5 Types of Standard Casters

There are dozens of different kinds of casters, so choosing the right one can be confusing. The

following is a list of some of the most commonly used, standard casters.

Plate Casters

Of all the types of casters available, plate casters are one of the most commonly utilized. These casters have weight capacities ranging from 300 pounds all the way up to 23,000 pounds. Not only that, but plate casters are also available in a wide range of colors and sizes.

Leveling Casters

When you need something perfectly level, leveling casters do the job nicely. Available in different sizes, leveling casters also feature a steel inserted frame ideal for heavy applications, a durable engineered nylon plastic wheel, a chemically compounded rubber leveling pad and a forged top plate. Leveling casters can also be easily switched from stationary to mobile.

Low-Profile Casters

If you need a low-profile caster with high capacity, this is the caster for you. Typically used with loads such as business machines, electronic equipment, laboratory equipment, and store fixtures, low-profile casters feature dual ball bearing construction with a sleek design. Need higher load capacity? Heavy-duty low-profile casters can carry up to 1,000 pounds.

Pneumatic and No-Flat Casters

These casters are perfect for when you need to baby your floors and your load. Swivel caster models can maneuver easily around corners and in tight spaces. Pneumatic casters are most often used for large equipment and are found in warehouse environments.

Spring-Loaded Casters

Ideal for the most delicate loads, spring loaded casters provide a smooth and gentle ride. Casters are available with a load capacity of up to 500 pounds, as well as in swivel and rigid models.

Of course, there are many more types of specialized casters available but these are the workhorses you'll see used most often.

Tips for Using Pallet Jacks

Using a pallet jack may seem like a straightforward process. However, using a pallet jack incorrectly

can result in property loss or injury. The following tips will help ensure you use a pallet jack safely and effectively.

·         Plan your load - There are several things you need to take into consideration when planning your load. For instance, the weight of the load, where the load is going, the size of the load and whether or not you can see around the load once it's on the jack. If you can't, you'll need a spotter.

·         Inspect the pallet jack - You'll want to make sure the pallet jack is in good working order, without any cracks or signs of damage. Don't forget to inspect the pallet jack wheels to ensure they are also free from cracks and are in good working order.

·         Use the right pallet jack for the job - Pallet jacks have different load capacities, so it's critical the jack you are using is able to handle the weight and size of your load.

·         Evenly distribute the load - Because a top-heavy load can easily tip over causing injury, always load the heaviest items first. Then make sure the pallet jack's forks are centered evenly under the load to ensure stability and maintain balance. When possible, break larger loads down into smaller ones. OSHA recommends keeping the weight of loads down so that less than 50 pounds of pushing force is necessary.

·         Always push, never pull - Speaking of pushing, always push your load in order to maintain control and avoid muscle strain.

·         Maintain proper clearance - Maintaining a distance of approximately an inch between the floor and the pallet will help keep the load more stable than if the load is higher off the ground.

Follow these tips and you're sure to have an easier, safer experience.

Common Caster Wheel Types

Caster wheels might all come in the same shape, but they certainly come in a wide variety of sizes

and materials. To determine which type of caster wheel is best for your particular needs, read on.

Cast iron/semi steel - These wheels are abrasion resistant and are easy to start rolling. Cast iron/semi-steel wheels are ideal for use on concrete and smooth steel, and are resistant to extreme temperatures. They are also a good choice for environments containing oil and grease, animal fats, metal chips, and mild chemicals.

Steel - Forged steel or ductile steel caster wheels are an ideal choice when floor protection is not an issue and in situations where loads are too heavy for floor protective wheels. Forged steel wheels provide the best impact strength, ease of movement, and greatest load capacity of all caster wheels.

Nylon - Glass filled nylon wheels are extremely heat resistant, up to 490 degrees continuous or 550 degrees intermittent. Nylon wheels are also durable, resist hard impacts, are non-marking, and are resistant to cleaning agents as well as oils and greases.

Rubber - When you need a higher load capacity than soft rubber wheels, hard rubber wheels are a good choice. They are extremely durable and won't flatten while sitting under loads. Hard rubber wheels are also durable and have fluid ease of movement. However, they are not non-marking.

Phenolic - These wheels are constructed of phenolic resin and macerated canvas. Phenolic wheels are commonly used for push/pull applications. In addition to being ideal for high weight loads and being resistant to extreme temperatures, they are also economic.

