For instance, heavy-duty casters are designed to carry weights of 2000 lbs. to 44000 pounds. Such casters are mostly used in manufacturing plants, warehouses and similar places where much strength is required to push items around.

Handling materials and equipment without casters

Have you thought about how stressful moving around the supermarket would be if there were no carts to help move stuff around? It is sure going to a dreadful experience. Shopping carts are fitted with casters to enable you to drag and push the cart conveniently.

To conveniently support loads that are imposed on casters, careful consideration must be given to the kind of material from which they are made, their functionality, and design.

Types of material handling casters in the supermarket

In terms of motion, casters often come in two major designs; they could either be rigid or swivel.

Rigid casters only go in a forward and backward direction. Swivel casters can go around 360 degrees. The ability of the swivel caster to go in virtually all directions gives it an added advantage of maneuverability and flexible handling.

Casters help you push and pull easily!

The casters on supermarket carts are made to pivot. I simple words, they make transportation much easier and can take corners conveniently when in motion. Casters can also be fitted with a brake mechanism to help you hold them in a particular position.

As much as casters are often attached to furniture and appliances, they can also serv used as decorative fittings for TV stands, shelves, and desks. Shopping carts casters offers the following benefits:

· Increased mobility

Due to their design, this kind of caster wheels makes it easy to move your stuff in the supermarket easily.

· Less stress

Caster wheels help to relieve you of stress. Since they help to facilitate easy and quick movements, they help take away loads from your body; joints and muscles and save you from fatigue

· Streamline processes

Shopping carts are often designed to have a rounded profile, and due to the shiny nature of most stores, they accelerate the movement.

· Durability

The durability of caster wheels is also dependent on the nature of the floor finishing, the kind of environment, temperature. Modern casters offer new features like the quality swivel lock and other fittings that allow you to move the wheels in a fixed direction. They are also easy to maintain and replacing them is easy too.

                                                          Caster wheel with brakes

Picking the right Casters

While selecting caster wheels for equipment handling in supermarkets, you should have it at the back of your mind that “it’s not a one size fits all thing.” The size and shape of the caster may play essential roles, but there are more factors to consider.

You need to know the amount of load the caster is expected to carry and the working condition. If you are not familiar with the technical aspects of any caster, you should consult with someone who can interpret whatever information is provided about the caster wheels.

You should also be aware of the kind of application you intend to use the caster for – in this case, the casters will be used in a supermarket. Lastly, you must always make out time to inspect the casters for any debris or object that might have gotten stuck in the wheels and could hinder movement.

Caters are designed to withstand wear and tear of its parts and are made to undergo testing under testing. Manufacturers carry out post-production tests to ensure that the quality of the casters is within regulatory and standard limits.

As we continually put Caster wheels in use, especially shopping carts, the manner of handling and maintenance largely determines its durability. If you neglect to take care of your casters, their life expectancy drops drastically and leads to an abrupt end.

Casters meant for material handling in supermarkets will deteriorate as soon as you ignore to inspect and service them. Let’s look at some ideas on how to maintain your material handling casters.

· Replace worn out caster wheels

You don’t have to wait for the caster wheels to become damaged before you replace them. Preventive maintenance is way cheaper than replacing the entire caster wheel when it breaks down. Avoid using shopping carts when caster wheel is bad, ensure that you change them the instant they start to malfunction.

· Lubricate moving parts

It is advisable that you lubricate the axle regularly to keep it functioning well. Proper lubrication reduces the workload on the caster wheel. While doing it, ensure that the type of lubricant you are using is right.

You can opt for wet or dry lubricant. Dry lubricants are best used in a dusty environment; this is because dust settles less on dry surfaces compared to wet surfaces. Wet lubricants are quite hard to wash away compared to their dry counterpart.

· Check caster wheels for punctures and cuts

As you push equipment or items with caster wheel around, there is a tendency that the wheels will get cut by sharp objects like wooden splinters, cutting tools, nails, tacks, and even glass. Once you notice any scratch, puncture, or cut, ensure that you attend to it immediately before it deteriorates further and damages the equipment.

· Floor conditions

Ensure that the floor is always clean and free from debris or any object that can damage the caster wheel.

How does temperature affect caster wheels?

The temperature of the environment affects the performance of lubricants. If the temperature is elevated beyond the rating of the lubricant, it reduces the effectiveness; hence, the purpose of applying the lubricant would have been defeated.

It could also lead to an increase in friction, which then leads to rapid wear, and tear of caster wheels. It is essential that the proper kind of lubricants be used at the appropriate temperature ranges.

Temperature also affects the performance of the bearings in the swivel section. Elevated temperatures decrease the roll ability of ball bearings, which in turns slows down the caster wheels.

So, the next time you want to take care of your casters for materials handling, go ahead and do it with confidence. All we have disclosed in this article is virtually all you need to know. Fix that caster immediately before it tears your equipment down!