In material handling, there are many examples of casters that have a wide array of applications. A medium-duty swivel caster may work as well on a hospital operating-room cart as it does in a food-service environment. A heavier-duty caster on a furniture truck may perform just as dependably on a warehouse dolly. But moving heavy machinery has its own unique set of problems and requirements, and the top caster manufacturers have risen to this challenge by developing casters that can take the weight and abuse of getting heavy machines from point A to point B safely without compromising on performance or ease of use. These are casters that:
- Can reliably and repeatedly carry thousands of pounds of metal
- Have swivels that perform flawlessly under high weight capacities
- Have wide wheels constructed of the strongest materials, mounted on stout axles
- Have brakes capable of holding the heaviest loads in place
Here at Douglas Equipment, we have a number of heavy-duty casters that are more than equal to the task of moving your machinery without incident or damage. Here a just a few:
Albion 93 Series
With capacities ranging from 1,600 to 7,500 pounds, this beefy line of casters is at home with the heavy stuff: die carts, towed trailers, manufacturing workstations, and aircraft assembly. To stand up to all that hardware, the top plate and yoke are ⅝-inch thick AISI steel. Swivels can creak under the pressure of thousands of pounds, but this roughneck features a 7-inch diameter, precision-machined load raceway with ⅝-inch steel balls and tapered roller thrust bearings to keep it swiveling smoothly under stress. Half-inch steel plate legs are welded inside and out for strength, and a 1-¼-inch solid axle keeps the wheels rolling. Choose from poly cam, face contact, or welded swivel lock brakes. Rugged tread options bear the weight while minimizing wear to flooring surfaces:
- Moldon rubber
- Polyurethane
- Thick tread polyurethane
- Phenolic
- Laminated phenolic
- Cast iron
- Ductile iron
Shepherd Bassick HS/HR Series
For a machinery caster that is all about taking abuse in rough environments, look no further than this 1,750-pound capacity series. The 2-½-inch wide aluminum wheels sport Honcho Urethane impact-resistant tread, making them a must-have for rough floors. The heavy, stamped-steel leg construction and oversized, heat-treated dual ball bearing raceways give the caster the needed strength to carry heavy machinery through shock-intensive, punishing conditions. The wraparound welded legs are directly under the main support swivel and further boost these models’ strength. Wheel diameters range from 6 to 10 inches, with the HS models featuring a swivel radius from 4-¾ to 7-¼ inches with a heavy interlocking kingpin. A 4-position swivel lock brake option is also available. All of these tough features make this caster a winner for power-towed applications, terminal trucks, and any high-abuse or heavy-impact applications on rough floors.
Colson 8 Series
This line of kingpinless caster is nicknamed “The Enforcer,” and it’s easy to see why as it makes sure your heavy machinery loads get from point A to point B in one piece. Wheel diameters range from 6 to 12 inches and capacities range from 680 to a whopping 6,000 pounds, made with a selection of the toughest materials:
- Phenolic
- Cast iron
- V-Groove
- Forged steel
- Moldon rubber with cast iron core
- Moldon polyurethane with cast iron core
- Performa rubber
- Polyurethane HI-TECH
This caster has thick, ultra-strong construction throughout: a 3/4-inch solid axle; a 3/8-inch steel top plate; and formed fork legs 3/8 inches thick and 3 inches wide, robotic welded inside and out. Multi-temperature grease keeps it rolling in temperature extremes, and the recessed zerk grease fitting on the swivel raceway prevents damage, while the grease fitting on the wheel bearing makes it easy to maintain.
RHOMBUS TSH/TFH Series
RHOMBUS calls the TSH/TFH series “our strong man,” with specs to back it up: 750 to over 4,000 pound capacities, heavy steel welded construction, and special turntable swivel make this series more than a match for containers, forklifts, forklift trucks, lift tables, and machinery construction. Wheels are cast iron with a polyurethane tire and a precision ball bearing, and a total brake is mounted in front. The caster is zinc passivated to resist corrosion, and features a pressed ball track above and a tapered roller bearing below, with a grease fitting and grease nipple in the fork head. Precision engineered by Europe’s top caster manufacturer, the TSH/TFH exemplifies what RHOMBUS calls “the power of motion.”
Albion Series 94 TRL Super Duty Casters
Made from AISI drop-forged steel and carrying loads up to an incredible 10,000 pounds, the TRL is as heavy-duty as they come for your heaviest machinery handling jobs. A precision roller bearing load and thrust swivel section gives this line of casters impressive strength and longevity. The swivel load bearings comprise a 7-inch diameter machined raceway with precision-tapered roller bearing with a forged labyrinth skirt for protection, and the component thrust bearing is a 1-1/4-inch tapered roller bearing. Legs are ½-inch steel plate welded to the yoke base both inside and out for added strength. The 1-1/4-inch king bolt is integrally forged with a machined and threaded top plate. Wheels run from 6 to 16 inches in diameter and are available in the following models:
- Moldon rubber on cast iron
- Polyurethane on cast iron
- Thick tread polyurethane
- Phenolic
- Laminated phenolic
- TrionixTM high-impact polymer
- Drop-forged steel
- Large bore drop-forged steel
- V-groove drop-forged steel
- Large bore V-groove drop forged steel
- Ductile iron
Brake options include poly cam, face contact, and hand-operated, field-installable or welded swivel locks. With all these impressive specs, Albion recommends this caster for the heaviest of heavy applications, such as die carts, towed trailers, auto plants, aerospace, work stations, steel mills, and Gantry cranes.
We’re Heavy on Expertise and Customer Commitment
Here at Douglas Equipment, we’ve been helping people move loads of all sizes since 1955. We have many options and ideas that may be just right for you. Our knowledgeable and friendly customer support staff will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have regarding heavy machinery casters such as these, or any other casters that would be appropriate for your needs. Contact us today with any questions you may have or for help selecting the casters that will perform best in your workspace.
