Product Catalog
Non-Magnetic Casters — MRI-Suite Field Physics, 316 Stainless and Glass-Filled-Nylon Constructions, and What "MRI-Conditional" Means
Updated 2026-11
Inside an MRI suite, magnetic field strengths typically reach 1.5T or 3.0T and above. Standard casters containing ferromagnetic material are excluded from that environment for three published reasons: ferromagnetic parts are attracted by the field itself, any metal moving within a strong magnetic field generates internal eddy currents that create a counter-field and interfere with equipment signals, and debris from ordinary casters contaminates a controlled space. The result is a caster category built around reduced metal content and non-ferromagnetic components.
The subtle published trap is stainless steel. The magnetic permeability of 304 or 316 stainless is extremely low, but cold-working — stamping or drawing — can induce a martensitic transformation that leaves weak magnetism in the formed part. That is why credible non-magnetic constructions go further than "stainless": published manufacturer lines use glass-filled nylon bodies with reduced metal content, 316 stainless components, and insert-molded 316S precision bearings. We supply non-magnetic builds through own production plus outsourcing; MRI-safety certification for your installation is confirmed at quotation, never assumed from a material list.
Specifications
| Environment context (manufacturer reference) | MRI suite field strengths typically 1.5T or 3.0T and above — the parameter that excludes ferromagnetic components |
|---|---|
| Interference mechanism (manufacturer reference) | Metal moving in a strong magnetic field generates internal eddy currents, creating a counter-magnetic field that interferes with equipment signals |
| Stainless boundary (manufacturer reference) | 304/316 permeability is extremely low, but cold-working (stamping/drawing) can induce martensitic transformation and weak magnetism — "stainless" alone is not "non-magnetic" |
| Published construction (manufacturer reference) | Maintenance-free glass-filled-nylon casters with reduced metal content, 316 stainless steel components, 316S precision bearings insert-molded into the sealed raceway, Delrin plastic wheel bearings, full thread guards |
| Application classes (manufacturer/channel reference) | MRI equipment and MRI-conditional equipment carts, hospital carts, electronics, medical equipment; channel lines rate specific models "MRI Conditional for use in MRI examination rooms" (50/60/75 mm class models) |
| Siting rule (industry reference) | OR equipment classes are specified MRI-conditional when the imaging room is adjacent — location, not just product, decides the requirement |
| Tenant policy | Non-magnetic builds quoted per configuration with per-component material declarations; MRI-safety compliance statements confirmed at quotation |
| Lead time | 15–20 days (custom configurations 30–40 days) |
| MOQ | 200 pieces (custom/OEM programs 500–1,000 pieces by item) |
| Warranty | 18 months |
Field strengths, mechanisms and constructions are published manufacturer references; the MRI-conditional model classes are channel references. None of them certifies a tenant build — the compliance statement for your installation and configuration is stated on the quotation after confirmation, not before.
Applications & Selection
Why the environment, not the wheel, writes the spec
MRI caster requirements follow from the physics of the room. A static field of 1.5-3.0T and above exerts force on any ferromagnetic component; a moving metal part inside that field induces eddy currents whose counter-field disturbs the imaging signal; and anything that can become a projectile is a safety event, not a quality defect. Casters sit at floor level but they roll through the fringe field every time a cart crosses the threshold, so their material list is a room-safety question.
The published constructions answer with substitution: glass-filled nylon replaces the stamped steel fork where the load class allows; 316 stainless replaces magnetizable hardware where metal is unavoidable; 316S precision bearings are insert-molded into sealed raceways so the rolling elements are fixed non-magnetic parts. The honest caveat travels with them — formed stainless can carry weak magnetism from cold working, which is why credible lines state the full construction rather than the alloy name.
Classify the room before the cart: equipment in the hallway outside the scan room has a different requirement than equipment entering it, and published channel guidance rates specific models for MRI examination rooms. Our supply path is own production plus outsourcing across the non-magnetic construction space; the medical-caster family pages cover the brake and lock variants (total-lock, central-lock) that clinical carts add on top.
RFQ points that prevent an MRI-suite rejection
State the zone the cart will actually enter (exterior hallway, control room, scan room), the field-strength line if your facility publishes one, load per caster, wheel diameter, and whether the cart carries the patient or only equipment. Ask for the material declaration per component — body, fork, axle, bearings, brakes — because the weakest part, not the average, decides magnetic behavior.
If your program uses the MRI-conditional classification, say so explicitly: the term describes equipment demonstrated safe in the MRI environment under specific conditions, and the conditions belong in the purchase record. The quotation states the construction and the material declarations for your configuration; the facility's MRI-safety officer signs off the installation, as the siting guidance expects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aren't stainless steel casters already non-magnetic?
Not necessarily. The magnetic permeability of 304 or 316 stainless is extremely low, but cold-working — stamping or drawing — can induce a martensitic transformation that leaves weak magnetism in the formed part. Credible non-magnetic casters therefore publish the whole construction (glass-filled nylon bodies, 316 stainless components, insert-molded 316S bearings), not just "stainless".
What does "MRI-conditional" actually mean for a caster?
It means the model is rated as conditionally safe in the MRI environment — channel product lines mark specific models "MRI Conditional for use in MRI examination rooms", typically in the smaller 50/60/75 mm classes. The conditions matter: zone of use, field strength, and installation are part of the claim, and the facility's MRI-safety officer confirms the final acceptance.
Do casters outside the MRI room still need to be non-magnetic?
It depends on the siting, not a universal rule. Published healthcare class guidance marks casters MRI-conditional when the imaging room is adjacent — equipment that only serves exterior hallways carries a normal medical-caster spec, while anything crossing into the scan room or its fringe field needs the non-magnetic construction. Map the routes before ordering.
Ordering & Documentation
Documents
Every order ships with a packing list and commercial invoice. The per-component material declaration (body, fork, axle, bearings, brake) for the batch is stated on the quotation so your MRI-safety documentation can reference it; dimensional drawings are available on request.
Quotation
A quotation needs: the zone the cart will enter, load per caster, wheel diameter and tread, brake/lock requirements, and quantity. The confirmed quotation states the construction and material declarations for your configuration — published constructions are references, the quotation is the commitment.
Sample & supply
Standard builds are produced to order with an MOQ of 200 pieces (500-1,000 for OEM programs). Lead time is 15-20 days standard, 30-40 days for custom constructions. The usual validation for MRI-suite duty is a magnet test and roll test of sample casters against your facility's acceptance procedure before the batch order.
Storage & shipping
Non-magnetic casters ship in standard cartons with components bagged to keep hardware sets together; store flat and dry. Before installation, check that no steel hardware has been substituted during cart fabrication — a single magnetized bolt under the frame undoes the caster spec.