Heavy Duty Caster
What is Heavy Duty Caster
To sum up, Heavy duty caster move and support a lot of weight. They are ideal for various industrial and manufacturing applications. In fact, they can handle as much as 20,000 pounds of load and are crafted to last longer.
Benefits of Heavy Duty Caster
Easy to move
One of the significant advantages of heavy duty caster is that the initial force to get them moving is minimal. They keep moving with that initial force through minimum effort, limiting your requirements to push or struggle with the equipment you're moving.As the load increases on the casters, the ease of movement increases; however, if you're working with heavy duty casters, it's easy to stop the equipment and switch the breaks on with no movement.
Extremely durable
In most situations, heavy duty caster are extremely durable; they can handle rough terrain and all kinds of flooring. This is especially true for steel casters which also can handle shock loading.Shock loading is where you're dropping weight into the equipment, and the steel casters won't crack or break from the “shock” .
High load capacity
Heavy duty caster are the best option when the load capacity is your primary concern; they can take more load than any other type of caster, so are optimal to be used if that is the primary concern for your project.It's best to ensure you use heavy-duty casters with breaks for extremely heavy loads so that you can secure the load in place; otherwise, you risk damage and injury.
Handle high temperatures
Heavy duty caster are superior options for extreme temperature changes, either cold or hot. Many other caster materials can be damaged by temperature fluctuations or in extreme temperatures.The ability to handle high and low temperatures makes metal ideal in those environments, such as freezers for meat processing plants or environments dealing with extremely high temperatures.
Why Choose us
Quality options
We stock a range of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty casters ideal for a wide range of applications.
Selection help
We can help you determine the right casters for your specific application and work site.
Competitive pricing
Our quality casters and wheels are available at competitive prices to help you control costs.
Professional Test
Walking performance test, salt spray test, brake fatigue test, load test, impact force test and etc.
Heavy Duty Caster Wheel Materials & Its Characteristics
Cast iron
One of the materials to be used to come up with heavy duty caster wheels is cast iron. One of the significant reasons to root for this material is its high capacity. It is weather-resistant so that you can use it irrespective of the temperature within the interior or exterior of your house or industry. The chair casters or furniture casters made up of this material will also have durability.
Forged steel
If you use it for typical applications in the industry, the material is bound to have a long run. But it would be preferred in the exterior than the interior of a place. The thing here is that this material can cause damage to the floors. If you don't worry too much about floor protection, you can use this material to come up with castor wheels for your place.
Polyolefin
This material is considered to be lightweight. So it will be easier for your workers to move things from one place to another. If something goes wrong with heavy duty caster wheels in the future, you can easily carry it to a mechanic and get it repaired quickly. It is well suited for wet and corrosive applications as well.
Rubber
If you want to use casters inside a place where floors need to be protected, rubber is the best material to come up with heavy-duty caster wheels . The operation under these heavy duty caster wheels will be done quietly as the material doesn't make much noise.
Tips to Make Your Heavy Duty Caster Last Longer
Go with the right heavy duty caster for the job
The best thing you can do for a heavy duty caster to last longer is to use it for a job that best suits its construction. Therefore, before buying a caster you should take into account factors such as environmental elements and the weight of the load it will be carrying.
Lubricate at regular intervals
Most of the heavy duty caster and wheel bearings are exposed to moisture and corrosive materials. This can cause casters to decay and lose their integrity. Lubrication not only prevents rusting but also reduces noise and prevents galling. Therefore, we need to lubricate caster swivel and wheel bearings at regular intervals. Under normal conditions, this frequency can be as low as six months. However, under extreme conditions, when casters are exposed to exceptionally dirty surroundings and corrosion, we recommend to lubricate casters monthly.
Inspect regularly and do repairs as needed
Another pro tip to make your heavy duty caster last longer is to regularly inspect them for any damages. This will not only enable you to detect any problems earlier but will also help keep your workers safe from any potential accidents.In a regular inspection, you should look out for any loose nuts and bolts. These nuts and bolts keep the wheel in its place and if they are loose, retighten them.
Avoid overloading and high speed
One of the major reasons behind heavy duty caster failures is overloading or giving load shock to the casters by suddenly dropping a heavy weight onto them. Moreover, casters should not be moved at a speed of more than five miles per hour. This is because high speed on rough and uneven surfaces can lead to unbalance and can cause damage to the caster.