Pneumatic - Pneumatic wheels are air-filled, offering high floor protection as well as the ability to easily roll over obstructions. The wheels also provide shock absorption and cushioning, making them ideal for fragile loads.

These are just a few of the many types of caster wheels available.  

Tips for Choosing Office Furniture

If you're furnishing an office, it can be tough to choose from the seemingly endless array of available

office furniture. However, the following tips can help you narrow things down and choose the best furnishings for your office.

Consider office size and layout - The most important thing to consider when choosing office furniture is the size of the space you have to work with and the layout of your office. For instance, you may find a desk you love but if there isn't enough room to open the drawers — or worse it blocks an emergency exit — you'll have to find something smaller.

Choose practicality over style - You might want your office to look like a modern art museum but if the pieces aren't functional, there's no point in having them. Look at furniture with an eye for practicality, such as office chairs with furniture casters or filing cabinets large enough to accommodate all your paperwork.

Get comfortable - Ergonomics and comfort are two extremely important factors when choosing office furniture. If you're going to be spending several hours a day at a desk, you'll risk injury and chronic discomfort if that desk isn't ergonomically designed. Likewise, you'll want to ensure clients are comfortable, so choose seating accordingly.

Remember: you get what you pay for - Budgets are often tight when you're first starting a business, so it can be tempting to spend as little as possible on furnishing your office. However, choosing cheap furniture now can mean needing to replace it in the not too distant future, which means you won't be saving any money in the long run. Pay a little more for good quality up front and you'll enjoy a much better return on your investment.

Keep these tips in mind and you'll be sure to choose furniture that's right for you.

What’s Considered a Heavy Load for a Pallet Jack? – Part 2

In our previous post, we talked about what is considered a heavy load for a pallet jack. Here are some more things that are considered a heavy load and how pallet jack wheels can help you redistribute the weight.

In addition to the standard pallet jacks that are rated for 5,500 lbs., there are also pallet jacks available that can lift loads as much as 11,000 pounds. For such massive weight, steel pallet jack wheels are typically the right choice that manufacturers make for heavy duty pallet jacks. While these wheels might not roll as smoothly as polyurethane wheels and won’t be as quiet, they can withstand extremely heavy loads.

They are also able to resist lots of damage from debris that could be covering concrete floors. These steel wheels are strong, sturdy, and durable, and are likely the ideal option when it comes to pallet jacks that have to lift very heavy loads.

For heavy-duty pallet jacks with load capacities of more than 10,000 pounds, the load wheels can also be doubled. Instead of having one single load wheel underneath the tip of every fork, two wheels can be used. Utilizing a pair of wheels will allow the forks of the pallet jack to be able to withstand a lot more weight.

What’s Considered a Heavy Load for a Pallet Jack? – Part 1

Pallet jacks are among the most useful types of material handling equipment out there. They can be used in a variety of applications, including in warehouses, on loading docks to transport incoming freight, and in retail shops to move stock from storage to the aisles and shelves.

Pallet jacks come in all sorts of different styles. Standard models are constructed to enter and lift standard sized pallets that are 27 inches wide, whereas 21-inch wide models can be used for narrower pallets, and 18-inch wide models are used for moving items in much narrower aisles. Pallet jacks can be operated manually or by electric battery power. They can come with scales to weigh loads as they are being lifted.

So what exactly is considered a heavy load when it comes to a pallet jack? The answer to this question depends on the standard usage in different industries, but one way to define load ranges is to identify the standard models of pallet jacks that are currently available. Many standard pallet jacks are typically rated for 5,500 pounds.

In our next post, we’ll talk about certain pallet jack wheels and how they can help to transport loads over 10,000 lbs.

How to Increase the Weight Capacity of Your Cart

Maybe you bought a cart some time ago, not quite properly anticipating the weight of the items you

were going to use the cart to carry around your office, store, restaurant, warehouse, factory, or other facility. Maybe you’re considering buying a new cart so you can start transporting bigger items, but you don’t really have room in the budget. Luckily, you can increase the weight capacity of your existing cart within reason for a much more affordable price than you might think.

Add a Sturdier Caster

The plate casters on your cart are largely responsible for the amount of weight the cart can safely and comfortably handle. Upgrading to a sturdier set of casters can allow you to transport hundreds, perhaps even a thousand, more pounds. Replacing worn out casters can also make a huge difference to the cart’s handling.

Swap Cart Material

Casters aren’t the only part of the cart that determines how much weight you can transport. If the cart is made of flimsy material, you can’t safely put hundreds more pounds on it. Replace or add to the cart material with something sturdier — such as solid wood or metal — to make it sturdier.

