Swivel bracket with total lock brake and industrial caster with sheet steel hub and rubber tread, mounted with top plate, 500 kg

Industrial caster in a swivel bracket with rubber tread and sheet steel hub, high load capacity

This is a swiveling industrial caster with a tread in rubber and a hub in pressed sheet steel, built for carts that are to carry heavy loads and at the same time roll quietly. The tread has a hardness of 80 Shore A, a soft to medium hard rubber that lays itself against the floor, damps noise and takes up unevenness. The swivel bracket turns through 360 degrees and makes the cart easy to turn and steer by hand, even when it is properly loaded.

The load capacity is the strength of this caster. The series handles up to 385 kg per wheel, a high level for a rubber wheel, and it is the combination of a stiff sheet steel hub and a bearing for heavy load that makes it possible. The wheel comes with both a ball bearing and a roller bearing depending on the version. The ball bearing gives low rolling resistance and an even run, while the roller bearing rolls on a row of rollers instead of balls and takes even higher radial load straight down; the choice governs how the wheel behaves under its heaviest load.

How does the tread behave in operation? At 80 Shore A the rubber is soft enough to roll quietly and grip well, even where the floor is jointed or lightly dusty. The caster starts with somewhat more force than a hard nylon wheel, since the tread is compressed a little and gets a larger contact area, but that concession buys quiet and kindness to floor and goods. The rolling resistance is higher than on a hard tread but lower than on a really soft elastomer wheel.

A short comparison places the caster. A hard wheel rolls most easily and carries a lot on an even floor but is louder and can scratch painted surfaces. An even softer rubber becomes quieter and takes unevenness better but lowers the load capacity noticeably. This caster lies in the middle and combines the quiet of rubber with a load capacity that clearly beats most soft wheels.

The wheels come in diameters from 100 to 280 mm. A larger diameter rolls more easily over thresholds and joints and lowers the rolling resistance, which means a lot when the load is high, while a smaller one keeps the overall height down where space is tight. The caster is mounted with a top plate, a square plate with four screw holes that gives a stable mounting, which is extra important when the cart carries heavy loads.

Where does it fit? Rubber with a sheet steel hub and a high load capacity often sits under heavy transport carts, pallet carts, machine underframes and material carts in workshops and warehouses. The swiveling bracket makes the caster good where the heavy cart still has to be maneuvered tightly and turned by hand, and the quiet run is an advantage in premises where the noise level matters.

Think about the operating environment. The caster is made for dry to slightly damp indoor environments and normal workshop temperature. The sheet steel hub should not be hosed down daily if you want a long service life. Spread the load over four wheels and stay within the stated load capacity, especially on the smaller diameters. Under a long standing load the rubber can take a temporary flat spot that rolls out after a while; that is normal for elastic treads.

Do you want to know which diameter and which bearing type suits your load, and how best to spread the weight? Get in touch and we will work through the cart, the load and the surface together.