Keep floors clean
Floors are the tracks on which heavy duty caster run and depending on the environment, floors can be host to a variety of materials. These can include different chemicals, oils, and general waste. These materials can adversely affect casters causing corrosion, rusting and mechanical failures. Therefore, keeping the floors clean by regularly sweeping them can take care of these materials and elongate the life of your casters.
Application Of Heavy Duty Casters
Heavy duty casters for the aerospace industry
Heavy duty caster wheels are utilized in the aerospace and aircraft manufacturing process to move large work pieces, assemblies and equipment. Heavy duty casters are a key component for aircraft engine stands, enabling the technician to move and lock the work stand with ease. Heavy duty casters with high speed bearings are also used on aircraft tow bars.Another interesting use for heavy-duty wheels is on airplane hangar doors. Heavy-duty casters for hangar doors may be of the rigid variety, but they must support the weight of the huge doors. These casters enable the doors to easily be moved by one or two individuals, or by an automatic switch.
Container casters
Mobilizing loaded or unloaded containers is a popular application for heavy duty casters. A special corner fitting bracket is utilized to mount these casters directly to shipping containers. Our container casters are manufactured to fit ISO Corner Fitting of Cargo Containers of various sizes. Container casters have a ‘handle’ that swings forward to lock into the corner fitting, and back to unlock.Colson 4 Series 6" Trans-forma HD Swivel Side Lock Brake Caster While there are a variety of wheels that suit this application, load capacity and application environment are the two main factors that determine final caster selection. Load capacities for these casters range from 2,500-20,000 pounds.
Heavy duty caster wheels move heavy parts
A place that utilizes heavy-duty casters is manufacturing plants that produce heavy machinery and equipment. Heavy duty wheels are necessary in aircraft assembly plants, auto assembly plants, and heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment manufacturing plants. Heavy-duty casters enable workers to move heavy parts and assemblies to various locations within the plant with much more ease – making manual work less strenuous on the backs of your employees. Heavy duty casters can also be used along assembly lines in heavy manufacturing environments, such as automobile and aircraft manufacturing plants, to smoothly move heavy parts through the entire assembly process.
How to Maintain Heavy Duty Caster Wheels
Make sure that the caster wheels are properly lubricated
Lubrication is essential when ensuring that heavy duty caster last as long as possible. In most cases, this means that caster wheels and their fittings should be lubricated roughly every six months. It's a good guideline to follow, and it should be a scheduled time when all of a business' casters and other hardware are inspected, lubricated, and ensured to work properly.
Check the fasteners that hold the casters in place
Just as important as the caster's lubrication are the hardware fittings that ensure the wheel doesn't move — or fall off entirely. These essential pieces of hardware are prone to regular wear and tear, especially because they're working against the forces of gravity on a near daily basis in most environments.Once a month, every piece of equipment that has casters attached to it should be turned on its side. Then, business owners should begin inspecting the hardware that fastens the heavy duty caster to the equipment itself.
Examine the caster wheel itself and make any necessary repairs
Lubrication and fastenings are both important, but so is the integrity of the heavy duty caster wheel itself. In most cases, casters come with a small treat or rubber fitting that allows them to make cleaner turns with less overall noise. these treads can sometimes flatten or might be slightly damaged by the floor on which they're rolling. Such defects can, over time, place unnecessary wear and tear on the caster wheel itself; these defects can even ruin the hardware and lubrication fixes made in earlier steps of the maintenance process.
4 Considerations for How to Choose the Right Casters for Moving Heavy Equipment
Choose the correct weight rating for casters to move heavy equipment
The first thing you need to look for is casters that are rated to carry the weight of your heavy equipment. This rating is called the weight capacity or load capacity. When a caster is rated for a given weight, that weight is the maximum recommended load per caster or wheel based on intermittent operation over smooth floors at speeds not exceeding three m.p.h., with no shock loading or adverse environmental conditions.
Pick a large enough width and diameter for casters to move heavy equipment
All other things being equal, casters with large wheels are easier to move than casters with smaller wheels. Larger wheels also have more strength to carry heavier loads and handle heavier weights. Casters come in diameters ranging from 1 inch all the way up to 25 inches. Aim to buy heavy duty caster that have diameters of at least eight inches.
Select a suitable wheel hardness for casters to move heavy equipment
The wheels on heavy duty caster that are designed to move heavy equipment are made from a number of materials, including cast iron, ductile steel, phenolic, nylon, and polyurethane. Make sure you pick the wheel material that is suited to your application.