Load Differently

Put the heavier items on the bottom of the cart and your cart will be better able to handle the added weight. Having heavier items at the bottom is especially important when you’re still testing how much the cart can safely handle. If the cart tips over, you want the heavier items to have less distance to fall.

An Access Casters representative would be happy to answer any questions you might have about the reasonable weight capacity of your carts. If switching the wheels still won’t allow the cart to handle the type of weight you have in mind, we’ll recommend a cart that can, making sure it fits within your budget.

How to Get More Life out of Your Pallet Jack

Pallet jacks are no cheap investment, but if you operate a warehouse, factory, or other large facility,

they’re simply a must for moving items, accepting deliveries, and preparing products for distribution. However, like with a lot of equipment, the more use they get, the less of a lifespan they have. Make your investment go further with pallet jacks that simply last longer between replacements.

Replace the Wheels

Replace your pallet jack wheels on a regular basis; the more often you use the equipment, the more often you should change them. Replace them even before you notice extreme wear and tear, as newer wheels will allow the jack to operate more smoothly. For example, with better tread, the equipment won’t need to be pushed as hard and won’t wear out its other parts as quickly.

Replace Other Parts

Replace the wheels most often — depending on how much use the equipment gets, somewhere between once a year and once every few months — but also change the other parts on a semi-regular basis. For example, brackets and sockets can get worn, especially if the jack operates under wet conditions and rust starts eating away at the parts. When these parts are replaced, the wheels last longer and the jack is useful for longer.

Clean the Jack Regularly

Grime, dust, mud, metal shavings, and other small debris can get caught in the jack’s undercarriage and wheels and impede the operation of the jack or cause it to need to be replaced sooner. Clean the jacks on a regular basis but also be sure to dry them off thoroughly so the parts don’t rust.

FAQs About Casters

Casters are a very handy device that has one or more wheels and makes it easy to move large or heavy loads. They can be found everywhere from mop buckets to warehouses. There are casters for furniture and shopping carts as well as pallet jack wheels and trash bin caster wheels. Here are some frequently asked questions about casters.

What are casters made of? Casters can be made of many different materials like wood, glass, aluminum, steel, iron, rubber, polyurethane, or nylon. The type will depend on the weight of the load, the condition of the floor, the environment, and the type of load.

How do I choose the right caster? You first need to consider the weight of the load and the type of floor you have. Also decide how easy you want the load to roll and the climate. High heat, moisture, excessive dust, and chemicals can damage casters.

Can certain casters withstand high temperatures? Yes, it depends on the wheel materials. Here are some examples:

·         Polyurethane - 130 degrees F

·         Phenolic ( Fiberglass ) - 300 degrees F

·         Glass Filled Nylon - 475 degrees F

·         Forged Steel and Cast Iron - 800 degrees F

How do I determine the weight of the load? You have to remember to add the weight of the load to the weight of the cart or container. Divide that number by three to get the minimum for each caster. Do this even if you will have four casters because on an uneven floor, three casters may carry all the weight for a short time.

Why do some loads make casters shake or flutter? The shaking is caused because only three wheels are carrying the load. That leaves one to rotate independently until the load shifts to that one plus two others. The lead in the caster would need to be lengthened to stop the flutter.

How do I compensate for rough floors? You can use a larger wheel or pick a different material, such as rubber or polyurethane.

The History of Casters

From their inception to modern day use, casters have been extremely helpful in moving heavy loads.

Casters are devices with wheels or balls that are mounted to a large object that makes it easier to move. Here is a short overview of the evolution of casters.

Early Years

No one is absolutely sure when the first caster was used but we know it came into use soon after the wheel was invented. It is simply a smaller version of a cart with wheels and evidence has been found from ancient civilizations. Casters were patented for the first time by David A. Fisher in 1876 to be used on furniture.

How Casters Are Attached

The two ways that a caster can be attached to an object are with a plate or a stem. Plate casters have a top plate that is bolted to the container. These are used for very heavy loads. Stem-mounted casters allow movement in any direction, making them ideal for lighter loads.

Modern Applications

Today, casters can be found almost everywhere including homes, offices, factories, warehouses, hospitals, or construction sites. Anywhere a load needs to be moved, casters are probably there to help. Heavy-duty casters can handle loads of 100,000 pounds.

The first casters made for industrial use were very heavy. Later, casters were used for other purposes and were made of leather or glass to protect wood flooring. Today, they may be made of leather, glass, iron, stainless steel, rubber, polyurethane, nylon, or aluminum.

