Loose wheel with aluminum hub and PUR tread

Loose wheel in PUR with aluminum hub

This is a loose wheel with a running surface in polyurethane and a hub in aluminum, built for heavier internal transport where the wheel is mounted on its own axle. The tread is cast PU with a hardness of 93 degrees Shore A. It is a firm but not rock hard running surface that carries load without being compressed, while it keeps the ability of polyurethane to grip and spare the surface.

How the wheel behaves in operation follows both the tread and the hub. The PU tread at 93 Shore A gives a low rolling resistance for its strength; the wheel gets going without unnecessary force and rolls evenly under load. The polyurethane wears slowly, takes oil, grease and mild chemicals and normally leaves no marks on concrete or tiles. That makes the wheel a tough work wheel that wears neither itself nor the floor unnecessarily.

Thinking in comparisons: a softer wheel damps shocks better and runs more quietly over uneven ground, but lowers the load capacity and raises the rolling resistance. A hard plastic wheel rolls even more frugally but passes every joint on as a jerk and can scratch sensitive surfaces. This PU tread sits in a practical middle position with good load capacity and reasonable comfort on even industrial floors.

The hub in aluminum is stiff and light at the same time. It carries the load and holds its shape even at high weight, without adding the weight a cast iron hub brings, and it is corrosion resistant, which suits damp environments and regular cleaning. Inside the hub sit double ball bearings that spread the load over two rows of balls and give a stable, even run even when the wheel is heavily loaded.

The wheels come in diameters from 80 to 250 mm and handle load capacities up to 1000 kg per wheel. A larger diameter rolls more easily over joints and thresholds and lowers the rolling resistance, while a smaller one keeps the overall height down where space is short. Since the wheel has no bracket it is mounted directly onto its own axle through the hub, which makes it easy to build into machines and heavy underframes.

Where does it fit? A loose PU wheel with an aluminum hub often sits under heavy transport carts, machine underframes, adjustable tables and in internal logistics where a high load is to be combined with a low dead weight. The corrosion resistant hub makes it useful in food related environments and wet spaces, and the low rolling resistance shows with many starts and stops, for example on an assembly line.

Think about the operating environment. Polyurethane is happiest at normal indoor temperature and in dry to slightly damp environments. If the wheel stands still for a long time under full load, the tread can take a temporary flat spot that rolls out after a while; that is normal for elastic materials. The aluminum hub takes moisture and cleaning well, but for the very heaviest and most stationary loads a cast iron hub can be a steadier choice.

Do you want to know which diameter and load capacity matches your cart or machine? Get in touch and we will go through the load and the surface together.