Metro CaseVue Case Carts & SPD Storage
How hospitals, surgery centers and sterile processing departments specify Metro CaseVue closed case carts, open case carts, exchange carts and SPD shelving — and how to design and price them online in the Metro Supply Carts designer.
Why Case Carts and SPD Storage Are Specified Together
A surgical case cart carries a complete procedure — instrument trays, wrapped sets, implants and disposables — from sterile processing to the operating room, and then carries the soiled set back for decontamination. Because the same cart makes both legs of that loop, the specification is driven by the round trip. It has to protect clean contents on the way in, contain contaminated contents on the way out, survive a cart washer every cycle, fit the elevator and the OR door, and still be easy for one technician to push.
The case cart is also only one piece of the sterile processing department. Sterile storage shelving, wrap racks, case-picking carts, par-level supply carts and secure IV storage all touch the same instrument and supply flow. When those pieces are planned together, the shelf pitch matches the tray size, the carts fit the aisles between the shelving, and the case-picking route is short. When they are bought piecemeal, SPD teams end up with carts that do not fit the elevator or shelves that waste a third of their height.
Labs USA supplies Metro (InterMetro Industries) storage to hospitals, surgery centers, clinical labs and research facilities from Salt Lake City. This page is the Metro-specific guide. For the wider category, including other manufacturers, see our surgical case carts page. When you know roughly what you need, the Metro Supply Carts designer builds a valid configuration and saves a shareable quote.
Metro CaseVue Closed Case Carts
CaseVue is Metro’s stainless steel closed case cart. The core decisions are length, height, door type and door count, plus a handful of options. The table summarises the choices and the question that drives each one.
| Choice | Options | What decides it |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 24, 36 or 48 inch nominal (body about 33½, 45½ or 57½ in wide, about 28 in deep) | Trays per case, elevator depth and door width |
| Height | Low (about 40⅝ in) or High (about 58¼ in) | Capacity versus sight line over the cart while pushing |
| Doors | Solid stainless or clear polycarbonate | Whether staff need to see contents without opening the cart |
| Door count | 24 inch carts have one door; longer carts have double doors | Access in a tight OR core or case-pick aisle |
| Handle | Swing-up push handle (standard on High carts) | Ergonomics on long transport routes |
| Status flags | Optional colour flag set | Clean, soiled and case-ready signalling at a glance |
| Travel version | Door-gasketed cart with solid doors | Moving sets between buildings or campuses |
Two rules cause most CaseVue re-quotes. First, the 48 inch length is offered in the Low height only, so a long, tall cart is not a valid build. Second, a fifth-wheel steering caster is available on the 36 and 48 inch carts but not on the 24 inch or Travel carts. Every CaseVue rides on a wheel set identified for biohazard service, so a cart carrying a soiled set can be recognised in the corridor.
Interior roller shelves must match the cart length. They adjust in roughly 2¼ inch steps and are rated around 125 pounds each, so the practical limit is usually two shelves in a Low cart and up to three in a High cart, depending on the tallest tray. Clear doors are popular in the case-pick area because a technician can confirm the set is complete without breaking the cart open. Solid doors conceal contents in public corridors and are required on the Travel version.
Cart-wash compatibility. Metro publishes cart-wash guidance for CaseVue: wash water of roughly 140–180°F for up to about 30 minutes and drying up to about 200°F for up to about 15 minutes. Check your washer cycle against the current spec sheet before you standardise; we confirm the sheet in writing with every quote.
How to Size a Case Cart Fleet
Start with the largest standard procedure, not the average one. Count the instrument trays and bulky supplies a full case needs, translate that into shelf count and cart length, then walk the route with a tape measure. A cart that fits the case but not the elevator is the most expensive mistake in this category.
- Largest case: number of trays, tray footprint, tallest tray and total weight
- Shelf count per cart and the spacing needed for the tallest tray
- Route: narrowest door, elevator car depth, tight corners and ramps — measured, not assumed
- Carts in circulation: cases per day multiplied by turnaround time, plus a buffer for washing, repair and peak days (commonly 15–25 percent extra)
- Door type: clear for visibility in the core, solid where contents must be concealed
- Status flags or labels, and whether carts are assigned to a specialty such as orthopedics or cardiac
- Travel carts for any sets that move between buildings or to an ambulatory surgery center
A simple example: a surgery department running 30 cases a day with a four-hour average turnaround needs carts for the cases in process at once, plus washing and staging. Many SPD managers find that the cart count lands somewhere between a third and a half of daily case volume once turnaround and wash time are counted, then add the buffer. Your own numbers will differ, which is why we size the fleet from your case log rather than a rule of thumb.
Design & price it online: Metro Supply Carts designer. Choose case transport, par-level, SPD, IV or point-of-use storage, pick a construction and size, and the designer validates the CaseVue rules (length, height, doors, fifth wheel, roller shelves), adds accessories and saves a quote you can share with your SPD manager. Open the Metro Supply Carts designer or browse every tool in the Metro designer hub.
Open Case Carts and When They Make Sense
Open stainless case carts trade containment for speed. They suit short runs inside a sterile core, staging outside an OR, or carrying rigid sterilization containers that already provide the containment. They are lighter, quicker to wash and easier to load from both sides, but the contents are exposed.
If your infection-prevention team requires enclosed transport through public corridors or elevators, specify closed CaseVue carts for that route and keep open carts for the inside-the-core moves. Many departments run both: closed carts for OR delivery and soiled return, and open carts for case picking and moving trays between the sterilizer, cooling racks and sterile storage.
