How to Choose the Right Shock Reducing Casters for Your Workspace
Like any piece of equipment, carts and other equipment on caster wheels generate static electricity. Without a path for this energy to dissipate, it can damage the caster wheels or cause them to fail prematurely.
Choosing the suitable shock-reducing casters can help prevent this from happening. There are several factors to consider when selecting the best casters for your workspace: load stability, vibration-dampening capabilities, installation methods, and more.
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Consider the Payload
Small shock-reducing casters reduce impact and vibration during transport, protecting equipment from damage and decreasing noise levels in sensitive environments. These casters are ideal for carts and dollies that require fragile materials or special care.
The casters’ spring-loaded suspensions deflect when the equipment is moved over rough surfaces, mitigating the jolts and impacts that can damage cargo or harm employees who move the carts. However, not all springs are created equal. A spring with too much or too little pre-load can negate the beneficial effects and cause excessive vibration during transportation.
The kingpin—the rivet, threaded stud, or bolt with a nut that holds together a swivel caster’s wheel’s mounting plate and fork assembly—is another important factor when choosing shock-reducing casters. Low-quality kingpins are more likely to fail prematurely, leading to expensive repair and maintenance costs. Look for casters with kingpins rated for your equipment’s weight.
Think About Installation Methods
When moving equipment in a factory or warehouse, bumps and cracks can cause vibration that leads to material damage, noise pollution, and worker fatigue. Shock-reducing casters, which can cushion the impact of surface irregularities, can help reduce this risk and protect sensitive loads.
They do this by incorporating springs into the wheels themselves. Designed for specific applications and environments, such as medical carts, carts with sensitive diagnostic and electrical equipment, computer mainframes and towers, point-of-purchase displays and shelving, and assembly line dollies, they offer a quieter ride than standard metal caster wheels and can minimize shock and vibration.
However, choosing suitable shock-reducing casters requires more than looking at the load capacity. Considering the installation method, wheel material, and environment is also essential. It’s best to consult a caster manufacturer to learn more about each option. The suitable casters can make your workspace safer and more functional while protecting your expensive equipment and materials.
Consider Wheel Material
The type of material used to make the caster wheels impacts their load-bearing capacity, shock absorption, noise levels, and more. More complex materials like steel can cause damage to floors, while softer materials like rubber or polyurethane offer floor protection and operate quietly.
Also, choosing a shock-reducing caster with elastomer springs integrated into the wheel’s core will reduce vibration and noise. This is an excellent option for applications and industries that require a cushioned ride, such as medical equipment carts, sensitive diagnostic or electrical equipment, point-of-purchase displays and shelving, lab equipment and carts, mobile workstations, and computer mainframes and towers.
When selecting a caster, it’s essential to consider the maximum weight that they will support, as overloading can lead to premature wear and damage. To calculate this, caster manufacturers use a safety factor that considers unknown factors such as speed, handling, and the force of the loads they will carry.
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Consider the Environment
The operating environment makes or breaks a caster. Choose the wrong one for a corrosive environment, which will quickly fail. Load a caster with more weight than it’s designed to handle, and you risk damaging your cart or injuring employees.
Small shock-reducing casters can reduce impact and vibration while moving over rough floors or outdoor terrain, which helps protect cargo from damage, prevent workplace injuries, and minimize noise levels in sensitive environments. These casters are commonly found on carts, trucks, racks, and medical equipment.
Sizeable industrial equipment like trash gondolas are standard in warehouses and manufacturing facilities, where they can be challenging to maneuver on uneven or rough surfaces. Using shock-reducing casters on these carts can help minimize rattling and noise, which is particularly important in factories where worker exposure to high noise levels is a health concern. This caster type also ensures safe and smooth mobility on sloped or inclined floors.
