Casters can be used on a wide variety of objects to aid in moving them around easier. Some items that they are commonly used on include shopping carts, toolboxes, lift trucks, furniture, work benches, and tables. While they are ideal for making it easier to move heavier items, they can be used on any item where ease of movement is desired. Below I will discuss some of the benefits and types of casters.
Mobility
This is stating the obvious, but the most important benefit of using a caster is to make handling heavy materials easier. This can save time and money and drastically reduce the amount of energy required to move objects of any size. They can also help prevent injuries when trying to transport heavy objects. In addition, a caster that swivels can give you added the versatility of being able to move items in any direction with minimal effort. You can have the casters added directly to the heavy item itself or use material handling equipment like dollies or carts. Dollies and carts utilize casters and wheels to help make moving heavy items easier. Just find a supplier of material handling equipment, pick out what will suit your needs, and get moving!
Increased Productivity
The ability to move an item around quickly and easily will ultimately lead to increased productivity. For a business, this can lead to increased profits and reduced overhead costs. In a personal workshop, increased production means that you are getting done what you need to faster, so you can focus on other things in your life.
Versatility
There is a wide range of casters available to fit basically any need. This includes a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials. For example, a metal plate type caster can be used to move heavy items and swivel styles are ideal for office chairs and shopping carts. They also can be constructed of specific materials for high temperatures, chemicals, and fragile loads.
Heavy Duty Use
A caster is extremely beneficial for industrial applications. Some are even designed to handle up to 100,000 pounds and are exceptionally durable. It would be very difficult to support and move heavy-duty commercial and industrial equipment without them.
Caster Types
A caster is available in two main types: Pivot/swivel or rigid/fixed. There are also numerous types of pivot styles to include locking, kingpin-less, hollow kingpin, plate, and stem. The type you need will depend on the specific application.
Locking
- These types feature a locking mechanism to prevent the wheel from turning or moving.
Kingpin-less
- This design lacks a bolt and nut kingpin. It is extremely strong and is ideal for high-stress loads and environments where kingpin styles would normally fail.
Hollow kingpin
- It is highly versatile and is designed with a hole that can accept a wide variety of bolts and stems for a custom application.
Plate
- This is the most common type and is designed with four mounting holes. The holes have a variety of mounting patterns to facilitate numerous mounting applications.
Stem
- This type has a variety of stem styles to match numerous mounting applications. Some of the typical stem types are expandable, threaded, grip-ring/friction-ring, round, and square.
