Casters are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. Some can handle conditions up to 500 degrees. Others can handle loads of 40,000 pounds. The key is to get the right combination for your application.
Rollability
Ergonomics is a big consideration in most workplaces. This is because the workforce is aging and becoming heavier, meaning that injuries are more likely to occur. Therefore, looking for ergonomically designed wheels, such as Hamilton Casters, is a good idea because it increases rollability and reduces worker strain.
Capacity
Calculate the weight of your load plus the cart. Then, leave room for overload. By now, you are probably expecting that you should divide the total maximum weight by the number of desired casters. However, this can lead to capacity miscalculations. Instead, you need to determine how the load will be distributed and identify which casters are taking the brunt of the load. Once you have that information, you can choose the casters with the right capacity rating.
Shock Loading
Shock loading is dropping all of the weight onto a cart at once. It can also occur when a cart rolls over a bump and the load is jarred. To compensate for this, you need to ensure your casters can handle a shock load of about three times the maximum weight.
Operating Environment
Think about where your cart will roll. Then, think about the environment. Pick your casters based on various environmental factors for the best match.
Abuse
Abuse is a sure way to damage your casters. While you probably like to think your workers follow all the rules, they don’t. Sometimes they will take shortcuts, move too quickly, or abuse the carts in other ways. This is something you need to think about while choosing casters.
Floors
Wheels that are not matched to the floors can lead to problems. Hard wheels, such as cast iron and steel, are a great option because they can handle heavier loads and are ergonomic. However, they can also do serious damage to floors, especially concrete ones. Meanwhile, rubber wheels can pick up debris from floors that have small particles on them. These can be transported to other parts of your facility, where they become a hazard. Therefore, you need to think about your floors and what type of material would work best.
With so many options on the market, there is a caster for any company. By following these recommendations, you can get the perfect fit for your business.
