Which caster type to use
Mobility and transportation is a very important element of many industries. Moving desks, furniture, carts or shipping containers calls for different types of wheels and castors. When looking for the perfect transportation solution you may be surprised by the large amount of different types of castors that are available which are mounted in different ways and have different technical capabilities such as swiveling and leveling.
Plate castors
Plate castors are one of the most iconic ones. With this option you’ll get a wheel with a plate on top which ensures easy mounting on the bottom side of an object. Because a plate castor has all of the weight of an item divided on every element of the castor, these castors have the ability to carry more weight than stem mount castors.
Stem castors
Stem castors are comparable to plate castors due that they are usually mounted on the bottom of an object. What sets it apart is that instead of a plate it has a single rod that penetrates the bottom of an object. The rod is usually threaded so that it can be fastened
with nuts and washers.
Bolt hole castors
Bolt hole castors are comparable to stem castors, but instead of a stem you can mount these castors with a fastener through the centre of the swivel head. These type of castors are often used on trolleys, catering equipment or medical equipment.
Bolt hole castors are often equipped with expander fittings. While the fitting is inserted into a round or square tube, an expanding element or wedges of the expander fitting will press against the inside of the tube, making sure it is well secured.
Side mount castors
This type of castor has a vertical mounting plate which allows you to affix these to the side of an object. This is especially useful for objects that have a small base and ensures more stability.
Swivel and fixed castors
Another element you have to keep in mind when choosing from different types of castors, is if you have a need for the castor to be able to swivel. Swivel castors can fully turn on the vertical axis, which tremendously increases the ability to turn the object or steer when transporting it.
In a lot of industries a combination of swivel castors and fixed castors are used. With fixed castors on the backside and swivel castors on the front to create a stable driving experience with great control and maneuverability.
Castors with brakes
When dealing with objects on uneven surfaces or when you need to be able to lock an object down on a slope, castors with brakes might be the solution you are looking for. The brakes of these castors are easily activated and deactivated by a simple press with your foot.
Leveling castors
Some industries call for a solution where a certain object or workspace needs to be able to move, but needs to keep a level surface in every location. This is where leveling castors come into play. This type of castor is a lot like a plate castor, but in addition to the plate it also has a leveling pad that can move up and down. This allows you to raise and lower every corner of the object to ensure it is level at all times.
Pneumatic and solid rubber castor wheels
When you have chosen the right type of castor for your specific situation, there is also the choice of the type of wheel that will be used.
Where will the castors be used most of the time? If the wheels have to drive predominantly outside on uneven terrain like gravel or grass, pneumatic wheels are probably the best option. These are very good at cushioning and shock absorption.
When dealing with an even surface, solid rubber wheels will provide a smooth and quiet ride.