FAQs

A fixed castor does not normally require a brake as it is not moving. As standard, our fixed castors do not have brakes but it is possible for us to fit these if required. Please contact us on 01249 822222 and we will be happy to discuss your requirements.

The choice of which is better really depends on what they will be used for. Pneumatic tyres offer a smooth ride, capable of cushioning bumps in the ground and generally take less effort to get from one place to the next. However, there is the possibility that the tyre might puncture or lose pressure.

Puncture proof tyres on the other hand are solid and don’t suffer from going flat and are always ready to use. They are less able to deal with soft or rough ground, transmitting every bump you go over and prone to getting stuck in the mud.

Please see our guide about the advantages and disadvantages of pneumatic and puncture proof tyres.

The tread width is the width of the tyre or wheel. The hub width is the width of the hole where the wheel fits on to a bolt or axle.

More information is available on our plain bore wheel product specification input sheet.

We recommend a pneumatic or very soft wheel for use on uneven, rough ground or surfaces as these will absorb some of the impact.

One advantage of a twin wheel castor is the weight handling capacity. A twin wheeled castor will handle more weight than a single wheel. This also means that you could use a smaller twin wheeled castor in place of a larger single wheel castor if the load height is a concern.

Twin wheel castors rotate independently which makes turning, changing direction or reversing much easier and makes it possible to manoeuvre heavy loads with less effort.

The best castors for noise reduction have soft rubber wheels. We recommend 55 Shore A or 65 Shore A.

Plain bearing – is just the centre of the wheel with nothing in it.

Roller bearings or needle roller bearings is a plastic casing that has metal pins going round it. This makes the wheel easier to use.

Ball bearings comprise of little balls in a metal shield, with a rubber or steel seal. These bearings will last longer, take heavier loads and make everything easier to move.

A fabricated castor has been welded together whereas pressed steel has been pressed from a sheet of metal. The fabricated castor would therefore be thicker and thus more suitable for heavier loads.

Both nylon and polypropylene are types of plastic. Nylon wheels are stronger and can cope with a heavier load than polypropylene but they can also be more expensive. Nylon wheels are porous and can absorb moisture if left in standing water.

Shore hardness is a scale that measures how hard or soft a wheel is. Rubber will have a lower shore rating than polyurethane or nylon which are much harder.

This depends on the configuration and takes into consideration the effect of uneven floor surfaces which can affect the castor share of the total loading. It also accounts for the possibility of one, or more, of the castors potentially lifting from the floor. For safe working, we calculate the load rating:

• For a 4 wheel configuration: Each castor has the capacity of 33% of the total load (divide the total load by 3 to give the load capacity of each castor)
• For a 3 wheel configuration: each castor has the capacity for 40% of the total load (divide the total load by 2.5 to give the load capacity for each castor)
• For a 6 wheel configuration: each castor has the capacity of 50% of the total load (divide the total load by 2 to give the load capacity for each castor)

See our configuration guide for further information.

No. BIL jacking castors are rated differently to other castors. They are designed to lift a load off of the floor and therefore each castor is liable to carry half of the total load. To avoid any potential overloading we advise that each BIL jacking castor should have a load capacity of at least 50% of overall load capacity. You can work this out by adding the weight of the trolley to the maximum load and then dividing the total load by 2 to give the capacity of each jacking castor.

We offer zinc plated, stainless steel castor with a metal finish and also a range of black painted castors. We can offer certain of our castors in different colours as a bespoke option based on a minimum order quantity. Please call us and we will be happy to help you 01249 822222.

All of the load capacities in our catalogue or on our website are dynamic load capacities. Unless otherwise stated they are all based on a 4km/h walking pace. We are able to offer castors for higher speeds in certain ranges which can go up to 16km/h for towable loads. If your application is static, we would add 25% to the load capacity.