Industrial Castors: The Backbone of Material Handling Equipment
The efficiency and productivity of any business involved in moving, storing, and transporting large quantities of goods daily boils down to the quality of the material handling equipment. Warehouses, storage depots, retail loading bays, and production and processing facilities all combine different configurations of manual, mechanical and automated systems to get goods from one place to another, safely and with minimal fuss. However, most items are moved using basic equipment including trolleys, carts and hand trucks, all rolling on castors. These are the wheel and mounting hardware assemblies that get your business moving.
Castors are the overlooked components in the material handling world. They’re tasked to handle the weight of the equipment and the load, provide smooth, quiet and effortless rolling across multiple types of floors and surfaces, ensure equipment is easy and safe to maneuver in both confined or open spaces, and built to a standard that ensures these vital tasks are completed regularly.
Choosing the right castors for your application depends on multiple factors. When dealing with heavier loads and larger settings, you’ll want the durability, dependability and safety that only an industrial caster can offer. These are affixed to the bottom of larger trolleys, dollies, pallet and hand trucks, and additionally provide mobility in varied storage solutions such as cabinets and cages.
What Are Industrial Castors?
Industrial castors have high loading capacities, are built from a range of thermoplastics and metals that can endure harsh conditions (specifically exposure to chemicals, heat and liquids), and include robust designs based mostly around metal fixing plates. These secure the assembly with the equipment and evenly distribute weight. Moreover, they have high-quality bearings to ensure smooth rolling. Treads and materials differ according to the floor materials in your business and determine noise levels, overall speeds and how castors absorb obstacles.
The aim is to ensure that the material handling equipment can adequately transport heavier and bulkier items, is easy to maneuver, won’t cause elevated operator fatigue, and that moving parts can survive in temperature extremes, won’t deform, crack or rust and can go about their business for extended periods.
Loading Capacities in Industrial Castors
Castors in larger commercial and industrial environments can be categorised into light-duty and heavy-duty industrial castors. Light-duty castors are seen in less demanding tasks, with loading capacities of up to 125 kilos per assembly. Heavy-duty variants are more robust, with some types able to carry 500 kilos or more.
Materials
Widely available options include:
- Rubber – good for low noise, low rolling resistance, and stability on both even and uneven surfaces. They work equally well for smaller and lighter loads on timber, tiled, vinyl and concrete floors, and are non-marking.
- Institutional rubber – these are meant for offices, schools, hospitals, etc, and feature lower loading capacities, but are sealed for added protection and easier cleaning.
- Rebound rubber – great shock resistance over bumps, obstacles and uneven ground, these also are quiet, smooth and stable, You’ll see them attached to laundry trolleys, waste bins, heavier electrical equipment, furniture trolleys etc.
- Polyurethane – poly casters are known for their superior chemical resistance, high strength and hardness for medium to heavy loads. They too are non-marking and quiet. Ideal applications are food and chemical processing plants.
- Nylon – choose an industrial caster in Nylon for low wear, high resistance to abrasions and smooth rolling over hard surfaces. They’re durable, can handle higher loads, are non-marking and relatively low-cost. For areas with high temperatures, go with glass-filled Nylon.
- Aluminium – heavier loads (up to 1200 kilos) are easily moved with equipment riding on a set of aluminium casters. The material is resistant to corrosion, handles temperature sways well, and has low wear. Ideal for wet, humid and outdoor uses.
- Steel and cast iron- these are heavy-duty options able to handle loads over 2 tons (in a typical 4-castor layout), are less prone to chipping or damage on impact, are better suited to high temperatures and are a more durable and less expensive alternative to aluminium. Steel is the better option in areas with liquids and moisture.
Swivelling vs Fixed
Handling and maneuverability can be determined by attaching swivelling or fixed castors. Swivelling types are attached to a raceway and can move in any direction. They’re often fitted to the front in equipment meant for heavier loads, and all-round in smaller and lighter trolleys and carts. Fixed or rigid casters are mounted to a fixed base and move forward and backward. They’re usually found on the rear, but can also be found at each corner in equipment dealing with serious bulk and heft. For longer distances and medium to heavy loads, look for swivelling fronts and fixed rears. This is also the most common configuration and is suited to many industrial applications.
Bearing Types
Bearings affect friction, rolling resistance and speed. They also contribute to strength and durability, Plain or slide bearings are the simplest and cheapest option, but suited to infrequent use or lighter loads, Ball bearings are standard in light industrial casters, have decent strength and additionally allow for low rolling resistance. For heavier loads, look for units fitted with roller bearings. These offer outstanding radial and axial strength, are suited to very heavy loads, and require little to no maintenance.