Get an extended swivel lead for casters to move heavy equipment
Heavy loads are harder to push, pull and maneuver than lighter loads because they have a high rolling resistance. This leads to lower-back injuries and physical overexertion—the #1 cause of workplace injuries.A primary cause of high rolling resistance when it comes to casters is the length of the swivel lead. The swivel lead (also known as the swivel offset) is the distance from the vertical centerline of the caster swivel section to the vertical centerline of the wheel.
5 Tips To Measuring A Heavy Duty Caster To Get The Right Size
Measure the top plate to ensure the replacement heavy duty caster fits
The top plate is used to attach the heavy duty caster to the object, whether that object is a cart, rack, or even a piece of furniture. Top plates are available in various sizes, so it's important that you measure properly to ensure that your replacement caster fits. Measure both the length and width and write these down.
Measure the bolt-hole pattern for alignment
For most applications, it is very difficult (or impossible) to change the bolt-hole pattern on the object that the heavy duty caster will attach to. For this reason, you will need to measure the bolt-hole pattern very carefully and ensure you get a perfect match. To do this, measure from the center of one hole to the center of the other lengthwise, and then repeat this process again widthwise. Take note of these measurements.
Check the wheel size
When it comes to measuring the actual heavy duty caster wheel size, you will need two separate measurements: the width and the diameter of the wheel.
Width – With the wheel upright as if it was attached to your cart or object, measure from the outer edge of one side to the outer edge of the other.Diameter – To measure diameter, lay the caster wheel flat on its side to start. Measure from one side of the wheel to the opposite side (essentially, the opposite of measuring the width).Again, make a note of both of these measurements, as they will be vital when it comes to purchasing casters.
Swivel radius
Swivel radius measurements can be important in many applications as they provide important information as to how much clearance you will need for your heavy duty caster to swivel. The goal for a swivel caster is to be able to swivel 360 degrees.
To determine your swivel radius, lay the caster down on its side and measure from the center of the kingpin to the back edge of the wheel. A straight edge lying up against the face of the wheel will make it much easier for you to determine this measurement; the point where the tape measure meets the straight edge will determine your swivel radius.
Check the overall height of the wheel & top plate
Finally, in your quest to get the right size heavy duty caster, it's time to measure the overall height of the entire caster assembly. You want to measure from the bottom of the wheel to the top of the top plate. This is simple enough; lie the caster on its side and take the measurement. Again, write these numbers down and be sure they're appropriately labeled.
Having all this information makes it much easier to purchase a caster replacement. Just provide your measurements and the maximum weight of your loads, then determine what kind of features you would like your casters to have. There are many choices available, so there is a caster to suit every single application.
Choosing the Right Heavy Duty Caster for the Job
Load capacity
It is essential to choose heavy duty casters with sufficient load capacity to safely support the weight of the equipment or materials being transported. This entails calculating the total weight of the load and dividing it by the number of casters needed to distribute this weight evenly across all points.
Wheel diameter
A larger wheel diameter allows easier rolling over various floor surfaces while reducing rolling resistance. However, it may also increase overall height and require additional clearance when maneuvering through tight spaces.
Tread material
The choice of wheel tread material affects traction, noise levels during operation, floor protection requirements, and durability under heavy loads. Standard options include polyurethane (for its high load capacity), rubber (for its shock-absorbing properties), steel (for extreme temperature environments), or nylon (for chemical resistance).
Choose the correct weight rating for casters to move heavy equipment
The first thing you need to look for is heavy duty casters that are rated to carry the weight of your heavy equipment. This rating is called the weight capacity or load capacity. When a caster is rated for a given weight, that weight is the maximum recommended load per caster or wheel based on intermittent operation over smooth floors at speeds not exceeding three m.p.h., with no shock loading or adverse environmental conditions.
Pick a large enough width and diameter for casters to move heavy equipment
All other things being equal, casters with large wheels are easier to move than casters with smaller wheels. Larger wheels also have more strength to carry heavier loads and handle heavier weights. Heavy duty casters come in diameters ranging from 1 inch all the way up to 25 inches. Aim to buy casters that have diameters of at least eight inches.
Heavy loads also call for wider wheels. Casters come in wheel widths ranger from ½ an inch all the way up to 8 inches. Aim for casters that have wheels that are at least three inches wide.
Select a suitable wheel hardness for casters to move heavy equipment
The wheels on heavy duty casters that are designed to move heavy equipment are made from a number of materials, including cast iron, ductile steel, phenolic, nylon, and polyurethane. Make sure you pick the wheel material that is suited to your application.
