The Magnitude of the Service Industry
The service industry is an industry that affects almost every aspect of daily life in some way. Its definitions are broad and its reach is far. The service industry offers services to other industries as well as to individual consumers. And the service industry has many different sub-categories of industries and includes any industry whose main purpose is to offer services, including but not limited to: banking, communications, wholesale and retail trade, engineering, computer software development, medicine, nonprofit economic activity, and government services.
An Industry That is On the Go
By understanding the breadth of the service industry it is possible to imagine the magnitude of jobs that are being accomplished and the magnitude of different types of equipment needed to accomplish those jobs. Because the service industries are industries in which services are being offered, it implies that there is movement in various aspects of the job. Imagine the movement that happens daily in a doctor’s office, or at a car mechanic’s garage or even the back and forth activity that occurs in many offices. For an industry that is in motion, its equipment must match the speed and efficiency of its workers.
Keeping it Moving
Regardless of the type of activity that occurs to get the job done it is almost guaranteed that there is some piece of equipment involved that either requires the use of casters or that could be made better by attaching casters. And with the variety of different types of casters that are available today, there is a caster that is appropriate for the type of job, the workload, and the work conditions. Actually, because of the number of casters that are available, choosing the right ones can be a daunting task.
Asking the Right Questions
One of the best things to do before deciding on which casters are the best ones for the job that needs to be accomplished is to ask a series of questions regarding the specifics of the job. First, what is the job? What needs to be moved? Is it a job that is performed every day or a job that is performed less frequently? Is the item or equipment to be moved light or heavy? Is it awkwardly shaped? Is it fragile? How far does it have to travel? And over what type of terrain does it have to travel? Is the surface smooth and slippery? Or it is smooth with ridges, such as tile? Is the surface bumpy and rough? Or does the surface have uneven texture due to the work environment, such as slippery spots from oil? These questions are a starting point for determining the best caster suited to the specific job. It is possible that more than one caster could do the job; however, as with tools, it is always best to find the most appropriate one. If the caster is matched properly then it will last longer and perform more efficiently, which in the long runs saves your company its hard-earned money.
A Plethora of Options
After determining what is going to be asked of the caster then it is time to assess the options available, and there are many options to be considered. One of the first things to consider is the weight of the load to be carried, as this will determine the strength of the caster needed.Then it is best to decide what type of terrain the caster will be moving over to determine the material of the rolling balls. The rolling balls of the caster come in a variety of different materials. Certain materials work better on hard floors and certain materials work better on soft floors. Some materials are made to withstand rough terrain while absorbing shock. Some materials are designed specifically to glide smoothly in order to reduce noise in areas where volume is important. Some of the options of material include performa, performa conductive, polyolefin, polyurethane Hi-Tech, phenolic, cast iron, maxim, and thermo. Next it is important to determine how the caster will be attached to the furniture or equipment, as this will determine the type of stem or attachment plate that is needed. Some of the available options include: top plate, threaded stem, stainless steel, expanding adapter stem, square stem, grip ring stem, pipe thread stem, modular stem, top plate swivel, and the king pinless top plate. Even after determining the best attachment method for the job, there are still many other options to consider. In addition to the material of the rolling ball, the stem and the weight, it is important to know that the structural part of the caster is also available in different materials and colors. In areas of business where appearance matters, choosing the appropriate color makes it possible for the look of the caster to play an important role. These are small details that can make a big difference, not only in how the job is performed, but also in the appearance of the company that is performing the work. Another thought to consider is that, if after considering the many variations of the standard options available, nothing seems to be just right, there are still specialized and custom caster options available. No matter what the job, there is a caster for it.
We Can Help
With all the options to choose from, we at Douglas Equipment understand the difficulty you face. However, it is our job to help you to be educated about all the potential options and to help you choose the most appropriate and cost-effective caster for your job. We pride ourselves with over 50 years in industry experience, in offering superb customer service, excellent product knowledge and low costs. We do our job to the best of our ability so that you can do your job better and easier. Please contact us Toll-free at 1-800-451-0030, locally at 305-888-3700, or by faxing us at 305-883-9563. You can also reach us electronically through the Contact Us section on our website. We look forward to helping you find the best caster for your service industry job.
