Automotive Blogs for Australian Drivers

Factors to Consider when Selecting Specialised Castors

A castor is defined as a wheeled device that is usually mounted on larger objects to enable mobility. For instance, they can be found on wheelchairs and scaffoldings to allow smooth movement from place to place. Specialised castors are designed to overcome specific conditions which might become stressing for ordinary ones. Before buying a castor, it is essential to consider the type of application the device will be used for. To help you out, here are several specialised castors used for different settings:

Medical Castors – Castors are widely used in the medical arena. They are applied in places such as equipment charts, hospital beds, IV poles as well as surgical tables. Such castors have to withstand the many cleaning and disinfecting fluids used in the hospitals. Stretchers and hospital bed castors come along with a locking system which allows the devices to be secured into place whenever mobility is not required. The castors have to handle heavy loads while at the same time offering lower swivel resistance and profiles. This feature enables the castors to accommodate the various weights. It also allows them to provide simple operation with regard to the different floor types and the tight spaces in hospitals.

Industrial and Automotive Castors – Specialized castor wheels are also designed to satisfy the ergonomic requirements of an automotive or industrial plant. The floors in such settings can either be clean or have a lot of debris from the various activities carried around. To fully accommodate this, the castor wheels have to be designed with a lot of materials and factors in mind. Some of the materials used in this include soft rubber, thermoplastic elastomers as well as polyurethane. Harder designed wheels can be used on smooth concrete floors to enable gentle rolling of the equipment. On the other hand, softer designs can be used for on floors with debris. Some castors are also created with an increased swivel offset and many rigs. This reduces the castor swiveling force. For an increased load capacity, the industrial castors usually come with many wheels for better equipment handling.

High-temperature Castors – When it comes to places around ovens and furnaces, general castors fail to withstand the temperature. Such situations require robust castors which can be used without the failure of critical components. Such high-temperature castors use specialised materials and lubricants which have the capability of withstanding the extreme temperatures. Also, unique sleeve bearings can also be used when it comes to high-temperatures without the need for lubricants