Industrial heavy-duty steel casters come in a wide variety of sizes and styles. The advantage is that it and allows you to customize your casters a great deal, covering all the bases from safety to productivity. However, having so many options can make choosing casters seem difficult.
Below are the most important considerations when choosing casters industrial businesses can count on.
Industrial Casters Defined
By definition, industrial casters have metal wheels that can handle abusive applications and high capacities. These precision machined casters are made of high-quality materials and feature machine hardened raceway swivels to prolong their life. They also feature precision laser-cut legs that add additional levels of safety and decrease failure risks.
Caster Capacities
The first step in choosing the right industrial casters for your needs involves understanding the capacity and how it relates to the type of caster you will need.
- Medium Duty – Designed for capacities 1500 pounds.
- Heavy Duty – Designed for capacities up to 5000 pounds.
- Extra Heavy Duty – Designed for capacities up to 20,000 pounds.
- Super Heavy Duty – Designed for capacities up to 50,000 pounds.
In some cases, custom super heavy-duty industrial casters can be created specifically for incredibly abusive applications demanding high capacities and other features that may not be available with standard metal wheels.
Typical Industries that Rely on Casters
Though almost every industry relies on casters at some point, a handful relies on industrial casters by the hundreds or even thousands and must purchase the absolute best products for their needs to boost productivity, enhance safety, protect the contents of the equipment, or even meet OSHA guidelines.
These industries include automotive, aerospace, ground support, distribution, manufacturing, warehousing, heavy equipment, train and locomotive, boat and leisure, and various conveyor products, as well. If your company falls within these industries, industrial heavy-duty steel casters are critical to your operations.
Other Factors to Consider
When choosing steel casters, there are several other considerations to make. These include:
- Tread material – Options include rubber, polyurethane, and others, and each has its own unique benefits and drawbacks. Some reduce friction, while some improve it depending on your needs.
- Locks and brakes – Swivel lock casters ensure that your racks, carts, and equipment do not move when left stationary or when being sideloaded. This can be critical to safety.
- Drive motors – Not all industrial casters and features are well-suited for automation, so be sure to consider whether or not you will use drives with your carts, racks, or other equipment before you make your selection.
- Ergonomics – When moving equipment or carts manually, it is also important to choose casters that enhance ergonomics and prevent injuries.
Casters that industrial companies rely on every single day must be safe, strong, and durable – and they must have a long lifespan to prevent downtime or frequent repairs. Considering factors like capacity, your industry’s unique needs, and even some of the optional features associated with casters can help you make choices that benefit your company and its employees for many years to come.