Wheel Adaptations

Over time, certain adaptations were made for use of casters in certain environments. Extra wheels or balls in place of wheels help the caster swivel more easily. High temperature wheels may be made of fiberglass, glass-filled nylon, or engineered rubber to withstand high temperatures for a short time. Pneumatic caster wheels made be filled with air or foam to provide a cushioned ride for fragile cargo and some are rubber wheels made to provide extra cushion.

How Caster Wheels Can Benefit Construction Contractors

Construction contractors and freelance carpenters occupy professions that are very physically

demanding. The constant pounding, heavy lifting and stretching performed by independent contractors ensures that these individuals are pushed to their physical limits on a daily basis.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways for construction contractors to lighten their load. High-end caster wheels can serve as a boon to physically-taxed contractors and save them a considerable amount of strain. Construction professionals who are on the fence about caster wheels should consider the following perks.

Mobile Toolboxes

Lugging around an enormous toolbox can put quite a strain on one’s shoulders and back. Suffice it to say, the heavier the box, the more difficult it is to carry. Conversely, investing in a mobile toolbox and equipping it with quality toolbox casters can bring an end to traditional toolbox-toting. Whenever you wish to move your toolbox, you can effortlessly wheel it to the location of your choosing. 

Mobile Tools

Of course, toolboxes are far from the only cause of physical strain. Contractors who use large saws and other weighty power tools stand to benefit from mobilizing these tools with caster wheels. Being able to wheel these tools from place to another can dramatically cut back on the amount of heavy lifting you do on a daily basis.

Updated Hand Trucks

If you use hand trucks to transport heavy construction materials, make a point of regularly replacing their caster wheels. The frequency with which these wheels will need to be replaced depends on how often your hand trucks are used, as well as the types of materials they’re used to transport.

The next time your spot rusted-out or thoroughly-worn-down wheels on one of your hand trucks, don’t hesitate to acquire new casters. Updated caster wheels will make the hand trucks easier to move, thus enabling you to transport large-scale materials with ease.

Independent contractors are intimately familiar with physical strain. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a contractor who doesn’t end every workday in a state of soreness. In the interest of preserving their energy and keeping exhaustion at bay, safety-conscious contractors are urged to stock up on high-strength caster wheels.

3 Ways Plate Casters Can Benefit Your Hotel

Managing a hotel of any size represents a tremendous challenge. With so many things to keep track

of and tasks to tend to, most hotel managers wear a variety of different hats. Addressing guests concerns, supervising the housekeeping staff and keeping track of monthly expenses are just a few of the jobs people with careers in hotel management tackle on a daily basis.

When looking for ways to make improvements to your hotel, high-quality plate casters can do you — and your staff — a world of good. As you’ll find, plate casters stand to benefit your establishment in a number of ways.

Mobile Dumpsters - If your hotel’s dumpsters have seen better days, consider swapping out their old plate casters for brand-new ones. This will make the dumpsters easier to move, thereby saving you and your staff a considerable amount of effort come trash collection day.

Better Housekeeping Carts - To say that your housekeeping staff gets a strenuous workout every day would be an understatement. In addition to being on their feet throughout the entire workday, these hardworking men and women are constantly wheeling supply carts through the halls of your hotel.

If these carts are equipped with rusted, worn-out casters, moving them to and fro can become physically taxing. With that in mind, don’t hesitate to replace the casters on your older supply carts.

  

Speedier Room Service - In addition to sprucing up your supply carts, it behooves you to give your food-delivery carts the same treatment. This will help your staff deliver meals to hungry guests in a timely, incident-free fashion.  

Working in the service industry is far from easy — and this is doubly true for hotel managers. Whether the establishments they manage are constantly packed to capacity or relatively quiet, these individuals have no shortage of daily chores that require their attention. In the interest of helping things run just a little more smoothly at your hotel, consider investing in top-of-the-line plate casters.  

Types of Casters and Wheels

A caster is a device that goes through the center of a wheel and then attaches to a piece of equipment. Even though it is a device with a caster and a wheel, most refer to them as simply casters. Casters allow heavy loads to be moved with relative ease and come in many different types. Some examples are toolbox casters, furniture casters, suitcase casters, and food service tray casters. Here are the different types of casters and wheels.

Plate Mounted Casters

These casters have a plate that attaches to the container. They can be rigid and not move or they can swivel for ease of operation. These can be used on loads of any weight and are suitable for heavy loads. Uses include industrial equipment, conveyors, and tow lines.

