released drawer and slide specification |
| Hardware Provisions | Mounting for your casters, slides, locks — sized to your chosen components |
| Shipping | Knock-down or assembled packout reviewed against geometry and transit requirements |
| Quality Scope | Drawing-based dimensional, weld and finish inspection as agreed in the RFQ |
04 / Manufacturing Process
From Stainless Sheet to Cart Structure
The route is confirmed from the released drawing, including weld, finish, hardware, squareness and inspection scope.
01
Laser Cutting
Cut frame members, panels, drawer blanks and guide-rail components from the drawing-specified stainless grade.
02
Bending & Forming
CNC press-brake forming of frames, drawer bodies and panels to released dimensions and drawing tolerances.
03
Welding
Apply the drawing-defined weld type and seam treatment; continuous welds are used only when specified and quoted.
04
Grinding & Polishing
Grind welds and coordinate brushing, polishing or electropolishing only to the quoted finish specification and acceptance method.
05
Passivation
Coordinate stainless passivation when drawing-specified; process records and acceptance requirements must be included in the quotation.
06
Inspection
Perform the squareness, fit, weld and finish checks included in the agreed inspection plan. The OEM validates final assembly performance.
05 / Why It Matters
The Structure Decides Hygiene, Fit, and Life
On a medical cart, the sheet metal structure isn't just a shell: seam design, squareness, finish and material choice affect cleanability, drawer alignment and service life. The OEM validates the complete cart for its intended use.
Seam Design Supports Cleanability
Drawing-defined continuous welds and ground seam treatment can reduce hard-to-clean joints. The OEM defines and validates the cleaning method.
Squareness = Drawer Alignment
If the frame isn't square and accurate, drawers bind and locks misalign — and transit stress can rack a poorly built frame. Dimensional accuracy keeps the cart working.
Finish Must Match the Cleaning Plan
The drawing should define the finish, cosmetic zones and any roughness measurement method. Compatibility with cleaning chemicals remains an OEM validation.
Grade Selection Follows Exposure
304 or 316 selection should follow the released chemical-exposure and cleaning requirements. The OEM validates suitability for the service environment.
Customer Project
Medical Cart Frame: One Structure for Two Equipment Models
Materials, fabrication decisions and results for an anonymous customer project.
Component reference image
The Customer Challenge
The original design required separate cart-frame tooling for each equipment model, increasing cost and extending the production schedule.
Project Measurements & Details
12Common frame part types
3Model-specific part types
≥80 kgLoad test
Results apply to the project configuration described on the linked page.
Explore Customer Projects → 07 / Why Choose Us
Why OEMs Trust DRAmetal for Cart Structures
01
Drawing-defined seams
Continuous and ground-flush welds can be quoted where the drawing requires reduced seam exposure.
02
Specified surface finish
Brushing, polishing or electropolishing is coordinated to drawing-defined finish and acceptance requirements.
03
Drawing-defined squareness
Accurate frames so your slides, drawers, and locks fit without rework on the line.
04
Passivated stainless
Passivation can be included when specified, with the process route and records agreed in the quotation.
05
Knock-down packing
A flat-pack option can be reviewed for suitable geometry; freight and transit risk depend on the final packout.
06
Integration-ready
Structures built with mounting provisions sized to your casters, slides, and hardware.
08 / Related
Explore More
OEM purchasing and engineering
Release an OEM Cart Metalwork Package
Buy the fabricated structure against your assembly interfaces, not a generic cart photograph. We quote drawing-led frames, drawer housings, caster plates, brackets, panels and tops for equipment OEMs; purchased hardware and complete-system responsibilities are identified separately.
Frame and caster interfaces
Provide the selected caster drawings, mounting pattern, supporting surface, bolt access and operating envelope. Agree structural review and load-validation responsibilities; a mounting plate is not a system load rating.
Drawers, displays and service routes
Identify the slide and monitor-mount references, locating datums, reinforcement zones and cable keep-outs. Include installed and service positions so the finished metalwork can be reviewed against its mating parts.
Controlled variants and repeat kits
Release the applicable assembly BOM, handed parts, hardware substitutions, finish zones and packing groups. State what may be shared across variants and which revision must stay with each kit.
Prepare the drawing and purchasing package
- Medical Cart Metalwork or a Complete Cart? Define the OEM RFQ
- Medical Cart Caster Plates: Patterns, Support and Swivel Clearance
- Medical Cart Drawer Slides: Mounting Datums and Cabinet Fit
- Medical Cart Monitor Mounts: Reinforcement and Load Inputs
- Medical Cart Cable Routing: Drawers, Wheels and Service Access
- Medical Cart Metalwork Kits: Control Variants and Repeat Orders
Start with your released requirements
For an RFQ, send CAD and revision-controlled drawings, material and finish requirements, purchased-component references, acceptance checks, quantity per configuration and forecast repeat demand.
Finished-cart stability, electrical integration, cleaning validation and equipment approval are assigned to the responsible OEM or agreed testing party. Specify any additional assembly or documentation you need before quotation.
09 / FAQ
Medical Cart Fabrication FAQ
Do you build complete medical carts?
We fabricate the stainless steel structure — frames, drawer housings, panels, tops and brackets — to the released drawing. Welding, polishing, passivation and inspection are included only when quoted. Bought-out components (casters, ball-bearing slides, ABS panels, locks, electrical) are integrated by you or your assembly partner. We build the structure with mounting provisions sized to your chosen hardware so it drops into your line.
304 or 316 stainless — which for a medical cart?
304 and 316 are common RFQ options, but the OEM must select and validate the grade against cleaning agents, exposure and service conditions. We can review the fabrication implications of the released grade. See our 304 vs 316 guide.
How do you keep the structure cleanable?
The released drawing should define seams, weld grinding, edge condition and finish. Polishing, electropolishing, passivation and protected packout can be quoted where specified; the OEM validates the cleaning process and intended-use suitability.
Can you do knock-down (flat-pack) structures?
A knock-down option can be reviewed where the design and interfaces support it. Transit protection, final assembly controls and freight impact are assessed from the released geometry, volume and packout requirements.
Can you match our existing cart design?
Yes — send us drawings or a sample and we'll fabricate the structure to match, including drawer depths, shelf layout, and mounting provisions for your hardware.
What quality standards do you work to?
DRAmetal is ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 certified. Certificate details are available on request. We fabricate to the released drawing and agreed dimensional, weld and finish inspection scope. The medical-device OEM owns final regulatory approval of the complete cart.
Get Started
Need Medical Cart
Need Medical Cart
Structures Fabricated?
Send us your cart design, drawer configuration, and the hardware you'll integrate. Our engineering team will review the submitted information and, where the scope is complete, provide a DFM review, material recommendation, and quote for the stainless steel structure.
✓ RFQ-based DFM review ✓ 304 / 316 stainless ✓ Weld & finish scope by RFQ ✓ Integration-ready