Deriving Strength from a Mixture of Many Things
Steel is an alloy of iron and many other elements. Depending on the percentage of carbon present as an alloying element the steel takes on different qualities and names. For example, if the alloy has more than 2.1% carbon it can be known as cast iron and there are many other variations. After improved manufacturing processes were devised in the 17th century, steel in its various forms has become much more widely used and is a common site in many industries, used for various tools, equipment and accessories. It is extremely useful due to its durability and toughness and works well in hard-working environments.
Steel At Work
A very useful application of steel is in the manufacturing of casters, the small wheels that can be added to many different types of furniture and equipment that keeps much of the world’s businesses mobile. The durability of steel in its different forms offers a wide range of usability for caster applications. Some of the examples of casters made from steel include, cast iron casters, forged steel casters and stainless steel casters. Depending on the needs and requirements of the job and the conditions of the work environment, a steel caster and wheel may be the option best option suited for the job. In order to determine exactly which caster is the best for the job there are basic things to consider. Specifically in regards to steel casters it is important to take into consideration the floor type. Because steel casters are harder it is very important to know if particular attention needs to paid attention to the floor type and if it is a floor type that can be easily damaged. Another thing to take into consideration is whether or not it is important to have an extremely quiet environment. The steel casters, again due to their hardness, can be louder than casters made out of other materials. Knowing these particular details can help you to choose the caster that is best suited to the job.
Characteristics to Consider
There are many different options when it comes to choosing casters. Even when narrowing the options to those made of steel, there are still a variety of different characteristics to choose. The basic casters are available in three standard categories, Light, Medium and Heavy. These categories refer to the weight load capacity, not to the caster itself, even though the casters are available in different weights. However, most of the steel options that are available are in the Medium or Heavy categories. Taking this into consideration, it is also important to remember that in addition to the material, the makeup and design of each caster allows each caster to be able to support a different weight load capacity. There are other individual caster characteristics to consider, for example, how will the caster be attached to the furniture or equipment that it will attached to? Attachment is made possible by the mounting system. Some of the basic mounting system options available 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 kingpinless top plate. The different mounting systems will determine how the caster interacts with the furniture or equipment that it is attached to and the floor over which it will move. How the caster attaches can allow for more or less movement between the furniture or equipment and the caster. These are just some of the other options of individual characteristics to consider.
Keeping the Options Open
Although steel may be the best material option for the current the job at hand, it is important to remember for future jobs, that there are many other material options. Some of the other available wheel material options include: performa, performa conductive, polyolefin, polyurethane Hi-Tech, phenolic, cast iron, maxim, and thermo. Understanding that the different materials can serve different purposes in how the caster functions and how it interacts with the different floor surfaces it comes in contact with can aid in choosing the best option for the specific job. Additionally, keeping in mind the type of job that you may have to accomplish now or in the future it is important to realize than in addition to the basic caster options available of which there are many possible combinations, there are also many specialty casters available. Some of the specialty options available include: spring loaded door casters, gravity lock ladder casters, concealed side mount casters, die-cast aluminum leveling casters, rug runner casters, high-capacity, low overall height extrathane casters and glass cutting table casters. Regardless of the job that you need to accomplish you can be certain that there is a specific caster that is perfectly suited to the job.
Choosing the Company to Help You Choose
When trying to decide what the best option is for your business, we know that making the best decisions can be difficult. However, fully understanding the available options is the first step to being able to make a wise choice. This is why it can be very important to contact a company that is an expert in the field. Douglas Equipment knows that you are an expert in your industry, and therefore, we pride ourselves with having the product knowledge and experience to make us an expert on our line of business. With almost sixty years in the moving equipment business we know that when it comes to getting things moved and what the best tool, equipment or accessory is for the job, we can help.
Please contact us Toll-free at 1-800-451-0030, locally at 305-888-3700, or by faxing us at 305-883-9563. We can also be reached electronically through the Contact Us section on our website. We look forward to being able to help you to choose the best option, ensuring that the caster that you choose will be best suited for your specific needs. We understand how important the proper use of time is when you are in a business that is constantly in motion, and therefore, we always strive to be efficient and accurate in our customer service interaction. We look forward to hearing from you and working with you soon.
