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.