Types of Casters

What Are Casters?

A caster is made up of two parts: a wheel and a mounting bracket. Casters are mounted to carts, racks, trucks, dollies, and heavy equipment to make them movable.

Caster Dimensions

The greater the wheel diameter and width are, the greater the load capacity becomes. This makes it easier to roll your equipment and also reduces the noise level produced by the wheels. Here are the three measurements to check for to ensure you purchase properly sized casters.

• Overall height: The distance from the bottom of the wheel to the top of the top plate or caster stem.

• Wheel diameter: The distance between the opposite sides of the wheel. Casters are typically labeled by their wheel diameter.

• Wheel width: Also known as the tread width, this represents the width of the outer surface of the wheel.

Caster Purchasing Considerations

If you are purchasing casters as an add-on accessory to your piece of equipment, here are some factors you will need to consider.

• What floor type will the wheels be going over? Softer floor types, such as hardwood, will require softer wheel materials while harder floor types, such as concrete, can handle harder wheel materials.

• What is the work environment like? If your workspace is wet and/or oily, or if exposure to chemicals is a concern, it is important to choose wheel materials that will be able to handle these conditions.

• What is the level of maneuverability you need? If you only need to go up and down a hallway, rigid casters are most likely all you need. However, if you need to maneuver a cart or piece of equipment in a tight space, a swivel caster is likely the better option for you.

• What is the load capacity that the casters will need to support? The larger the load capacity is, typically the harder wheel material and larger wheel diameter you will need.

• Is noise level a concern? Typically, the greater the wheel size is, the quieter the casters will be. Some caster materials have more shock- and vibration-resistance for lower noise levels, which may be a concern in retail or healthcare environments.

• Do the casters need to have brakes? If you need to secure the unit after moving it, then you should look into purchasing braking or locking casters. Often only having two out of the four casters with brakes is sufficient for your unit.

• Do you need NSF-rated casters? Ideal for foodservice areas and food manufacturing facilities, NSF-rated casters are built to stay sanitary in environments where the casters will be frequently exposed to washdowns, oils, or chemicals.

Prior to purchasing casters for your unit, it is important to check if your unit can support casters as an add-on accessory, and if so, what casters are compatible with the unit. Check the manufacturer's literature and reference the You May Also Need or Replacement Parts and Accessories section on the product's page to find your unit's compatible casters.