Three Important Considerations for Industrial Castor Wheel Selection

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Castors are indispensable devices for internal material handling in the industrial and commercial setup. These wheeled products improve productivity by facilitating the smooth movement of heavy objects such as carts, crates, equipment and furniture. They also reduce employee strain and subsequent injuries because less energy is required when handling heavy duty objects. Moreover, the use of castor wheels will reduce the damage on floors which occurs when bulky items are dragged on the flat surfaces. If this your first time purchasing industrial or commercial castor wheels, consider these crucial factors when shopping for ideal results. 

Load Bearing Capacity

You should evaluate the weight of the objects beneath which you will install your new castor wheels. Then, compare the calculated figure with the load capacity rating of the wheels provided by your supplier. You should note that the total weight should include the cargo or load which you plan to handle, particularly when shopping for castor wheels for crates and carts.

Load distribution is an important consideration, so you should divide the gross weight by the total number of wheel castors installed. The general rule of selection is that heavier loads will require denser and larger wheels. However, you should not rely on a visual assessment. Check the specifications indicated by the manufacturer.

Type of Floor

Castor wheels are manufactured using diverse types of materials. If your product choice is not a good match for your industrial or commercial flooring, the surface will sustain damage. This deterioration can translate into high restoration expenses. In some cases, the floor can cause the accelerated wear of the wheels. Therefore, evaluate your building surfaces and make a comparison with the types of castors in the market.

For example, cast iron and steel wheels are long-wearing and suitable for high capacity applications. However, they can cause extensive damage to soft surfaces, so they should be used on concrete or smooth steel floors. If you want to use castors on relatively delicate floors like tile, linoleum and wood, go for nylon wheels. These perform well without causing damage to the pertinent flooring.

Rigid or Swivel Castors

There are two primary classes of castors: rigid and swivel. As implied, the latter is designed to rotate and allow movement in multiple directions, providing maximum flexibility. Rigid castors can only move forward and backward during material handling operations. They are favored because they are stronger and provide more stability. For the optimal flexibility and balance, you should consider combining the two types of castors in your industrial applications.


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