Light And Medium Duty Industrial Casters And Wheels Buying Guidelines

By Frank Wallace


It is good to note that not every caster will be perfect for material-handling needs. Many factors are to be considered during the selection process. They include presence or absence of brakes, type of wheel, revolve or fixed, and load capacity of the caster. The world of light and medium duty industrial casters and wheels is complicated, and the purchasing process requires guidance of an experienced service provider. Rush and uninformed decision-making leads to purchase of substandard products, which have a short lifespan.

Having a clear and precise understanding of what your job entails determines the type of caster roll that is selected. Wrong rolls are uncomfortable, and produce disastrous outcomes. Carpeted hallways needs smooth types. Hard ones should be used for hard surfaces such as cement, and concrete. Gravel and sand are rough, and requires rolls, which possess larger footprints. Pneumatic wheels contain larger footprints that enhance their strength and speed.

The bigger footprints prevent sinking, and making ruts. The floor is damaged when wrong types of wheels are used. It will require much effort for it to roll since it has trouble in rolling on the rough surfaces. To save on energy and time using the right type for its specific job is advisable.

Casters, which originate from Colson, are referred to as enforcers. The raw materials used for their manufacturing are abundant in large quantities. They have ability to resist extreme temperatures. Example of materials used for designing includes Performa rubber, cast iron, and phenolic resin. The wheel size can have a diameter of six, eight or twelve. When the finishing is done by zinc plating, the casters become attractive and durable. Shock and elongation associated with kingpinless are prevented by fitting kingpinless swivel design.

The grease used for lubrication purpose is manufacture purposely for high temperatures. The brakes are available in diverse categories and configuration. They range from directional lock that ensures the swivel is locked in place, the roll brakes that prevent rotation, to an overall brake that performs general functions. The lock brakes are present in diverse categories, they include top lock brake and side lock one. The two brakes eliminate complications such as tread wear and tear that affect the braking system. Compression and decompression types have ability to lock themselves up.

An institution can go for the Shepherd Z series. They are designed to have a double ball bearing channel structure, and labyrinth tunnel to ensure moisture and dirt is kept out. Both directional and total locks are incorporated. Durability status can be increased by advocating for those, which are made of stainless steel.

Making a decision on whether to use fixed or swivel caster is imperative. The swivel ones allow the cart to move sideways and maneuver with ease. On the other hand, fixed type will move in a hallway comfortably without risking damaging the walls when it slip sideways.

Working with budget is the best method of avoiding unnecessary expenditures. Understanding pricing policy of a particular store is important. There must be a hundred percent money guarantee on purchases that are made.




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