Choosing the Right Castor: Load Capacity

The ease of which laboratory equipment, appliances, heavy machinery, and carts are manoeuvred in any type of setting depends solely on the type of castors that are used. The problem is, most companies consider casters to be an afterthought, or something they don’t need to worry about until the equipment they design or buy is complete and in front of them. This can be a big mistake, as the height of the equipment could affect the type of caster that is installed.

The ease of which laboratory equipment, appliances, heavy machinery, and carts are manoeuvred in any type of setting depends solely on the type of castors that are used. The problem is, most companies consider casters to be an afterthought, or something they don’t need to worry about until the equipment they design or buy is complete and in front of them. This can be a big mistake, as the height of the equipment could affect the type of caster that is installed.

While smaller castor wheels may allow the equipment to fit through lower threshold door openings, they may not have the right load capacity. This can impact their functionality and your safety.

Caster Load Capacity Explained

In order to keep your company’s employee and your equipment safe when using castors, load capacity must be the first thing you consider before you even think about designing or purchasing the equipment. Load capacity determines exactly how much the castors can transport, and is it affected by several factors. In order to determine the load capacity and choose the correct castor for your equipment, appliances, or carts, you first need to consider the following.

• The load that will be moved- How much will the equipment or appliance weigh? If you’re looking for castors for medical gurneys, don’t just consider the weight of the gurney; consider the potential weight of patients who might be lying on the gurney.

• The condition of the floor surface- Are you dealing with tile, concrete, carpet, or dirt? The amount of resistance will factor into the load capacity.

• The number of castors being used- In most cases, four castors will be used, but what if you need more?

• The size of the castor wheels- In general, smaller castor wheels are used for smaller loads, while bigger castor wheels are for larger ones.

Once you’ve assessed these factors, you need to consider the gross load. This means determining the weight of the equipment or cart, and adding it to the load being carried on it. To find the load capacity of the castor, you can then divide that total number by the number of castors being used.

Uneven Floors and Caster Load Capacity

Calculating the load capacity of castors changes if the floor or ground the castors will be on is uneven. This is because not all of the casters may be supporting the weight of the equipment at the same time. In most cases, the load capacity is calculated by subtracting one of the castors from the equation. This means that we’ll assume at least three of the casters, out of four, are touching the floor at the same time and supporting the total gross load.

On uneven ground, this means that you will need to purchase castors with a great load capacity in order to ensure you, your workers, and the equipment you are transporting stays safe and your cart remains functional.

Are you in the process of purchasing castors? Don’t wait until the last minute. Calculate the expected load capacity first, before you even think about buying carts and equipment, so that you will choose the casters that will work for you.