Casters and wheels and castors are found in many kinds of workspaces, from the office to healthcare, manufacturing and educational settings. They’re also used on carts, gurneys and other moving equipment.
What is a wheel and caster?
A wheel is a round object that has a hole in its center to allow it to spin around on an axle. A caster is a wheel on a metal frame that supports the movement of another object.
How do you determine what type of caster is the best for your application?
Casters come in various materials, wheel diameters, tread widths and load ratings to suit the type of work environment they are used in. For example, you may want heavy-duty, pneumatic or puncture-proof models for use in tough conditions such as warehouses or factories.
Rolling with Ease: A Comprehensive Guide to Wheels and Castors for Industrial Applications
One of the best ways to ensure that your casters are safe is to take them for a test drive. In particular, inspect the swivel assembly to see how freely it turns. This will indicate whether or not there are any issues with a loose fastener or broken components.
What are my casters made of?
A cast iron caster is an abrasion-resistant, long-lasting wheel that starts rolling easily and is ideal for high capacity applications. It can withstand abrasion, extreme heat and is resistant to oil, grease, and cleaning agents.
In order to help casters maintain their functionality and longevity, it’s important to regularly check that they’re lubricated. It’s important to reapply lubrication roughly every six months. It’s especially important to reapply lubrication when the wheels are exposed to moisture, chemicals and high temperatures in areas where they’re being used.