Salt spreaders and wheelbarrow wheels tackle the icy conditions

December 24, 2015

Ross Castors

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Many companies are getting ready for another busy winter, as hazardous icy conditions are yet to make their impact felt. After 2012 being the wettest year on record, predictions are forthcoming regarding the wintery conditions we are yet to face. But being ready for such icy conditions, will in the long run prevent accidents and delays. Salt spreaders are now common place, either attached to fork lift trucks, towed by lorries or even as push along pedestrian versions. Salt spreaders on pneumatic wheels can be towed from a vehicle or pushed by a pedestrian and their chunky durable wheelbarrow wheels ensures extra grip along the icy surface. The type of salt spreaders companies and councils use is dependent upon the area to be cleared and gritted. For smaller areas, many schools and businesses have opted for a pedestrian push along salt spreader. However without the aid of the pneumatic wheels, these salt spreaders would be inoperable on the ice. Having a rubber wheel with a good deep tread, aids the manoeuvrability of salt spreaders, ensuring all the corners of car parks and pathways are reached and gritted.

Pneumatic wheels are such a popular wheel on industrial, commercial and even domestic products. Their application is suitable for so many different shapes and sizes of products. Salt spreaders tend to use pneumatic wheels, as the air filled inner tube absorbs the many undulations of a variety of surfaces. Pneumatic wheels certainly make it easier to push the salt spreaders up and down curbs! These rubber wheels, also known as wheelbarrow wheels, (as that is the product we most associate with pneumatic wheels), are available either with a plastic wheel centre or a metal hub. Salt spreaders tend to opt for plastic centred pneumatic wheels, as this will not corrode or rust in the extreme conditions they face on a daily basis.

Many hand pushed salt spreaders are ergonomically designed, with handles and handgrips to ease movement. Many have deflector plates, to direct the flow of the grit and salt, and the pneumatic wheels can be inflated and deflated as required. For a puncture proof wheel or a flat free wheel, a new development has launched on the market. Pneumatic wheels that are puncture proof and flat free wheels are ideal for challenging environments. These anti puncture rubber wheels are ideal for building sites and industrial environments, as they cannot puncture and will not deflate. Filled with polycellular honeycomb rather than air, ensures the puncture proof pneumatic wheels will do their job even in the harshest icy conditions. Puncture proof pneumatic wheels are fast becoming the most popular choice for gardener’s barrow wheels, and for logistics and delivery companies. These barrow wheels can be fitted to a range of trolleys and sack truck wheels to ease movement and manual handling. So with the harshest of the weather conditions still yet to come, let’s get prepared for the icy conditions with salt spreaders on wheelbarrow wheels to ensure there are no ‘slip-ups’ this winter!