Stem Mounted Casters

Instead of a plate, these have a stem that swivels to allow rotation and movement in any direction. Some of the stems are round with threads and some are square. They are chosen for the lighter weight loads and cannot support really heavy loads. Examples are office chairs, mop buckets, and furniture.

Caster Wheels

Casters can have one or two wheels or even more and some have balls instead of wheels. There are five main types of caster wheels:

Metal Wheels - Some caster wheels are made of metal which can be stainless steel, forged steel, cast iron, or ductile iron.

Plastic Wheels - These are easy to roll, resist chemicals and protect the flooring.

Polyurethane Wheels - These will last longer than rubber wheels. They are quiet when rolling and protect the flooring.

Rubber Wheels - Since they cushion well, these wheels work well on rough surfaces. They are also quiet and protect the flooring.

Track Wheels - These can be either V-grooved or flanged. They are good for heavy loads, roll easily, and protect the flooring.

How to Select the Right Caster Wheel

If you have mobile equipment in your business, it is important to select the right caster for the job. steel caster wheels are one type but sometimes the wheel center is made of aluminum, plastic, rubber, nylon, iron, or polyurethane. The type of caster will depend on several factors, like weight of the equipment and the condition of the floor. Here are some things to consider when choosing a caster wheel.

Stainless

Weight of the Load

It stands to reason that the heavier the load, the larger the caster wheel should be. Roller or ball bearings need to be used for loads over 400 pounds. Companies that sell casters will be able to advise you on the type of caster you will need.

Condition of the Floor

When picking caster wheels, consider the type of floor you have and its condition. If the floor is uneven with a lot of cracks, choose a larger caster wheel. Rubber and polyurethane are suitable on any type of floor whereas steel wheels are suited for concrete and smooth steel floors.

Ease of Rolling

A wheel with a large diameter will roll easier than smaller ones. Ball bearings roll easily but cannot handle heavy loads. Roller bearings can accommodate heavier loads. Pick bigger casters for heavier loads.

Climate

Extreme temperatures can affect the performance of the caster. High temperatures can cause rubber and polyurethane casters to soften and flatten, reducing their ability to roll and increasing the risk of an accident. Heat can also affect the grease between ball bearings so that it leaks out, making the caster more difficult to roll. Extreme cold will also require casters made of certain materials.

Other Considerations

Acid, oil, and some chemicals can damage rubber. In this situation, you need to pick another type of caster wheel.  Also, moisture can damage caster wheels. If moisture is present, choose materials that can withstand moisture. Finally, if there is a lot of dirt in the environment, choose wheels with sealed bearings.

How to Make Work More Efficient for Your Hotel Staff

When it comes to running a hotel, there often doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day for your staff to clean rooms, provide room service and get everything they need done. With so much on your to-do list, some simple fixes to the equipment your hotel staff uses may be overlooked. Make your employees’ jobs easier and your guests will benefit from their more efficient service.

Replace Cart Wheels

A quality steel caster wheel is less likely to wear down and will offer your cart operators a smooth experience. Consider all of the carts and other equipment with wheels that your staff uses at the hotel. There are the room service carts to push deluxe meals and the housekeeping carts to haul cleaning supplies and laundry. There are also baggage carts and trash cans. They all get a lot of use. Replace the wheels and they won’t get stuck or tip over because of worn-down edges.

Add or Replace Floor Locks

All it takes is a child running down the hall to send a cart full of cleaning supplies or food flying. Install cart locks on every cart your hotel staff uses so they can safely secure a cart in one location as they work without worrying about it being moved. If you already have locks, make sure they work and replace those that are worn down.

Add Cart Bumpers

Hotel staff often maneuvers carts through tight corridors, elevators, and crowds of guests. Bumpers will make cart operation safer both for your employees and your guests and it will reduce the damage done to the hotel by carts accidentally bumping doors and walls.

Discuss the types of carts and other equipment you use at your hotels with an Access Casters representative. You may be surprised to learn how a stock of replacement casters on hand can make everything from room service to trash collection much easier for your employees. Replacing cart wheels is far less expensive than replacing entire carts.

3 Reasons to Stock Up on Replacement Pallet Jack Wheels

Many factories, warehouses, and shipment centers rely on pallet jacks to move large loads from one corner of the building to another or even to stack loads vertically for storage to create more space. Businesses in a multitude of industries rely on their pallet jacks more than they might realize. That’s one of the many reasons why it’s essential you keep a stock of pallet jack wheels on hand.

