Castor wheels come in a large variety of different materials, often a combination of multiple materials. This is to suit the wide variety of industry applications, surfaces, load capacities, and functions that are required.
Castor wheels made from different materials can have wide ranging load capacities. However it is more common to associate the castor wheel material with its suitability for different floor surfaces and applications.
AdMerch have their Castor Wheels categorised in a way that lets you target your required load capacity first, then you can choose the most suitable material construction.
Below are the most common types of castor wheels. If you do not see what you are looking for, just contact one of our knowledgeable staff for further information.
Most castors sold at AdMerch have a zinc plated finish on both styles of fixing, which provides a corrosion resistant finish. Look out for the ‘zinc plated’ in the product description.
Rubber Wheels
There are a few variations of rubber castor wheels, but they all have some common features:
- Non-marking (doesn’t leave marks on your floor)
- Shock absorbing
- Quiet
- Ideal for timber, vinyl, tiled, and concrete flooring
Rebound Rubber wheels are very quiet in operation, with a low rolling resistance. They are ideal for moving lightly loaded equipment over uneven ground. Rebound rubber rolls over small obstructions easily. Some application examples include waste bins, laundry trolleys, electrical equipment, and other “handle with care” goods.
Institutional Rubber wheels are grey rubber wheels. Features include sealed bearings and matching grey nylon thread guards for added protection. Sealed bearings eliminate any need for maintenance. Often used in hospitals, schools, home use, and light industrial environments.
AdMerch have a specific range of Medical Castors that have the comfort and safety of patients at the forefront of their design, and the safe and easy movement of equipment between rooms.
Anti-static (conductive) rubber wheels provide a surface resistivity of less than 10,000 Ω (OHMs) – conforming to Australian Standards (AS 2050 1978). Anti-static (conductive) caster wheels allow electricity to flow through the unit, eliminating static charges. This function is often required for use within industries such as computer or electronics manufacturing or general service.
Note: Anti-static (conductive) is superior to castor wheels that are just anti-static. Anti-static will help negate static electricity and prevent its build up, but conductive anti-static will eliminate it altogether.
Polyurethane Wheels
- Hard wearing
- Most well-rounded performer across all floor surfaces
- Longer tread life than rubber
- Quiet operation
- Low rolling resistance
- Non-marking
- Offers excellent floor protection on linoleum, tile, and carpet
Polyurethane castor wheels come in many colours and consist of either entirely polyurethane or a combination of a polyurethane outer with a centre of nylon, or metal such as aluminium or iron.
When the polyurethane castor wheel has a metal centre, it has anti-static (conductive) properties, eliminating static charges. This function is often required for use within industries such as computer or electronics manufacturing or general service.
Castor wheels made entirely of polyurethane can withstand water, oil, grease, chemicals, and most solvents. They are suitable for medical or food applications. They are also used on the outside layer of the toughest castor wheels with load capacities in excess of 10 tonnes!
Rebound Polyurethane castor wheels are a softer than normal tyre, which provides a smoother, quieter ride than most polyurethane or nylon wheels. They will remain cleaner than other wheels, and combined with stainless steel bearings, these wheels are suitable for clean or wash down rooms and other applications where aesthetics and performance are crucial.
Nylon Wheels
Nylon castor wheel varieties share some common traits:
- Low rolling resistance
- Durable
- Non-marking
- Ideal for hard, smooth surfaces and outside/wet environments
- Also great for carpeted surfaces
- Often used in refrigerated areas
Glass Filled Nylon – Extreme Temperature Resistance
These wheels are made from a blend of nylon and glass fibres and are specifically designed to withstand high and low temperatures.
At AdMerch, our glass filled nylon wheels can comfortably endure temperatures between -30ᵒC and 240ᵒC. Cast iron and aluminium wheels offer higher temperature resistance, explained further below.
Glass filled nylon is resilient, gentle and quiet on most floor surfaces, resists hard impacts, and very durable and resistant to oils, greases and cleaning agents.
The addition of glass fibres to nylon also increases overall strength when compared to regular nylon.
Note: Glass filled nylon may cause some small marks and scratches on both softer and hard surfaces. Not recommended for surfaces intended to be on display to customers.
Cast iron – Extreme Temperature Resistance
- Abrasion resistant – wheels are exceptionally long wearing
- Low rolling resistance
- Extreme heat resistance
- High load capacity
- Will damage or mark floors
Cast iron and spheroidal graphite iron castor wheels provide high load capacities and are easy to initiate movement.
Extreme temperature resistance between -30ᵒC and 300ᵒC – suitable for use in bakery ovens, smoke houses, chillers, and other applications where there is temperature fluctuation.
These castors are quite heavy and noisy, usually only found in heavy duty industrial environments.
Aluminium – Extreme Temperature Resistance
- The highest temperature resistance (on some models)
- Slightly lower weight capacity compared to cast iron
- Noiseless options
- Suitable for use in bakery ovens, smoke houses, chillers, and other applications where there is temperature fluctuation.
Aluminium castor wheels sold at AdMerch have the highest temperature resistance – a massive 400ᵒC! (Refer to each individual wheel for maximum temperate as temperature range varies between 280ᵒC and 400ᵒC).
The minimum temperature resistance is -30ᵒC. Aluminium castor wheels are usually specifically used when dealing with extreme temperatures.
Pneumatic Wheels
Pneumatic castor wheels are ideal for use on agricultural equipment, and for making sports equipment such as batting cages, nets and equipment trolleys more mobile on soft ground.
Pneumatic castor wheels sold at AdMerch have sealed bearings for increased water resistance and decreased rolling resistance. AdMerch also have puncture proof options.