Hospital Nursing Station Workbench Material Analysis: Steel, Aluminum, or Wood: How to Choose?
Nursing station workstations are a core workspace in hospitals, and the material choice directly impacts durability, safety, and the overall patient experience. Currently, the three most popular materials—steel, aluminum, and wood—each have their own unique applications and advantages. The following is a detailed analysis based on performance, applicable departments, and maintenance:
1. Steel Nursing Station Workbench: The Benchmark for Durability and Protection
Core Features: Made from cold-rolled steel (1.0-1.5mm thick), after acid washing and phosphate treatment to remove rust, the surface is electrostatically sprayed with epoxy resin to create a dense antibacterial coating (≥99% antibacterial rate).
Highlights:
Extreme Durability: Highly impact-resistant, it can withstand intense use, such as collisions with treatment carts and frequent instrument placement. Its service life can reach over 15 years, three times that of ordinary materials. Easy to Clean and Disinfect: The smooth, non-porous surface can be directly wiped with 75% alcohol and chlorine-containing disinfectants. It is resistant to corrosion from medical reagents such as iodine tincture and hydrogen peroxide, and has no risk of fading or bulging.
Fireproof and Moisture-Proof: With a fire rating of B1, it resists mold and rust in humid environments, making it suitable for rainy southern regions or departments subject to frequent disinfection.
Suitable Applications:
Emergency departments, general wards, and other high-traffic, high-use areas;
Infectious disease departments, fever clinics, and other locations requiring high disinfection intensity;
Tertiary hospitals with strict service life and fire rating requirements.
Maintenance Tips: Regularly wipe away loose dust with a dry cloth to prevent sharp instruments from scratching the surface coating. Minor scratches can be repaired with a special touch-up paint.
2. Aluminum Nursing Station Workstation: The Ideal Choice for Lightweight and Flexibility
Key Features: Made of 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum alloy (1.2-2.0mm thick), this workstation undergoes an anodizing treatment to create a 10-20μm oxide film, or can be coated with an antibacterial powder coating, ensuring both corrosion resistance and aesthetics.
Highlights:
Lightweight Design: Weighing only one-third of steel, this workstation is easily repositioned to suit departmental layouts. It can be moved by a single person, reducing modification costs.
Corrosion Resistance: Dual protection with an oxide film and a spray coating ensures over 500 hours of salt spray resistance, demonstrating excellent performance in chemical-intensive environments such as laboratories and endoscopy centers.
Flexible Design: Aluminum’s high ductility allows for customizable curved, wavy, and other shapes. Its sleek lines make it ideal for modern, minimalist hospital environments. Suitable for:
Departments requiring a warm atmosphere and potentially requiring layout adjustments, such as pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology;
Areas requiring corrosion protection, such as laboratories and pharmacies;
Locations where aesthetics are paramount, such as outpatient halls and rehabilitation departments.
Maintenance Tips: Avoid deformation caused by prolonged pressure from heavy objects; use a neutral detergent when cleaning to prevent strong acids and alkalis from damaging the oxide film.
2. Wooden Nursing Station Workbench: A Symbol of Humanistic Care and Quality
Key Features: Made of E0-grade environmentally friendly solid wood particle board or multi-layer solid wood panel (formaldehyde emission ≤ 0.05 mg/m³), the surface is laminated with fireproof board or coated with medical-grade wood wax. Some high-end models feature walnut, cherry, and other solid wood panels.
Highlights:
Warm and Soft Texture: Natural wood grain and soft tones can soothe patients, convey humanistic care, and enhance the medical experience.
Color Compatibility: A wide range of color combinations can be achieved through veneer or paint, easily integrating with the decor of traditional Chinese medicine hospitals and high-end private hospitals. Detailed Treatment:
3.Wood is easy to carve, and custom embossed designs such as the hospital logo and department name can be added to enhance brand recognition.
Suitable Scenarios:
Traditional Chinese Medicine hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, and other venues that value traditional culture and a warm atmosphere;
High-end private hospitals, postpartum care centers, and other institutions that emphasize quality of service;
Psychological counseling departments and geriatric departments that need to mitigate the perceived coldness of medical care.
Maintenance Tips: Avoid prolonged exposure to water (waterproof baffles can be installed); regularly maintain with specialized wood wax oil to prevent cracking; and keep away from heat sources such as heaters and air conditioner vents.
Material Selection Guide: Locate the Optimal Solution in 3 Steps
Consider the Department’s Characteristics: Choose steel for frequent disinfection, aluminum for flexible adjustments, and wood for a more inviting atmosphere.
Calculate Long-Term Costs: Steel has a high initial investment but a long lifespan, while aluminum offers low mid-term renovation costs. Wood requires regular maintenance.
Suitable Style: Choose steel/aluminum for a professional look at general hospitals, and wood/aluminum for a personalized look at specialty hospitals. The material selection for the nurse station workstation is fundamentally about balancing medical functionality with a humanistic experience. Whether it’s the sturdiness of steel, the flexibility of aluminum, or the warmth of wood, the core is to adapt to the needs of the department—making medical operations more efficient and patients more reassured. For customization, please provide department details to obtain a targeted material solution.