It Makes Fixing Pallet Jacks Faster

The most durable pallet jack wheels should last you quite some time, even when the equipment gets frequent use. However, when one wheel gets loose, loses tread or cracks, you want to be able to fix it as quickly as possible. Having a stock of wheels on hand allows you to get the jack up and running within minutes.

It’s Affordable

Replacing the wheels is always more affordable than replacing the wheeled equipment entirely. No matter how tight your budget, you can afford to keep a stock of replacement wheels on hand for your pallet jacks. They may even be cheaper if you purchase them in bulk.

You May Be Getting an Upgrade

The wheels your pallet jacks came with may not have been the most durable and robust wheels available. Some wheels offer better traction, which results in a less bumpy ride, so it’s worth changing the wheels even before the original ones wear out. Look into materials such as polyurethane with and without cast iron cores when looking to upgrade your pallet jack usage.

An Access Casters representative would be happy to help you pick out the right size and material for your pallet jacks. They can also assist you with equipping the other carts and wheeled equipment at your company, such as your hand trucks, dollies, and trash cans, so everything operates at maximum efficiency.

3 Ways to Reduce Scratches on Your Store Floor

If you own a business like a grocery store or general store that seems a lot of traffic, there are bound to be scratches and scuffs on your linoleum or tile floors. Custodians can buff some out, but it takes a lot less time and money if you do what you can to prevent or reduce these scratches to begin with. While you can’t control what shoes your customers will wear, you can protect your flooring.

Purchase Pneumatic Wheels

Replace the wheels in your store with pneumatic wheels, which are durable, air-filled casters that are less likely to scratch your floors. Start with the shopping carts your customers rely on and then move on to every other cart that touches your store’s floors, such as the carts your employees use for stocking and the carts your custodians use to transport janitorial supplies.

Buy Floor Locks

Your stocking carts and janitorial carts should all have floor locks added so your employees can park the carts securely where they need them as they work without worrying about bumping into them and jostling the items atop the cart. The less the cart moves unnecessarily, the less wear and tear they’ll cause to the flooring.

No Heels or Rubber Sole Shoes

You can’t and shouldn’t try to police what your customers wear into your store, but you can reduce the damaging scuff marks caused by high heels and rubber sole shoes by requiring your employees at least to wear shoes less likely to cause damage. They spend the most time on your floors, anyway.

Talk to an Access Casters representative for more information on outfitting your shopping carts, stocking carts, janitorial carts and other carts with the best parts to reduce scuffs and scratches. It’s too expensive to replace all of these carts entirely, but it’s quite affordable to just swap out the casters. Buy in bulk so you can quickly replace any that get damaged.

How to Make Rearranging Your Furniture Showroom Easier

In the furniture business, there isn’t room to let one furniture set collect dust. The objective is to sell

the latest furniture while it’s still hot and then shuffle those display items to the clearance section in the back when the newest designs come in. However, moving furniture in a showroom is a time-consuming, back-breaking effort for your staff. Make it simpler and you’ll save time — and your employees will thank you.

Invest in Casters

Purchase furniture casters to make moving all of the large pieces — beds, dressers, cabinets, chairs, etc. — as easy as can be. You can leave them on some of the displays, like a bed, or you can invest in furniture dollies and low-to-the-ground carts that you slide under the pieces when it’s time to move. (So the casters don’t give the display pieces additional height and make shoppers think the pieces are taller than they are.)

Get Floor Locks

While casters make moving large pieces of furniture across the store floor simpler, you don’t want would-be buyers to bump into the furniture and send it moving across the display space. Floor locks make sure the pieces stay steadily in place once you’ve arranged them where you want them and it’s simple to unlock the wheels whenever you’re ready to shift things around.

Plan Ahead

Sketch out how you want one area of the display to look like so you know exactly what set of furniture you need where and you don’t waste time moving the pieces from one side of the display to the other as you contemplate the best design.

Discuss all of your large item moving needs with an Access Casters representative. In addition to wheels for your furniture display items, you might want to invest in carts to transport the smaller furnishings all at once. Furniture sales depend on beautiful displays. Make arranging displays much easier with casters on your store’s large furnishings. 

Casters Help Make Materials Handling Safer

There are usually a number of challenges that are faced in the industrial industry, including issues involved with materials handling. In order to make sure that materials are handled in a safe and efficient manner, a variety of aspects need to be considered, including the type of casters used to move materials about.

