How to choose the right caster wheel for your equipment?

Time：Jul 04,2025

In our lives, casters, seemingly insignificant small objects, actually play a crucial role. From large industrial machinery to everyday furniture, their presence is almost ubiquitous. The performance and durability of casters largely depend on their manufacturing materials. Today, let's learn about the applications of several common materials in caster manufacturing.

Let's talk about nylon. Nylon is a synthetic material with high strength, high toughness, and wear resistance, making it a favorite in the caster manufacturing field. Nylon casters have a strong load-bearing capacity, a smooth surface, and a low coefficient of friction, effectively reducing noise and resistance during equipment operation. Moreover, nylon material also has good corrosion resistance, able to withstand the erosion of alkalis, most salt solutions, and weak acids, maintaining stable performance even in some special environments.

Now let's look at TPU material. TPU, or thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, is a high-molecular material with excellent wear resistance, oil resistance, and elasticity. TPU casters have outstanding load-bearing performance and remain stable under various harsh conditions. However, TPU material has relatively weak hydrolysis resistance, so care should be taken to avoid prolonged contact with water during use.

Casters made of rubber also have their own advantages. Rubber casters are known for their high coefficient of friction and good shock absorption performance. The rubber tread is soft, providing stable support while reducing vibration and noise during equipment operation. In addition, rubber material also has good heat dissipation performance, capable of withstanding higher speeds and longer operating times. However, compared to nylon and TPU, rubber has slightly inferior wear resistance and chemical resistance, requiring careful selection in some special application scenarios.

In addition to these materials, metal materials also occupy an important position in caster manufacturing. Steel and stainless steel, with their high strength and good load-bearing capacity, are suitable for use in heavy-duty and harsh environments. Aluminum alloy, due to its lightweight, corrosion resistance, and easy processing characteristics, is widely used where weight and aesthetics are important.

Plastic caster brackets also have many advantages. They are lightweight, impact-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and come in a variety of colors, allowing for customization as needed. Plastic casters are typically used in light and medium load applications, such as homes and offices.

Finally, let's talk about composite materials. Composite materials combine the advantages of multiple materials, such as high strength, light weight, and corrosion resistance, and are therefore widely used in special occasions with high performance requirements, such as aerospace and medical devices. In caster manufacturing, the application of composite materials is also gradually increasing, providing more possibilities for improving caster performance.

In short, casters made of different materials have their own characteristics. Choosing the right material not only improves the performance and durability of the caster but also meets the usage requirements of different occasions and needs. Therefore, when purchasing casters, we need to select the appropriate material based on the actual application scenario and needs to ensure stable and efficient operation of the equipment.