Push-handle height, caster size and shelf count are the main choices on an open cart. Larger casters roll more easily over elevator thresholds; a handle at elbow height reduces push force on long runs.
Sterile Processing Storage: Shelving, Wrap Racks and Secure Carts
Sterile storage is where most SPD space is won or lost. Wrapped sets and rigid containers need shelving that keeps them off the floor, away from the ceiling and out of contact with outside walls, with enough airflow around packs to let them stay dry. Your facility’s infection-prevention policy and the standards it follows set the exact clearances; the shelving has to make those clearances easy to keep.
5-shelf SPD unit
Mobile MetroMax i unit with roll-under storage for instrument trays and wrapped sets.
9-shelf SPD unit
Tighter shelf pitch for smaller trays, peel packs and single instruments.
Starsys secure IV cart
Locking doors for IV solutions and supplies that must be controlled.
MetroMax i polymer is the usual choice in SPD because its open-grid shelf mats lift out for washing and the frame resists corrosion in humid decontamination and sterilizer areas. Super Erecta wire, in chrome or an epoxy finish, suits dry sterile storage where light weight and visibility matter more than wash-down. Sterile wrap racks hold rolls of wrap and pouch stock at the pack station so technicians are not reaching across the work surface.
Mobile units on casters let SPD teams reconfigure storage as the instrument mix changes and pull shelving out for floor cleaning. Where floor space is tight, track-mounted high-density shelving can recover aisle space; the Metro high-density designer covers that layout.
Transport, Exchange and Par-Level Supply Carts
Supply distribution to nursing units and clinical labs usually runs on an exchange system: a full cart replaces the depleted one on a schedule and the empty cart goes back to central supply for restock. Par-level carts stay in place and are topped up to a set quantity. Both are built on Metro shelving frames, in Super Erecta wire or MetroMax i polymer, with optional covers for clean transport.
Wire exchange cart
Open wire shelves for visibility and airflow on dry supply routes.
Deluxe wire exchange
Adds a cover for protected clean transport through public halls.
MetroMax i exchange
Polymer shelves with removable mats for wash-down and wet areas.
Wire par-level cart
Stays in the supply room and is restocked to par.
MetroMax i par-level
Polymer par cart for clean utility rooms and humid spaces.
qwikSIGHT baskets
Basket shelving that shows stock levels at a glance for point-of-use supplies.
Wire or polymer? Wire is lighter and suits dry supply rooms. Polymer resists corrosion and can be hosed down or run through a cart washer, which makes it the usual choice where carts are washed or sit in humid areas. Label holders on every shelf let restock staff work to the par list without guessing, and colour-coded labels can separate unit-specific supplies from shared stock.
Which Metro Cart Fits Which Job
| Cart | Containment | Cart-wash | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| CaseVue closed (Low or High) | Enclosed, door-sealed | Yes, per Metro guidance | OR delivery and soiled return through public corridors |
| CaseVue Travel | Gasketed, solid doors | Yes, per Metro guidance | Sets moving between buildings or campuses |
| Open stainless case cart | Open | Easy to wash | Short runs inside the sterile core |
| Wire exchange or par cart | Open or covered | Not typical | Dry supply to nursing units and labs |
| MetroMax i exchange or par cart | Open or covered | Wash-down friendly | Wet, humid or washed routes |
| MetroMax i SPD unit | Open shelving | Mats lift out for washing | Sterile storage and instrument staging |
Most hospitals end up with a mix of these, and the right mix depends on your case volume, building layout and infection-prevention policy. We are glad to review a floor plan and case log and suggest a fleet before you price anything.
Related Pages
- Metro Supply Carts designer — design and price case carts, exchange carts, SPD units and IV storage online
- Metro designer hub — all 17 Metro online designers for labs and hospitals
- Surgical case carts — case carts from several manufacturers
- Metro Medical Carts designer — Flexline and Lifeline procedure, anesthesia and crash carts
- Metro Polymer Shelving designer — MetroMax shelving for sterile storage
Frequently Asked Questions
What sizes do Metro CaseVue case carts come in?
CaseVue comes in 24, 36 and 48 inch nominal lengths and Low or High heights. The 48 inch cart is offered in the Low height only, and 24 inch carts have a single door. Body depth is about 28 inches.
Can CaseVue carts go through a cart washer?
Yes. Metro publishes cart-wash guidance for CaseVue of roughly 140 to 180°F wash water for up to about 30 minutes and drying up to about 200°F for up to about 15 minutes. We confirm the current spec sheet in writing with your quote.
Should I choose clear or solid doors?
Clear polycarbonate doors let staff check contents without opening the cart, which speeds case picking. Solid doors conceal contents and are required on Travel carts.
How many case carts does a surgery department need?
Multiply cases per day by the cart turnaround time, then add a buffer of roughly 15 to 25 percent for washing, repair and peak days. Size the cart itself to your largest standard case.
What shelving works best in sterile processing?
MetroMax i polymer is the common choice because the shelf mats lift out for washing and the frame resists corrosion. Wire shelving suits dry sterile storage. Your infection-prevention policy sets the clearances.
Can I design and price a case cart online?
Yes. The Metro Supply Carts designer validates CaseVue options and accessories and saves a shareable quote. You can also call (800) 326-4403 to talk it through.
Do you supply hospitals outside Utah?
Yes. Labs USA is based in Salt Lake City and ships Metro storage to hospitals, surgery centers and labs across the region and beyond.
Planning case carts or SPD storage?
Design them in the Metro Supply Carts designer, or send us your case log and floor plan and we will recommend a fleet. Call (800) 326-4403 or request a quote online.