423450 - Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
When it comes to supplying critical equipment and supplies to healthcare providers, understanding the relevant NAICS codes is essential for businesses aiming to operate or compete in this specialized sector. NAICS code 423450 represents a vital segment in the wholesale trade industryâfocusing on the merchant wholesale distribution of medical, dental, and hospital equipment and supplies. Whether you are a distributor, supplier, or government contractor, knowing what this code entails can help target the right market and comply with industry standards.
What is NAICS Code 423450?
NAICS 423450 covers establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of medical, dental, and hospital equipment and supplies. These businesses play an indispensable role in ensuring healthcare facilitiesâfrom hospitals to dental clinicsâhave access to the equipment and supplies they need to operate efficiently and improve patient care.
Included Products and Equipment
The range of products includes, but is not limited to:
- Surgical instruments and apparatus
- Diagnostic equipment (e.g., X-ray, ultrasound machines)
- Dental chairs and professional supplies
- Hospital furniture and beds
- Orthopedic and prosthetic appliances
- First-aid kits and surgical dressings
- Hearing aids and therapy equipment
- Medical glassware and thermometers
Sector Overview and Typical Business Activities
Sector: Wholesale Trade
Businesses classified under NAICS 423450 act as intermediaries between manufacturers and healthcare providers. They typically:
- Purchase medical, dental, and hospital-related goods in bulk
- Manage logistics and inventory of specialized healthcare products
- Offer expert product knowledge to medical institutions
- Support healthcare providers with timely and compliant supplies
Typical business types include:
- Medical equipment distributors
- Dental supplies wholesalers
- Hospital equipment suppliers
Size Standards for NAICS Code 423450
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) defines a small business size standard for NAICS 423450 as 200 employees or fewer. This size standard is critical for companies aiming to qualify for government contracts, funding, or small business certifications within the healthcare equipment distribution sector.
Detailed Code Breakdown
Below is a comprehensive table listing the wide array of items and categories covered under NAICS 423450:
| Product / Category | Description | Merchant Wholesalers of |
|---|---|---|
| Appliances, surgical | Surgical appliances | Surgical, merchant wholesalers |
| Artificial limbs | Prosthetics | Artificial limbs merchant wholesalers |
| Beds, hospital | Hospital beds | Hospital beds merchant wholesalers |
| Crutches | Mobility aids | Crutches merchant wholesalers |
| Dental chairs | Chairs for dental use | Dental chairs merchant wholesalers |
| Dental equipment and supplies | Dental tools and consumables | Dental equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers |
| Dentists' professional supplies | Products used by dentists | Dentists' professional supplies wholesalers |
| Diagnostic equipment, medical | Equipment for diagnosis | Diagnostic equipment merchant wholesalers |
| Dressings, medical | Medical dressings | Dressings merchant wholesalers |
| Electromedical equipment | Electronic medical devices | Electromedical equipment merchant wholesalers |
| First-aid kits (except household) | First-aid kits for professional use | First-aid kits merchant wholesalers |
| Glassware, medical | Laboratory and medical glassware | Glassware merchant wholesalers |
| Hearing aids | Devices for hearing impairment | Hearing aids merchant wholesalers |
| Home health care supplies | Supplies for home health care | Home health care supplies wholesalers |
| Hospital equipment and supplies | General hospital equipment | Hospital equipment & supplies wholesalers |
| Hospital furniture | Furniture for hospital settings | Hospital furniture merchant wholesalers |
| Hospital gowns | Hospital gowns and apparel | Hospital gowns merchant wholesalers |
| Instruments, dental and medical | Dental and medical instruments | Instruments merchant wholesalers |
| Laboratory equipment, dental and medical | Laboratory devices for medical/dental use | Laboratory equipment merchant wholesalers |
| Medical equipment | General medical devices | Medical equipment merchant wholesalers |
| Medical furniture | Medical-related furniture | Medical furniture merchant wholesalers |
| Medical glassware | Special glassware for medical use | Medical glassware merchant wholesalers |
| Medical instruments | Devices for clinical care | Medical instruments merchant wholesalers |
| Medical supplies (except household first-aid) | Medical consumables excluding household items | Medical supplies merchant wholesalers |
| Orthopedic equipment and supplies | Devices and supplies for orthopedics | Orthopedic equipment merchant wholesalers |
| Patient monitoring equipment | Devices to monitor patient vitals | Patient monitoring equipment wholesalers |
| Physicians' equipment and supplies | Equipment used by physicians | Physicians' equipment and supplies wholesalers |
| Prosthetic appliances and supplies | Artificial body parts and related supplies | Prosthetic appliances wholesaler |
| Surgical and medical masks | Protective masks used in surgery and medicine | Surgical and medical masks merchant wholesalers |
| Surgical appliances | Surgical devices and apparatus | Surgical appliances merchant wholesalers |
| Surgical dressings | Dressings specifically for surgery | Surgical dressings merchant wholesalers |
| Surgical instruments and apparatus | Tools used for surgery | Surgical instruments merchant wholesalers |
| Surgical supplies | Miscellaneous surgical consumables | Surgical supplies merchant wholesalers |
| Surgical towels | Towels used in surgical contexts | Surgical towels merchant wholesalers |
| Tapes, medical and surgical | Medical and surgical adhesive tapes | Tapes merchant wholesalers |
| Teeth, dental | Artificial teeth and dental parts | Teeth merchant wholesalers |
| Therapy equipment | Devices for physical and medical therapy | Therapy equipment merchant wholesalers |
| Thermometers | Temperature measuring instruments | Thermometers merchant wholesalers |
| Towels, surgical | Towels used in surgical environments | Towels merchant wholesalers |
| Ultrasound equipment, medical | Diagnostic ultrasound machines | Ultrasound equipment merchant wholesalers |
| Wheelchairs | Mobility wheelchairs | Wheelchairs merchant wholesalers |
| Whirlpool baths, hospital | Therapeutic baths used in hospitals | Whirlpool baths merchant wholesalers |
| X-ray machines and parts, medical and dental | X-ray imaging devices and components | X-ray machines and parts merchant wholesalers |
FAQs About NAICS Code 423450
Q1: What types of products do businesses under NAICS 423450 distribute?
A1: They distribute a broad range of medical, dental, and hospital equipment and suppliesâranging from surgical instruments and diagnostic machines to dental chairs and first-aid kits.
Q2: Which sector does NAICS 423450 fall into?
A2: It is part of the Wholesale Trade sector.
Q3: What is the employee size standard for small businesses in this NAICS code?
A3: The size standard is 200 employees or fewer.
Q4: Can businesses selling only dental equipment qualify under NAICS 423450?
A4: Yes, dental equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers fall within this code.
Q5: What are some examples of businesses that fit into NAICS 423450?
A5: Examples include medical equipment distributors, dental supplies wholesalers, and hospital equipment suppliers.
Conclusion
NAICS code 423450 defines a significant and specialized area in wholesale trade focused on the distribution of medical, dental, and hospital equipment and supplies. Understanding this code benefits businesses aiming to operate effectively in healthcare wholesaling, comply with government requirements, or pursue small business opportunities in this niche. With a diverse product range and critical role in healthcare logistics, merchant wholesalers under this NAICS code are indispensable to maintaining healthcare infrastructure and services nationwide.
Optimize your business presence and contracting strategies by accurately identifying your NAICS classificationâand for companies in this sector, NAICS 423450 is the key to unlocking healthcare wholesale market opportunities.
