Moving heavy equipment is a more common need than one might think. Nearly all industries at some point during their operations move heavy equipment or machinery. Whether it’s for rearranging the workplace, relocation, or installing new equipment, the difficulties and dangers encountered generally remain the same.
Two of the biggest difficulties often encountered when moving heavy equipment are ensuring efficiency and safety at the same time. This is why using casters for moving heavy equipment is crucial.
Factors to Consider When Buying Industrial Casters
Using the right heavy duty casters is key to ensuring workplace efficiency and safety when moving hefty loads. Below are the factors to keep in mind to ensure you use the best industrial casters for your business.
Weight Rating or Load Capacity
When looking for casters that will effectively carry your heavy equipment, the first thing you need to consider is its weight rating. This is also known as the load capacity.
Weight rating refers to the maximum weight or recommended load each caster can carry. Anything beyond the load capacity will affect the operation of the caster. It may even potentially result in the caster wheel breaking.
Medium-duty casters typically have weight ratings ranging from 501 lbs to 2,000 lbs. Heavy-duty casters can carry weights exceeding 2,000 lbs. Indicated weight rating is typically per caster. However, casters sold in sets give a maximum load capacity when using all four casters.
Take note that when selecting casters, you need to account for the weight of not only the heavy equipment but also the weight of the cart, dolly, or platform the casters will be fitted onto.
Caster Width and Diameter
If you want casters capable of transporting higher load capacity safely, you need to look for casters with larger wheels. Larger caster wheel diameter helps make it easier to start moving, as well as to keep the momentum once you start rolling. They also have more strength to carry heavier equipment.
Aside from selecting casters with a large wheel diameter, it’s also best to look for ones with wider wheel width. Caster wheels with a width of at least three inches are ideal for high-capacity loads.
Wheel Hardness or Tread Type
The wheel material is also important when looking for the best industrial casters. In general, harder wheel materials are ideal when carrying higher load capacity.
This is why cast iron and ductile steel casters are a common sight when moving heavy equipment. Other durable options for caster wheel treads include polyurethane, nylon rubber, and phenolic.
Polyurethane is particularly popular. Aside from being durable enough to carry heavy loads, it offers an easy-rolling experience and doesn’t mark or damage floors. Additionally, polyurethane treads are still soft enough that debris doesn’t collect as much on the wheel, instead bouncing off of it.
Extended Swivel Lead
Another factor to consider is the length of the swivel lead. Longer or extended swivel leads are ideal for heavier loads as it helps make the carts or platforms easier to push, pull, and maneuver.
Extended swivel leads or swivel offsets help reduce rolling resistance. This, in turn, helps reduce the risk of physical overexertion and lower-back injuries. Take note that the heavier the load you plan on placing on casters, the longer or more extended the swivel need should be.
Low-Maintenance Casters
In general, the best caster for moving heavy equipment are low-maintenance or maintenance-free ones. These are casters that do not require regular greasing.
Not only is regular greasing time-consuming, it can also be a potential accident or injury risk in the event someone forgets to grease the casters. Moreover, maintenance-free casters usually have a longer lifespan and better performance than casters that need regular maintenance.
Caster Brakes
It is also ideal to purchase casters that have built-in brakes or locking mechanisms. A built-in brake system adds another layer of safety when dealing with heavy equipment and loads. It helps keep heavy machinery stationary when necessary. This can help prevent runaway carts, trucks, and platforms that may result in workplace accidents, injuries, and damaged goods.
Best Industrial Casters from LINCO
As one of the leading U.S. manufacturers of industrial casters and wheels, LINCO offers a wide array of ideal heavy-duty casters for moving heavy equipment, ranging from locking casters to maintenance-free ones.
One casters set we recommend is the 8-inch LINCO Heavy Duty Polyurethane Caster Wheel, a set of four swivel casters that features red polyurethane bonded on a cast iron wheel core, a 4.5 inch wheel width, and an individual caster capacity of 1,250 lbs or a total load capacity of 5,000 lbs.
Check out our online store for more LINCO casters for moving heavy equipment. Our inventory of heavy-duty casters in our online store also includes casters from other well-known and trusted brands.
For more information, call our toll-free hotline at (866) 306-9566 or leave us a message.