Industrial caster with PA6 hub and ElastoGum tread

Loose wheel in ElastoGum with PA6 hub, 75 Shore A

Here is a loose wheel with a tread in ElastoGum and a hub in PA6, meant for light and medium duty transport indoors where quiet running and care for the floor matter a lot. The tread is an elastic rubber with a hardness of 75 degrees Shore A. That is slightly firmer than the softest rubber treads, which gives a somewhat steadier run while the material keeps its damping character.

How the tread behaves in service shows at the very first tug. A rubber in this hardness range has a moderate rolling resistance; it takes a little more force to set the wheel moving than with a stiff plastic wheel, but in return it rolls quietly and takes up shocks from joints and small unevenness. The slightly firmer tread does not settle as deep against the floor as a really soft version, which keeps the rolling resistance down without giving up grip. Set against a hard wheel in nylon or polyamide, which rolls the easiest of all but makes more noise and can leave marks on delicate floors, this wheel lands in a calmer middle ground. If you instead want maximum load capacity and the lowest possible rolling resistance for really heavy loads, a hard material is the right way to go.

The hub in PA6 is light, free from corrosion and handles moisture without rusting. It keeps its shape under load and makes the wheel easy to handle. The series takes loads up to 350 kg per wheel, which goes a long way for carts and tables in daily use. The bearing choice decides the run: ball bearings give low rolling resistance and even rolling, roller bearings take high radial load, and double ball bearings spread the weight over two rows of balls for a stable run when the load is heavy.

The diameters run between 100 and 200 mm. A larger diameter rolls more easily over thresholds and cable ducts, while a smaller one keeps the overall height down where the space under a cart is limited. The wheel is supplied without a bracket and is mounted straight onto an axle of your own through the hub, which suits fixed fasteners and your own designs.

Where does it come into its own? ElastoGum with a PA6 hub in this hardness suits picking carts, serving carts, instrument tables and lighter machine underframes indoors. The quiet run makes it suitable in retail, healthcare, kitchens and premises next to offices, and the damping tread protects both the goods and the floor on painted concrete, tile and epoxy.

Think about the operating environment. Rubber is happy at normal indoor temperature and in dry to slightly damp spaces. 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 comes with soft, elastic materials. On really light floors it can be worth checking the tread choice against the load before ordering.

Wondering which diameter and bearing type suits your particular cart? Get in touch and we will go through the load, the floor and the driving pattern together and find the right setup.