The Casters that do duty on moveable furniture are usually not considered “Heavy Duty”. But those Casters under a powerful (and heavy) Shipping Crane Platform are. Here, “Heavy” has less to do with the weight of the Caster, than it has to do with the type of Duty it is expected to perform. When Industrial Equipment are sized and classified, the lowly Caster is often ignored. But it is just there that the mishap may be waiting to happen. As is often repeated during Engineering Design classes, a machine is only as strong as its weakest component part. And failure in the lowly Caster can bring a complete Machine to a halt, and sometimes even a complete Project to a standstill. Heavy Duty Casters are therefore an essential consideration for Industrial applications.
What Is Heavy Duty?
The term “Heavy Duty” (HD), in this context, denotes the ability to withstand extreme stress. Durability under pressure is the key function. It is generally applied to devices and machinery under Industrial conditions, which means twenty four hour applications, with little or no maintenance, and breakdowns generally involving replacement rather than onsite repairs in order to saving production time. The devices must be designed to withstand continuous pressure, and built to last. The strain can be enormous, and the weather horrific. Rust and Dust Ingress can cause stoppage. The conditions under which Heavy Duty Casters work are quite a degree more stressful than ordinary casters used for moving domestic standalone gadgets. The wear and tear possibilities are that much greater. These casters are designed to withstand hard usage without breaking. This is the reason why an HD equipment or spare is priced at several times more than the lighter and fancier “Light Duty” alternative.
Different Types
The Casters dubbed with an “HD” are usually of a much high load capacity than their fancy cousins. They generally start at about 120 Kg, and often go up to 505 Kg. Typical lower level applications are Truck Trolleys, Platform Trolleys, Sack Trolleys, Wheel Barrows, Drum Trolleys, and so on. Higher level applications start at about the 450 Kg load capacity range. High grade Nylon wheels provide the toughness and wear resistance necessary, along with non-marking capabilities. The Forks are often Rigid Type, pressed steel one-piece frames, which are Zinc plated to prevent dust and water damage. Duties here are for the heavier Equipment, such as galley Cranes and large Welding Machines.
