A transport wheel is never just a wheel
Transport, industrial, heavy-duty and equipment wheels have different properties depending on their materials, tyres, rims, hubs and bearings. Wheels should therefore always be selected based on their application, load and the surface they will run on. The right choice ensures greater safety, a longer service life and more stable rolling performance.
The right wheel depends on the task
Wheels are an important part of many solutions in industry, manufacturing, warehousing, transport and technical installations. But a wheel is not just a wheel. Different materials and designs offer different advantages and limitations.
The tyre composition, rim type, hub and wheel bearing all affect the wheel’s load capacity, wear resistance, noise level and rolling performance. The choice should therefore always be based on where the wheel will be used, what it needs to carry and the environment it will operate in.
Load and rolling performance must be assessed together
A good rule of thumb is to consider the wheel’s load capacity alongside its operating characteristics. This provides a better basis for choosing a solution that is safe, durable and easy to work with.
Hard wheel materials can generally withstand greater loads than soft materials. However, hard wheels can transfer more compressive loads to the equipment, particularly when running on uneven surfaces and when shock absorption has not been incorporated into the solution.
Softer materials can provide a smoother ride and quieter operation, but they do not necessarily offer the same load capacity. Choosing a material is therefore rarely a question of picking the strongest or softest option, but of finding the right balance for the task.
How to choose your wheel material
When choosing transport or industrial wheels, the surface should always be part of the assessment. The running surface has a significant impact on which material composition is most suitable for the tyre.
The environment around the wheel can also be decisive. In damp environments, corrosion-resistant or stainless properties may be necessary, while other applications require high chemical resistance, quiet operation or particularly good resistance to friction.
- Polyamide/polypropylene: High load capacity, maintenance-free operation and high resistance to salts, grease, acids and alkaline solutions.
- Solid rubber / thermoplastic rubber: Silent operation and easy rolling on most surfaces.
- Polyurethane: High load capacity, robust construction, good resistance to friction, elasticity and very quiet operation, as well as broad resistance to oils, grease, petrol and many other chemicals.
- Metal: High load capacity, resistance to friction and low susceptibility to metal shavings and abrasive material.
- Solid elastic rubber: High load capacity, extreme resistance to friction and excellent ride comfort.
- Pneumatic/air-filled: Good shock-absorbing properties and low rolling resistance when used on uneven surfaces.
Improve operation with the right choice of wheels
The right choice of wheels can make a noticeable difference in everyday use. When load, surface, environment and rolling performance are well matched, the solution becomes more reliable and easier to use.
Hans Buch offers transport and industrial wheels from Rhombus and Colson Group and helps you choose the solution that suits your specific application. This can be useful if you are unsure about materials, load capacity, ride comfort, chemical resistance or corrosion-resistance requirements.
Find the right transport wheels
Learn about the range of transport and industrial wheels, and choose wheels based on load, surface and environment.
Hans Buch advises on wheel types, materials and rolling performance, so you get a solution that suits the task.