Without movement, every trolley and dolly wouldn’t be used in the way they’re used today. Especially not with the loads they need to carry. This is where caster wheels have changed the landscape completely as they are able to make almost every platform, no matter its shape and size, portable. You’d otherwise have to slide it around on the floor.
Plate caster wheels come in all shapes and sizes too which is why they are so widely used across different industries. You can find them being used in the medical field as well as in the food and catering industry the most. But caster wheels are made to be used with furniture and chairs too and also in a more industrial setting such as a large-scale production plant.
Advantages of Plate Casters
Strength
The biggest reason why you’ll see plate mount casters nowadays is because they are much stronger than other types of caster wheels. This is thanks to their simple design which helps make different plate casters rather strong, even if they’re not heavy-duty casters. With 4 bolts in place no wonder that’s the case with a plate caster.
Weight Distribution
Another reason why plate-mounted casters are common is that they offer better weight distribution than most other types of casters. Thanks to their top plate, they offer a larger surface area which is able to not only handle more weight but do so in a stable manner. If you plan on moving around heavy items then plate mount casters are the safest and strongest solution.
Installation
When it comes to mounting a plate caster you will have an easy task. Why? Because, as mentioned above you only need to make space for 4 fasteners. You already have the holes on the plate casters and all you need to do is either find an adequate trolley or drill holes into your existing one. This way you’ll just fasten the casters to the platform and you’re good to go.
What to Look for in Plate Casters
Swivel vs Rigid
There are two types of casters when it comes to the way they move – rigid and swivel. Rigid casters are those that only move forward and backward. This makes them easy to control as no steering is needed and it also makes them great for heavy loads but only in a straight line. If you want to be able to move a load anywhere you want then go with swivel caster wheels. They are able to turn around 360°, which is why they are best in areas where tight corners and small spaces are common.
Dimensions
The overall height, wheel width and diameter of a caster wheel all play a role in how will you’ll be able to safely move around a trolley or dolly. Larger wheels make for a more stable platform while taller casters are better at providing more clearance which is useful when going over uneven surfaces. Wider wheels are more stable too but they don’t make for as manoeuvrable of a platform as casters with narrower wheels.
Bearings
Caster wheels can have either ball bearings, slide bearings or roller bearings. Those with slide bearings are able to withstand shocks and corrosion quite well while being made to be used with equipment that’s not going to be used frequently. Ball bearings help make caster wheels support radial loads which makes them usable with high loads and at high speeds too. Roller bearings, on the other hand, are made so that they can support heavy loads and be used over a long period of time.
Brakes
Caster wheels can have either total-lock or tech-lock brakes. The latter are able to prevent the wheels from moving by being in direct contact with them. This makes tech-lock brakes usable only to keep a wheel from moving but not from swivelling. A total-lock brake is able to lock both the tread of the wheel and its swivelling action. This makes it a more secure brake.
Configuration
You can have different types of caster wheels beneath each platform. For instance, you can have 2 rigid and 2 swivel wheels which makes for an affordable solution that can help make any platform usable in a straight line over long distances. A trolley with 4 swivel caster wheels is the most flexible one as it can move in any direction and it can be used in applications where sideways movement is needed. With 2 rigid and 4 swivel casters, you can make a trolley usable for heavy loads and long distances too.
You can also go with a configuration of 2 rigid and 2 swivel wheels which makes for a more maneuverable trolley. This diamond configuration is not recommended for heavy-duty trolleys that will be used on ramps. A tilt mounting configuration is the most economical placement of casters since all of them are rigid which means it’s also the most limiting solution as you can’t go on ramps or move heavy loads.
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