Casters made from phenolic and other hard materials, for example, collect staples, metal particles and other floor debris that embeds into the wheel’s tread. This debris accumulates to the point that the wheels begin to carve grooves into floors, leading to costly repairs.
The heavy-duty casters least likely to collect debris are made from durable polyurethane. The treads on these casters are soft enough to reject debris (it just bounces off). The wheel doesn’t damage or mark floors, helping to lower time and money spent on floor upkeep.
Get an extended swivel lead for casters to move heavy equipment
Heavy loads are harder to push, pull and maneuver than lighter loads because they have a high rolling resistance. This leads to lower-back injuries and physical overexertion—the #1 cause of workplace injuries.
A primary cause of high rolling resistance when it comes to heavy duty casters is the length of the swivel lead. The swivel lead (also known as the swivel offset) is the distance from the vertical centerline of the caster swivel section to the vertical centerline of the wheel. Casters with zero or standard swivel leads are harder to push, pull and maneuver than casters with extended swivel leads. The heavier your load, the more you need extended swivel leads on your casters.
Beware of cheap kingpins for casters to move heavy equipment
Even heavy duty casters that are designed to move heavy equipment fail prematurely. In most cases, the leading cause of failure is the kingpin. The kingpin is the rivet, threaded stud, or bolt with nut, that holds together the mounting plate and fork assembly of a swivel caster.
Caster kingpins are the most expensive thing on a caster to replace, and they also result in the highest total cost of ownership. So, before you buy a set of heavy-equipment moving casters, beware of cheap kingpins. Look for casters that have high-quality rigs, such as those with forged kingpins.
Think low (or no) maintenance for casters to move heavy equipment
Some heavy-equipment moving heavy duty casters require time-consuming, regular greasing through a Zerk fitting to prevent seizing. Or they have a design that features an open raceway that collect debris in the upper bearing, damaging the caster and requiring regular servicing.
When you buy your heavy-equipment moving casters, look for units that have caster rigs that require no greasing, and whose design keeps debris out of the raceway naturally. These maintenance-free casters outlast traditional casters, and perform better. This translates into less downtime for you, and greater productivity.
Buy the right number and type of casters to move heavy equipment
Another thing to consider when selecting heavy-equipment moving casters is that you buy enough, and enough of the correct type. There are essentially two types of heavy duty casters: swivel and rigid. Swivel casters, as the name implies, swivel 360 degrees. Rigid casters, on the other hand, are fixed and only travel in one direction.
Typically, an industrial cart or platform truck is fitted with four casters. Two swivel casters on the front for maneuverability and two rigid casters on the back for directional control. But to move heavy equipment, you should increase the number of casters to at least six. Position one swivel caster at each of the four corner, and one rigid caster at the halfway point of the two longest sides.
Put the brakes on casters to move heavy equipment
The heavier your load, the more dangerous it is if it gets away from you. So consider buying heavy-duty heavy duty casters that are fitted with brakes that lock the wheels in place when stationary to prevent the load from moving if left unattended.
Our factory
As a professional manufacturer, UNIONLEVER makes various specifications of the range of industrial castors, casting products, elector-plating products, industrial small handcart, sheet metal stamping, injection molding, PU founding and other products. We have 1 set of automatic foundry production line, 2 of advanced PU wheel casting production line, 5 of semi automatic vehicle processing equipment imported from Japan, 8 of semi automatic lathe in the vehicle processing workshop, 4 set of full automatic advanced molding machine in the injection molding workshop, 25 set of equipment from 50 tons to 400 tons of weight 10 of automatic welding machine in the stamping workshop. In 2014, we invested to construct in the elector-plating workshop, at present operation is normal with daily processing capacity of 20,000.
We sticks to "people-oriented" management principle, with "quality, honesty, responsibility, gratitude" as the leading quintessence for enterprise culture. The company constantly introduces high-tech, high-level managerial staffs and technical personnel together of a number of mechanical processing, material engineering, industrial automation, marketing and other areas of the professional sources to engage in R & D work jointly to become customers qualified supplier for a number of products. We will provide customers with the most enthusiasm, perfect after sale service.
Asked Questions
As one of the leading heavy duty caster manufacturers and suppliers in China, we warmly welcome you to wholesale cheap heavy duty caster from our factory. All customized products are with high quality and competitive price. Contact us for free sample.
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