Swivel caster with twin wheels, PP hub and TPE tread, mounted with bolt hole

Twin wheel in a swivel bracket with TPE tread and PP hub, bolt hole

This is a swivel twin wheel with two running surfaces in TPE and hubs in polypropylene, mounted with a bolt hole. The two wheels side by side share the load and give a wider and steadier run than a single wheel, while the overall height is kept down. The tread is a thermoplastic elastomer with a hardness around 85 degrees Shore A, soft and quiet with a good grip on the floor.

The TPE tread is soft and gray, that is, non-marking, and leaves no black streaks behind on light floors. The soft surface damps and runs quietly, which is clearly noticeable in premises where the noise level matters. The softness has a downside: the rolling resistance comes out somewhat higher than on a hard wheel, so it takes a little more force to get the cart moving. In exchange the run is comfortable and the floor is protected.

It helps to compare with a harder wheel. A hard tread in polyurethane or nylon rolls more easily and carries more, but it makes more noise and can scratch sensitive surfaces. The soft TPE wheel trades a bit of rolling ease for quietness and floor protection, and therefore suits best where you move a moderate load indoors and want a quiet, gentle run rather than maximum load capacity.

The hub in polypropylene is light and corrosion free, easy to keep clean and insensitive to moisture, which is an advantage in spaces that are hosed down or wiped often. The bearing is a plain bearing, a simple and maintenance free construction that takes dust and wet and lasts a long time without lubrication. It suits the moderate load the series is made for.

The wheels come in diameters from 50 to 75 mm and carry up to 100 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 under the cart is short. The twin tread means the wheel stands steady even when the load approaches the upper part of the range.

The bracket swivels through 360 degrees and lets the wheel follow through turns, which makes the cart easy to turn and maneuver in a small space. Mounting is with a bolt hole, a through hole, which makes it easy to replace an existing swivel caster with the same mounting type without drilling anew. The wheel comes both with a wheel brake, which locks the wheel, and with a total lock brake, which locks both wheel and swivel so that the cart stands still where it is put.

Where does it earn its keep? This swivel twin wheel in TPE suits serving trolleys, cleaning trolleys, shelf carts and lighter equipment carts indoors. The quiet, non-marking run makes it suitable in retail, offices, care environments and other premises with light floors and a demand for a low noise level, and the bolt hole simplifies a swap to a standard position.

Think about the operating environment. TPE 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 impression that rolls out after a while; that comes with soft elastic materials and does not affect the wheel in the long run.

Not sure about diameter, load capacity or whether you need a wheel brake or a total lock brake? Get in touch and we will go through load and floor together.