When it comes to functionality and productivity, casters play a very important role. Whether it's casters you have installed on a storage cart or casters used on a chair, you want casters that are designed to meet your specific needs. Accomplishing this goal begins with knowing exactly what to look for in a caster design. Here are a couple of tips to get you started.

Capacity

One of the first factors you want to consider is the capacity restrictions of the caster. Casters are designed to be able to withstand a certain amount of weight. Failing to take this into consideration won't just cause your casters to wear faster, but it can also lead to safety hazards. Take a storage cart, for example. Say the cart is used to store heavy equipment that weighs 1,000 pounds and you need four casters to support the cart.

In this case, each of the casters would need a rating of at least 250 pounds to ensure the casters could support the load. However, to be on the safe side, choosing four casters with a rating slightly above the 250 rating would be more ideal because it would help accommodate for any shifts in weight on the cart, such as more weight on one side of the cart than the other. Typically, the greater the weight capacity, the more expensive the caster, so keep this in mind.

Operating Environment

The condition of the environment where the casters will be in operation is also important. For example, will the casters be used on dock plates or along expansion joints that might not be level? In these types of conditions, a traditional, plastic track wheel won't be an ideal solution. In a more rigid operating environment, consider a wider, steel caster. The wider base allows the caster to glide over these obstructions easily and the steel design leaves a smoother finish, also adding in the gliding process.

Stainless steel is also more durable than plastic options, making it more resistant to chipping or bending from these obstructions. Lastly, if protecting your floors is equally important, the smooth design of steel casters can also minimize damage to your floor, such as scratching.

The more effort you put into choosing the appropriate type of casters for your needs, the greater the functionality and level of productivity within your space. Make sure you are taking your time to choose an option wisely. For more information, contact a company like Garland's Inc.