Selecting the right casters and wheels

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Your casters define your productivity. Selecting the right casters and wheels can boost your production, reduce safety incidents and reduce loss of fragile materials. Casters and wheels aren’t selected based on size and weight capacity alone, there are several kinds that are industry specific and others with optimized features for specialized tasks. Here is a brief overview of the different kinds and types.

The caster body

Casters and wheels are generally sold in sets. For some types, the wheel is attached at the manufacturers and for others they are field set. Casters are defined by their braking system, anchor plate size and thickness, legs and shock absorption capabilities, as well as their bearing system. The bearings can be sealed, tapered or you can even get a style without bearings at all. Legs on the casters are laser cut. The shape of the leg can determine the size and type of the wheel, it is also what determines the weight bearing capacity of the caster. Most casters are made from high grade aluminum, steel or cast iron. There are different heat treatments that can be done to increase strength as well.

The wheels

There are many different kinds of wheels available for casters. The most common are the polyurethane and solid rubber wheels. There are also different composite material wheels, pneumatic wheels and v-groove wheels available. The v-groove wheels can only be used with v-groove casters and are solid metal wheels with a 90 degree center groove to reduce friction and increase traction on rail systems. Special anti-shock and noise reducing wheels are available, as are wheel types that are non-marking and can handle multiple terrains.

Options for wheels and casters

When you look at the listings for wheels and casters you will see a section that details options. This refers to the different brake styles and treatments available for that type of wheel and caster. Brakes can be levers, swivel locks and face brake style. They can be toed from the side, front, back or have a surrounding trigger system to allow activation from any angle. Under the options section you will also find safety features you can add, such as toe guards.

What if you can’t find exactly what you need?

If you can’t find the wheels and casters that you need then you have the option of using the CasterConcepts online custom caster design application. You can upload your own CAD into the application, or create the caster online. Once your design is done one of their experts will contact you to finalize details on the specifications before putting your wheels and casters into production. The expert can also help you add options and features that suit your industry and application, plus help you plan and prepare for the right maintenance for your wheels and casters. When you consider all that they can add to your bottom line of productivity and safety, making sure you take the time to find the right wheels and casters makes good sense.

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