Castor Information Guide
TOP PLATE
FIXED
SWIVEL
SWIVEL/BRAKE
BOLT HOLE
SWIVEL
SWIVEL/BRAKE
TREAD MATERIAL
POLYURETHANE
Key benefits of polyurethane include noise reduction, dynamic load bearing capability, floor protection, high grip and good resistance to corrosion.
VULKOLLAN
This high-grade polyurethane is used for heavy duty applications whilst providing the previously listed benefits of standard polyurethane.
SOLID RUBBER
This material is a good option for light duty applications offering good value as well as a durable product. Also available as non-marking rubber for good floor preservation.
NYLON
Using Nylon as a tread material can offer several benefits such as high load capacity, impact resistant and wear resistant. Nylon is also tasteless, odourless and hygienic which makes it ideal for food processing plants and cold stores.
POLYPROPYLENE
Used in light to medium applications, Polypropylene offers an inexpensive material whilst offering low rolling resistance, vibration dampening and fracture resistance.
PAG NYLON
This material is a highly compressed polyamide which makes it suitable for applications requiring exceptional load capacity as well as being non-marking and chemical resistant.
CAST IRON
Castors manufactured using this material are very durable and suitable for high load capacities as well as working in high temperatures.
PNEUMATIC RUBBER
Pneumatic rubber castors are well suited for outdoor applications as well as floor preservation for any indoor application.
APPLICATION FACTORS
When choosing what castor you will need you should also consider what environment the castors are going to be asked to work in. Factors such as the below will need to be considered:
TYPE OF FLOOR
The floor type is a key factor when deciding on the best castors for your application. Smooth floors as part of an indoor application will suit most castors however materials such as Nylon and Cast Iron will be noisy in this environment and could mark/damage the floor. Whereas cracked or uneven floors may be better suited for a polyurethane as the softer material can absorb impacts of some uneven ground better than harder materials.
TEMPERATURE
Whether you are looking at extreme heat or extreme cold you will need to consider what material is going to work best in these circumstances. Our team will be on hand to help advise on what material will be best to suit your application.
ENVIRONMENT
If your application is outdoor then this will need to be factored in as stainless Steel may be required for your castor bracket and/or bearings to make sure that your assembly doesn’t seize up.
LOAD CAPACITY
Load capacity is a critical piece of information to make sure that your castors do not fail under the weight put on to them. The general rule for this is to assume that your load is being carried by one less castor than it actually is to allow for uneven floors or the possibility of a trolley hanging over a ledge, this will work in a proportionate safety factor to the load capacity of the castors you are taking.
For example if your requirement is for four castors you would assume that you are carrying the weight across three castors instead. Therefore if your requirement is for 1200kg, rather than dividing by four and using a load capacity of 300kg per castor you would divide by three and work with a load capacity of 400kg per castor.
Load Capacity Per Castor = Total Load Required ÷ 3
