Many people have only one criterion when choosing casters: whether they can bear enough weight.
But in real working conditions, the problem with casters is often not due to “insufficient load-bearing capacity”, but rather due to environmental incompatibility, structural mismatch, unfriendly ground, and bearing dragging. The result is: inability to push, lagging, abnormal noise, falling debris, scratching the ground, and even frequent replacement affecting the production rhythm.
Let’s start with a typical case and then break down the selection of casters into the “5 core dimensions” for better execution.
1. Why are casters easily underestimated? A real scene that cannot be pushed for three months
We have come into contact with a food processing company that purchased a new batch of stainless steel handcarts. After only three months of use, there were obvious lagging and increased resistance, and the workers reported that the more they pushed, the heavier it became. Even worse, there were black scratches on the workshop floor.
The person in charge is very confused:
Each wheel is labeled as 250kg, but the entire vehicle weighs only 500kg. The total load-bearing capacity is clearly sufficient, why would there still be problems? ”
After on-site investigation, the cause is not complicated, but very typical:
1) Material not suitable for working conditions
The workshop is damp for a long time, frequently subjected to high-pressure washing, and has weak corrosive cleaning agents. The customer chose regular nylon wheels to save costs. Nylon is indeed wear-resistant in dry environments, but it may absorb water and expand under long-term humid conditions, which, combined with the risk of corrosion of metal parts/bearings, can lead to unsmooth rotation or even “jamming”.
2) The caster structure does not match the usage action
The handcart frequently turns and needs smooth steering, but chooses the “universal band brake”. However, the quality/configuration of the bearings and steering structure is not sufficient, and wear accelerates under heavy loads, resulting in a rapid increase in rotational resistance – the load-bearing capacity is sufficient, but the handling is compromised.
3) Ground protection ignored
The wheel surface is relatively hard and has many impurities, making it easy to leave difficult to clean scratches and black marks when encountering delicate surfaces such as epoxy resin.
The transformation plan is also very direct: replace with wheel surface materials that are more suitable for food conditions (such as TPU/polyurethane, etc.), more reliable bearing configurations, and upgrade the bracket material with anti-corrosion/stainless steel, which immediately alleviates the problem.
This case aims to illustrate:
The load-bearing capacity is only the threshold for whether it can be used, and the selection should address whether it is easy to use, how long it can be used, and whether it will cause additional losses.
2. The 5 core dimensions of caster selection (from “usable” to “easy to use”)
Dimension 1: Adaptability to the usage environment (first consider the environment, then select materials)
Wheels are afraid of “environmental mismatch”. Common scenarios have completely different material requirements:
High temperature environment (around drying rooms and boilers): Ordinary rubber is prone to softening and deformation, and high-temperature resistant materials (such as high-temperature nylon, cast iron, etc., selected according to working conditions) need to be considered.
Low temperature cold storage: Some materials may become brittle and crack, and low-temperature resistant formula wheel surfaces or compatible materials should be selected.
Dampness/cleaning/weak corrosion (food, slaughter, central kitchen): Stainless steel or anti-corrosion treatment is preferred for brackets; Bearings are recommended to have waterproof, dustproof, and sealed structures.
Cleanliness/Electronics/Pharmaceuticals: Requires anti-static, low precipitation, low dust accumulation, and even requirements for material odor and powder loss.
In one sentence: First, clarify the “temperature, humidity, chemical medium, and cleaning method”, and the selection of casters will be half done successfully.
Dimension 2: Ground Matching and Protection (Ground is an asset, wheels should be “friendly”)
Nowadays, many factories/shopping malls have high ground costs, and the repair costs caused by scratches on the wheels are often higher than those of the wheels themselves.
Epoxy, ceramic tiles, wooden flooring, marble: It is recommended to choose a softer, more elastic, and cleaner wheel surface, such as PU, TPU, TPE, rubber, etc., to reduce the risk of black marks and scratches.
Rough cement, asphalt, outdoor flooring: Emphasis is placed on wear resistance and cutting resistance, requiring more wear-resistant and stronger wheel surfaces and structures.
Post time: Jan-09-2026