How can casters help make it safer to handle materials in the industrial industry? There are plenty of advantages that come with the implementation and use of industrial casters when it comes to materials handling:

Reduce Overexertion

Handling material — especially heavy and awkward-shaped items—- can be a challenge without some assistance, namely, in the form of casters. These seemingly small and understated components can do wonders to dramatically reduce injuries that result from overexertion of the muscles and joints. 

Increase Productivity

Since casters allow materials to be handled more efficiently and quickly, productivity of workers can be significantly increased and improved. Downtime can be reduced in the workplace, which translates into less money wasted in lost time.

Protect Employees

Health and safety in the workplace is very important, and must always be a priority, and a big focus on this is in noise reduction. With the proper caster in place to suit specific applications, any level of noise caused by hard wheels can be effectively reduced. 

Protect Material

Products in the workplace can be very expensive. Yet plenty of money can be lost if materials prematurely reach their end of life as a result of inadequate handling. Casters help avoid this situation, and help ensure that materials last as long as they possibly can.

Reduce Caster Changeover Rates

With high-quality, low-maintenance casters, there are drastically fewer changeovers that need to take place, thereby also reducing costs. By implementing casters that feature self-contained grease and seal caps, the changeover rate can be significantly improved.

For all your caster product needs, contact the experts at Access Casters today.

Ergonomic Issues in the Medical Industry Can Be Solved With Casters

Caster wheels are an integral part of the medical industry, as they allow for the efficient and effective

movement of medical equipment. Medical casters are specifically designed to help those working in the industry by offering excellent ergonomic performance, minimizing noise and shock loading, and providing a safe means of transportation.

Whether moving patients about, or medical equipment around, caster wheels are essential to the medical industry as a whole.

Medical casters are designed for a number of specialized applications, including:

·         Ultrasound machines

·         Mobile X-ray machines

·         Medical monitors

·         Anesthesia carts

·         IV poles

·         Operating room and hospital beds

Medical Ergonomic Benefits of High Quality Medical Casters

There are plenty of benefits that durable medical casters provide to this incredibly important field:

Reduce overexertion injuries - Thanks to better mobility of medical equipment, those who are moving components about are less likely to injure themselves in the process. These wheels offer a softer, smoother roll on any type of floor surface that’s conducive to ease of mobility. Better ergonomic mobility translates to lower overexertion and risk of injury to the user.

Reduced noise during equipment movement - In health care environments, it’s crucial to move medical equipment and patients about the facility as quietly as possible so as not to disturb anyone in the area. Specially designed medical casters effectively reduce noise at both low and high speeds.

Protection of equipment - Medical equipment has an extremely important purpose, so it needs to be handled properly in order to help provide the care that patients depend on. In addition, medical equipment is extremely expensive, which means it’s important to make sure it’s well cared for in order for it to remain in good condition for the long haul without the need for premature replacement.

Access Casters has the highest quality medical casters in the business. We’d be happy to discuss your needs and help guide you to the optimal casters for you. 

The Importance of Rolling Resistance in Manual Wheelchairs

There are plenty of needs and niches that casters fill, including in the medical industry. In fact, without high-quality casters, the medical industry as a whole would certainly not be as efficient and effective as it currently is.

In particular, rolling resistance is an important factor when it comes to casters for manual wheelchairs. In essence, rolling resistance is the force that resists movement when an object rolls on a surface. It puts a limit on the distance that a manual wheelchair is able to move after a force is applied, such as a push.

A good quality steel caster wheel will be capable of minimizing the rolling resistance in a manual wheelchair so that the person in the wheelchair and operating it does not have to work as hard and place undue stress and pressure on the upper body. With greater ease of movement, sliding from the wheelchair can be effectively prevented.

The distribution of weight from the front to the rear casters, as well as the type and size of casters chosen, plays key roles in the rolling resistance of manual wheelchairs. For this reason, it’s important that the most innovative casters are selected to ensure optimal motion of manual wheelchairs. In terms of the latter, various casters can be decided upon. For instance, solid tires are quite popular because a minimal amount of maintenance is typically required. With an increase in load on the tires, solid tires possess a greater increase in rolling resistance compared to pneumatic tires. This translates into a greater impact of weight on the rolling resistance of the wheels.

At Access Casters, no matter which type of casters you choose, you’ll be sure to get the best quality products at the most competitive prices out there. And with our in-depth experience and knowledge in this highly specialized industry, you can rest assured knowing that you’ll be receiving the best customer service experience possible.

