Choosing casters is much like any other purchase. You need to match your product choice to your needs and your environment. Here are three things you need to know when choosing casters.
- Operating Environment
The first thing you must consider when buying casters is the environment in which you’ll be using them. Cargo may need to be moved around many different types of environments, including relatively extreme heat or cold and over slick floors. Temperature and terrain can determine the type of casters best-suited to your environment. Additionally, you should make the caster supplier aware of any potentially hazardous material the casters may be used around or used to transport. For example, particles, abrasive materials and dust can clog casters, and acids can corrode them.
- Load Handling
It’s imperative you know what type of cargo casters will be handling before making a decision. The weight, fragility and volatility of cargo all factor into the decision-making process. For example, spring loaded casters can handle varying amounts of pressure and weight depending on their construction. There are heavy-duty, medium-duty, and light-duty casters, so you need to determine how much weight the casters you choose will be able to handle before purchasing any.
- Travel Speed
One overlooked aspect of cargo transfers is the travel speed. You should know whether you’ll be moving things manually or via machinery. This is because, while most casters can move at machine-driven speeds, they’re typically moved at walking speed so that’s how they’re rated. If you know you’ll be moving things via machinery, you can purchase stronger casters capable of handling higher speeds.
When purchasing casters, you should understand all aspects of your operation and the ways in which the casters will be applied. Once you know that, you’ll have a better idea of what type of casters you need.
