Choosing the Right Industrial Casters

TENTE swivel casters

To choose the right casters, you will need to determine:

• the weight of your load: to find out the load capacity for using casters safely, add 30% to the total weight of your load and divide by 3. If there is a risk of your load falling while moving, use a factor of 300% instead of 30%
• the speed at which your rolling equipment will have to operate: the rolling time at a given speed must also be taken into account. Always plan for the maximum speed, maximum load and maximum time for safe use of your casters
• The type of surface the casters will roll over: is it wet, dry, made of concrete, etc.? Also check the floor for flaws
• the environment : you must determine whether the trolley will be used indoors (ambient temperature), outdoors (high or low temperatures) and whether there is a risk of humidity or explosion.

Blickle Räder+Rollen fixed casters

Swivel casters are designed to rotate 360°. They are mounted on a fork that swivels, allowing them to turn in any direction. They are available with or without brakes. The advantage to this type of casters is that their design allows the load to be moved in the desired direction. However, at high speeds, these casters are less stable and consequently so is their load.

Fixed casters are mounted on a fixed fork and can therefore only move in a straight line. Their greatest advantage is that they offer a high degree of steering stability compared to swivel casters, especially when they gain speed.

Several wheel configurations are possible, combining fixed and swivel casters. This table presents the main configurations and their advantages.

The tread is the material of the wheel that is in contact with the ground. It impacts the quality of the wheels, as does the type of bearing.

TORWEGGE polyurethane casters

You will mainly find:

• rubber casters: semi-elastic solid rubber, synthetic rubber and super-elastic solid rubber
• polyamide nylon casters
• injected polyurethane casters
• casters with pneumatic tyre

The choice of material depends on different criteria:

• maximum load (load weight and equipment weight)
• the surface the casters will be rolling over (uneven or damaged floors, presence of oil or grease, etc.)
• the pushing force required for starting and pulling
• user comfort
• travel speed
• shock and vibration absorption
• noise

The table below describes the types of treads and their main characteristics.

SUGATSUNE KOGYO ball bearing casters

Several types of anti-friction bearings are available, we have selected three for you.

Slide bearings or plain bearings

• This is the simplest type of bearing.
• They are made of polyamide and require no maintenance. They are also shock and corrosion resistant.
• Slide bearings are suitable for handling equipment that is not intended to be moved frequently.

Ball bearings

• They are made of two rings between which hardened steel balls roll.
• They are used in pairs.
• They can only support radial loads.
• They offer good rolling properties for high loads and at high speeds.

Roller bearings

• These are the most common bearings used in industry.
• They do not consist of balls but of rollers housed in a cage.
• You should favor this type of bearing if you have heavy loads to transport over a long period of time.
• They are resistant and require little maintenance.