Tips to Moving Furniture the Easier Way

Have you ever had to move multiple large pieces of furniture around when setting up displays? Such

a job is extremely demanding on the muscles and joints, not to mention potentially hazardous to the walls and floors where the furniture is being moved in and out of.

If you’re in an industry that requires constant movement of furniture, you’ve probably noticed how incredibly difficult and cumbersome it can be to move big items like sofas, credenzas, armchairs, and beds. The good news is that there are easier and more effective ways of moving furniture to save nicks on the walls, and kinks on your back.

Hook Chairs Around Corners

A recliner or large armchair can be a tough one to move from your stockroom to your sales floor. To deal with this problem, hook them around corners. Turn the chair on its side so it is shaped like an “L” and maneuver it so that it goes rear-first through the doorway. Once you’ve managed that, curl it around the frame of the door and carry it through.

Stand Couches on Their End

Moving a large sofa down the hallway can be a real pain, especially if it has to make its way through a doorway. Sometimes it’s just physically impossible to carry it horizontally and slip it through the door frame. In this case, try positioning the couch on its end, and then slide it through. Should the couch be taller than the actual doorway, tilt it slightly so that the top is moved away from the door — that’ll save you a few inches.

Use Furniture Casters

Rather than scratching up the floors and breaking your back sliding heavy furniture around, use furniture casters instead. And when it comes to moving large, heavy pieces of furniture around your business or up ramps or any other challenging terrain and sloping, furniture casters can sure come in really handy.

Access Casters has a wide variety of casters in all sorts of sizes and materials. Contact us today to gain access to furniture casters to make your job much easier and more efficient!

How to Make Big Machines Mobile, Without Sacrificing Precision

If you work with big industrial machinery, you probably know how difficult it is to move the equipment around the floor. When it comes time to rearrange the floor for greater efficiency, or when you want to buy or sell some equipment, moving machines becomes a whole huge production, requiring all kinds of manpower to lift and carry a heavy piece of equipment.

You run the risk of dropping and damaging the machine, and you lose out on precious manpower time from moving stuff around. Luckily, there’s a way for you to make your machines mobile without losing out on precision and accuracy.

Leveling Casters

The solution is to install a set of leveling casters on your machines. You might be skeptical, worried that casters will make your equipment lie off-kilter on the floor. This might be a concern with sub-par casters, which is why many people prefer to lug the machines around the old-fashioned way without putting casters on their equipment.

With leveling casters, however, there is a leveling mechanism built in that will lift or lower the equipment where the caster is attached, ensuring that everything will remain perfectly level even though you have four casters attached.

Stay on the Level

With the use of leveling casters, you can move a piece of equipment safely and easily anywhere on your work floor, and once it’s placed exactly where you want it, you can adjust the leveling to make sure that the machine is sitting perfectly flat on the floor. You’ll finally be able to achieve the dream of having an easily movable piece of equipment that also sits perfectly level on the floor, reducing the man hours lost moving stuff around and reducing the chance of breaking delicate machinery.

The Simple Tip for Your Medical Center That Can Save Time and Lives

In the medical field, you know that tiny changes can save — or cost — lives. When a patient is in

extreme medical distress, the crash cart needs to get there immediately, and a delay of a few seconds can mean the difference between life and death. On top of that, a medical office needs to operate more efficiently than many businesses, since doctors have to keep moving from patient to patient to have any hope of making it through their mountain of work.

When it comes to efficiency, even the smallest changes can have huge effects, and if you’re like most medical professionals, there’s an area for major improvement that you probably haven’t even considered.

Replace Your Casters

Few, if any, medical professionals pay the kind of attention that they should to the caster wheels on their equipment. When was the last time you pushed around one of your equipment carts? What was it like? Were you able to glide along smoothly and freely? Or was it like pushing along one of the grocery store carts that has the busted squeaky wheel?

Equipment with bad casters will make pushing a cart from one end of the medical center to the other a frustrating chore, which can be particularly problematic in an emergency situation.

Keep Your People Moving

Equipment with bad casters can cause a whole host of issues, from slow response time to the possibility of tipping a cart over and damaging sensitive equipment. Your carts need to move quickly and without delay, especially when a patient is crashing, and a cart with a sticking caster wheel could end up costing lives.

Don’t put your staff and patients at risk due to something so simple; make sure that your casters are new, clean, and unhindered, and that your carts can move quickly and smoothly over the floor.