If you need to purchase a variety of moving carts for your manufacturing business, then you will need to decide on the type of wheels and casters that sit on the very bottom of the carts. Steel is the strongest material for casters, and it is your best option to attach the wheels to the cart base properly. To learn about some other options you should think about, keep reading.
Wheels
While the casters attached to the base of your moving carts must retain a great deal of weight and stress, so do the wheels. If you intend on pushing your carts to their absolute weight limit on a daily basis, then make sure to choose caster press-on wheels.
These wheels come in a version made of steel and rubber, where the rubber part is bonded to the steel center during the manufacturing process. This helps to provide strength to the wheel so that it is capable of handling several thousand pounds of weight on a daily basis.
Solid cast iron and stainless steel varieties are an option too. However, these types of wheels can cause the cart to feel stiff, so only choose solid metal varieties if the wheels will be subjected to heavy loads along with high heat, chemicals, or water.
If heavy loads are not an issue and you are more concerned about the carts moving swiftly, then pick solid rubber or pneumatic wheels. Treaded wheels are also a good option for easy rolling. If you want swift movement and corrosion resistance, then go with polyurethane and nylon varieties.
After you choose your wheels, also invest in a locking system. However, you should not purchase wheel locks that can place direct pressure on the wheels themselves. Instead, opt for a floor truck lock. This lock features two foot pedals and a rubber or neoprene brake pad. To keep the moving cart from rolling away, press the large foot pedal to extend the brake pad to the floor. When you are ready to move the cart, press the smaller pad on the other side of the lock. If you decide to purchase and use this type of lock, just make sure that it matches the height of your cart so that the brake pad reaches to the floor. Different heights are available to match the different types of carts on the market.
Bearings
While wheels and casters are extremely important to make sure that your moving carts move properly, so are the bearings that connect the wheels to the casters. If your carts and wheels will be subjected to a great deal of weight, then make sure that your wheels contain tapered roller bearings or precision roller bearings. These bearings are made to withstand a great deal of downward and side pressure. This is accomplished by placing cylindrically-shaped ball bearings in tracks along the inside of the bearing. A typical precision roller bearing will also have two separate tracks set together to retain the most pressure and stress.
If your manufacturing plant contains many chemicals and fluids that are likely to come into contact with the caster wheels, then caged or sleeve bearings are best. If possible, look for bearings made with polyoxymethylene balls. Polyoxymethylene is a stiff and stable thermoplastic material that does not produce a great deal of friction. The plastic will also resist corrosion.
If you want low maintenance bearings that are best for general use, then wheels with sealed bearings are a good choice. These bearings contain steel balls housed in a steel track. The bearings are pre-lubricated and require no greasing over the life of the bearings. The sealed track also prevents dirt and other materials from coming into contact with the bearing balls and causing deterioration.
If you need moving carts in your manufacturing business, then it is best to choose steel casters as well as wheels and bearings that fit your needs. If you are unsure about what you need, or if you have special needs that make it difficult to pick out the best options, then speak with a local caster retailer in your area. Companies such as Garland's, Inc., may be able to meet your needs in this area.
