Most sterile cores were never designed for today’s instrument volume, packaging standards, and turnover expectations. Stacked trays, improvised storage, and constant searching slow down SPD and increase the risk of damaged packaging.
A Sterile Processing Department Vertical Carousel gives you a different way to think about sterile storage. Instead of walking aisles, digging through carts, and moving stacks of trays, staff work from a central, enclosed system that brings the right items to a counter height opening. The result is more predictable case picking, less handling, and a safer environment for sterile packs.
The Reality of Traditional Sterile Storage
In a typical setup, sterile storage is spread across open shelving, mobile shelving, and carts with pull out baskets. A tech might:
- Walk up and down aisles with a printed pick list
- Reach into deep baskets and stacked trays to find the right set
- Bend, stretch, or climb to reach high and low shelves
- Reprocess sets if wraps tear or trays are dropped
None of this is because staff are doing anything wrong. The equipment simply was not designed for today’s sterile packaging demands or case volumes.
What Is an SPD Vertical Carousel?
A sterile processing department vertical carousel is an enclosed medical supply storage system that uses a series of carriers that rotate vertically inside a steel housing. When a user selects an item or pick list on the touchscreen, the system automatically brings the correct carrier to a counter height access opening.
Instead of filling a room with shelves, the carousel stores up, not out. Trays, peel packs, and sterile supplies are stored individually on configured carriers, which helps protect packaging and keeps labels visible. Software from Kardex tracks inventory, expirations, and user activity, which turns the carousel into a workflow tool, not just a storage cabinet. Explore our page on SPD Vertical Carousels to learn more.
Before and After: Case Cart Picking
Before: Shelves, Carts, and Baskets
With traditional shelving and carts, case picking often looks like this:
- Start at one end of sterile storage with the pick list
- Walk aisles to find the right sets across multiple locations
- Move other trays aside in pull out baskets to see labels
- Bend and reach into awkward positions to get heavy trays
- Repeat the process for each case cart on the schedule
The process is familiar, but it is slow and dependent on each tech’s memory of where items are stored.
After: Case Cart Picking with an SPD Vertical Carousel
With an SPD vertical carousel in the sterile core:
- The tech logs in at the touchscreen and selects the case or pick list.
- The carousel rotates and delivers the first carrier to a waist height opening.
- Pick to light or on screen prompts show the exact tray to remove.
- The tray moves directly from the carrier to the case cart.
- The carousel automatically moves to the next item.
Instead of walking the room, the tech stands at one ergonomic workstation. Inventory stays organized in defined locations, which reduces handling and searching.
Five Ways SPD Vertical Carousels Improve Workflow
1. Faster Picking and Restocking
Because the carousel brings carriers to the user, staff spend more time picking and less time walking. Software can group tasks into batch picks and support case cart preparation, which is especially valuable during peak turnover times.
Restocking is also more controlled. Items return to defined locations that the system can reference later, which keeps storage consistent across shifts.
2. Less Rework From Damaged Packaging
Stacked trays and crowded baskets increase the chances of nicked wraps, crushed corners, or compromised seals. A sterile processing department vertical carousel is built around individual tray storage, which limits stacking and helps prevent damage from routine handling. The enclosed design also protects packaging from incidental contact in tight aisles and corridors.
Fewer unnecessary touches between processing and the OR means fewer sets sent back through decontamination and fewer cases scrambling for backup instruments.
3. Better Use of Sterile Core Floor Space
Traditional shelving spreads inventory across the room but leaves a large volume of unused air above the top shelf. An SPD vertical carousel uses that vertical cube. Facilities can often reclaim a significant amount of floor space compared to static shelving while increasing capacity.
That space can be repurposed for additional workstations, pass through areas, or case cart staging, all of which support smoother SPD workflow.
4. Improved Inventory Accuracy and Visibility
Because every item has a defined location inside the carousel, the software knows what should be on each carrier. Kardex sterile storage carousels can:
- Track lots, quantities, and expirations
- Tie trays to specific procedures or case carts
- Generate low stock and expiration alerts
SPD leaders gain clearer insight into what is available and how inventory moves through the department, which helps reduce last minute substitutions and rush orders.
5. Safer, More Ergonomic Work for Staff
Over time, repetitive bending, overhead reaching, and lifting heavy trays from awkward positions can take a toll. The sterile processing vertical carousel relocates work to a counter height access point, keeping most handling within a safer range of motion.
When staff are not climbing step stools or leaning into deep carts with pull out baskets, they can focus on accuracy and speed rather than on simply reaching the next item.
Where SPD Vertical Carousels Fit
SPD vertical carousels and sterile storage carousels are well suited for:
- Hospital sterile cores that need a central, enclosed hub between assembly and the OR
- Ambulatory surgery centers that need high density sterile storage in a tight footprint
- Central supply areas that support multiple departments or locations from one shared inventory
Carousels can be configured with different heights, access openings, and carrier layouts to fit building constraints and instrument profiles.
How Kardex SPD Vertical Carousels Support Your Team
Kardex brings mature vertical carousel technology into SPD with carriers, dividers, and software designed for sterile storage. Carriers can be tailored to support instrument sets, peel packs, and medical supply storage. Features like pick to light, user permissions, and audit trails help align the system with internal policies and documentation needs.
Working with a partner like Southwest Solutions Group ensures the design fits your layout, workflow, and long term growth. Decisions about carousel placement, height, pass through access, and carrier configuration all affect how well the system will perform for your SPD team.
Ready to Rethink Your Sterile Storage Workflow?
If your sterile core is crowded, staff spend too much time searching for trays, or damaged packaging is a recurring issue, it may be time to consider an SPD vertical carousel.
A sterile storage carousel is more than extra storage. It is an opportunity to redesign how sterile inventory flows through your department in a way that protects packaging, simplifies picking, and uses space more effectively.
Need detailed specs for a design? Our high-quality Revit models will show how the SPD carousel will fit in your floor plan. Request a consultation with Southwest Solutions Group to review your current sterile storage layout and explore how an SPD vertical carousel from Kardex could improve workflow in your facility.
