Castor wheels are essential for the smooth movement of material-handling carts in the commercial environment. If these elements fail during the regular operations, your business will experience a decline in the total productivity. Also, the damaged castors will require replacement and repair, and the costs can affect your profit margins. Fortunately, most problems which cause premature castor wheel failure can be prevented through good commercial cart usage practices. Here are critical guidelines to help increase the service life of your castor wheels and promote ideal performance.
Avoid Cart Overloading
The primary cause of castor wheel failure is the applications of loads which exceed the maximum weight rating. In simple terms, if the weight applied on the wheel is higher than recommended by the manufacturer, the component will experience constant stress. Over time, the high mechanical pressure will cause castor wheel failure. Therefore, you should check the weight rating of the castor wheel s in your commercial operation. Make sure that your employees and temporary workers are aware of the maximum limits to avoid overloading failures. If you want to handle more weight in your material-handling carts, you should consider replacing your current castor wheels with alternatives which can support more weight.
Check the Environment
Castor wheels are manufactured using different materials, and your choice will determine the environment in which the elements can be used without accelerated breakdown and failure. Therefore, when purchasing wheels for your commercial carts, you should make sure that they are suited to the operational surroundings. For example, steel castor wheels are highly durable and resistant to damage from mechanical stress. However, if they are exposed to an environment with chemicals or high salinity, they will experience premature corrosion. Therefore, it is more prudent to choose resistant plastic alternatives for the harsh conditions. On the other hand, if your commercial floors are rough or covered by debris, you should avoid using plastic wheels. These are soft and vulnerable to scratches and general mechanical impact.
Control the Speed
Castor wheels are prone to degradation when they are used to handle commercial carts at high speeds. Therefore, unless the wheels are rated for special high-velocity applications, you should control the speeds at which the carts move in your business space. In most cases, high-speed movement can cause the overheating of the castors, increasing the risk of unexpected failure. Also, more friction is generated, and this makes the wheel bearing susceptible to damage. If you must handle your carts at high speeds, you should acquire towable castor wheels.