MHI Solutions Improving Supply Chain Performance
Off/on pedals for a central lock brake are among the safety features used for some casters and wheels.
When mounted to the underside of a piece of equipment, casters and wheels make it easier for personnel or machinery to transport a load or group of items from one place to another in a manufacturing or distribution facility. Typical industrial applications include platform trucks, carts, hand trucks, assemblies and tow line conveyor carriers.
Casters and wheels have long played a part in improving overall safety in the material handling field.
“Being able to push and pull a load manually is both safe and most likely cost‑effective,” said Patrick Lippert, director of supply chain at MHI member Hamilton Caster and vice chair of the Institute of Caster and Wheel Manufacturers (ICWM), an industry group affiliated with MHI.
When casters and wheels are supporting heavy loads, reliable, powerful brakes are a must, and Alvar Diaz, vice president of sales and marketing for MHI member P&H Casters and chair of the ICWM, said that increasingly sophisticated braking systems have reduced user accidents in the field in recent years.
A large variety of brake options are available. Brakes can be integrated in the housing, and sometimes installed in the field. Selecting the appropriate type of brake or locking function for an individual application is a key part of the decision‑making process when choosing casters.
For instance, poly‑cam brakes are ideal for heavy‑duty casters. They operate with a poly‑cam handle mounted on the caster that activates a plunger, preventing the wheel from turning. Meanwhile, an e‑lock brake allows the user to lock more than one caster simultaneously with an electronic control. In addition to brakes, accessories can bolster safety, such as in the case of toe and foot guards that protect operators from wheels or a free‑of‑debris (FOD) sweep that moves debris out of the direction of travel.
Brakes figure to become even more effective going forward. “I think braking systems will continue to evolve and be more electronically driven than they are now,” Diaz said.
Just as it is important to pick the right brakes for your application, you want to be sure to choose the caster solution that is most appropriate for its intended use. When selecting the correct caster for an industrial and heavy‑duty application, several factors have to be considered, including load capacity, environment, weather conditions and the surface the application will move on. Making the right decision is necessary to protect not only goods and equipment but also operators.
“Overloading a caster can be a large safety concern,” Lippert said. “Having the correct casters to carry the load is crucial for safety. ICWM can help point customers in the right direction.”
The biggest difference among caster types is the load capacity. While singlewheel casters are an economical solution, dual‑wheel casters have a higher load capacity as the load—including both equipment and goods—is distributed over a wider surface. They also provide better maneuverability, including in uneven or cramped conditions.
“Safety starts with defining the proper load capacity that a given wheel can handle,” Diaz said. “From there, we can access the environment in which they will be used and define the features to make it safer to use—features that include braking systems, static discharge or spring‑loaded systems.”