In the world of industrial parts and equipment rigidity and longevity are the two most important factors. You want a piece of equipment that will be able to withstand everyday rigours and do so for a long time. The same goes for casters or caster wheels which are made to provide a seamless rolling motion.
No matter the amount of weight you need to push around on a trolley or any other material-handling platform. With caster wheels, you get to enjoy a quieter working environment while being able to reduce injuries since the design of these wheels allows you to use any platform with ease. But not every industrial caster wheel will act the same.
What to Look for in Caster Wheels
Capacity
The load capacity of industrial casters is what determines the amount of weight the wheels are able to withstand without experiencing a drop in performance. Obviously the higher this capacity is the better industrial castors that you’ll have. A good rule of thumb here is to go for casters that have a slightly higher load capacity than the weight you need to haul around every day.
Diameter
The size of the wheels or their diameter has an effect on both rolling resistance and speed. Usually, smaller-diameter wheels are able to roll much easier and larger-diameter wheels are better at absorbing rod imperfections and have greater load capacities. Smaller wheels are better for short and quick trips.
Floor
One thing that isn’t related to industrial casters but affects how they work is the floor you’re going to have them on. The more obstacles there are such as tracks, mouldings or even cracks, the larger and more rigid the wheels should be. To protect the floor you should go for wheels made of softer yet durable materials, that is if you have a carpeted floor.
Mount
There are two types of mounts industrial castors can have and it can be either a stem or a plate mount. A caster wheel with a plate mount is one that has a flat bracket with bole holes on it. Plate mounts are the best option when it comes to heavy-duty equipment since they offer good stability and mobility.
Stem mounts feature a stem that is screwed into the equipment you want to use the wheels on. These mounts are a lot easier to replace than plate mounts while being made more for hauling lighter loads.
Rigid vs Swivel
You have two options as well when it comes to the type of caster style you’ll go for. Rigid casters are the simpler ones since they are made to move materials in a straight line. This makes rigid casters easier to control and more suitable for heavy loads.
Swivel casters are able to turn around 360° which makes them more versatile than rigid industrial casters. No matter if it’s a tight space or not you can turn around a trolley with swivel castors but you need to provide more input in order to control it.
Types of Caster Wheels
Polyolefin
When you want wheels that are going to withstand wet and corrosive conditions then you should go for polyolefin wheels. They are made to resist hard impacts quite well and are non-marking too, making them ideal in heavy-duty applications.
Polypropylene
With polypropylene wheels, you get great chemical resistance and smooth rolling. The wheels themselves work rather well in both oily and wet conditions.
Polyurethane
A set of polyurethane wheels is going to provide you with the best cushioning. This helps protect the floor and it makes for easy rolling. Polyurethane wheels are able to handle high load capacities while being abrasion-resistant as well as oil and grease-resistant. You can’t go wrong with polyurethane wheels if you need to go over both soft and hard surfaces.
Nylon
Nylon industrial caster wheels are able to withstand high temperatures as well as corrosive environments while being suitable for heavy-duty conditions. They can be used on hard and soft surfaces since nylon wheels offer good impact resistance and are quite durable.
Solid Rubber
Since they don’t have air inside them, solid rubber wheels are able to last a lot longer than most casters. They offer good floor protection too and a smooth and quiet operation. If you have softer floors, then solid rubber wheels are the way to go.
Neoprene Rubber
With wheels made of neoprene rubber, you can expect one of the best wheels when it comes to softer floors as they are rather cushiony and quiet. Neoprene rubber wheels are also resistant to fats, grease and oils.
Stainless Steel
When it comes to wet environments where proper sanitation is of utmost importance, stainless steel wheels are what you should go for. They are strong and durable while being both rust and corrosion-resistant.
Fibreglass
A platform with fibreglass wheels is going to be usable in both high-temperature and heavy-duty conditions. Other than that fibreglass wheels don’t offer any other benefits.
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