Fixed bracket with PA6 hub and PP tread, mounted with top plate, 70 kg

Caster in a fixed bracket with a solid PP wheel, 65 Shore D

This is a caster in a fixed bracket where the whole wheel, both tread and hub, is molded in solid polypropylene. The hardness is 65 Shore D, a stiff plastic rather than a soft elastomer. That makes the wheel light, tough and unbothered by most of what turns up on a workshop floor. The fixed bracket holds the wheel in one direction, which gives stable travel straight ahead.

A solid PP wheel rolls easily. The plastic barely deforms under load, so rolling resistance is low and the wheel gets going without you having to put in extra force. That is an advantage with many starts and stops and when the cart is pushed long distances. The price of the stiff tread is that it does not cushion; bumps and joints are felt more clearly and the wheel makes more noise than a rubber-covered alternative. On a smooth, hard and clean floor that matters less, and then you get the full benefit of the easy roll instead.

Compared with a soft rubber wheel, the PP wheel rolls more easily and stands up to chemicals and wet better, but it is not as gentle on the floor and does not absorb shocks. If you need quiet running and protection for sensitive surfaces, a softer wheel is better; if you want low rolling resistance, low weight and good chemical resistance, the stiff PP wheel is right. This wheel is made for the latter.

Polypropylene stands up to most of the oils, greases, acids and bases found in industry, and it does not take up moisture. That is why the wheel works well in wet and chemically loaded environments where metal would rust and other plastics would swell. The wheel comes with two bearing options: plain bearing, which is maintenance-free and handles dirt and wet but gives slightly higher rolling resistance, and ball bearing, which rolls more easily and gives smoother running. The choice comes down to how often the wheel is run and how clean it is around it.

The wheels come in diameters from 80 to 100 mm and carry up to 150 kg. A larger diameter rolls more easily over thresholds and joints and lowers rolling resistance, while a smaller one keeps the overall height down where the ceiling is low or the space is tight. The wheel is mounted with a top plate, a four-hole plate that is screwed to the underframe and gives a stable fastener that is easy to change when needed.

Where does it fit? Solid PP casters in a fixed bracket often sit under wash carts, transport carts in the food and process industry, chemical carts and equipment that is hosed down or stands in damp rooms. The stiff plastic and the fixed bracket make the caster a simple, tough work caster for straight transport where wet and chemicals otherwise cause trouble.

Think about the operating environment. PP is light and chemical-resistant but stiff, so on uneven floors the running gets hard and the wheel can be noisy. Very low temperatures make the plastic more brittle, so for cold environments you should double-check the material choice. On a smooth indoor floor, on the other hand, the wheel is in its element.

Are you wondering whether a plain bearing or a ball bearing suits your use best, or which diameter gives the smoothest running on your floor? Get in touch and we will go through it together.