Material handling equipment does the heavy lifting, whether pushing groceries and trolleys in supermarket aisles, moving industrial equipment in assembly lines, or sorting raw materials on conveyor belts. Often going unnoticed are the casters and wheels that get things moving. Here, factors like sizes, materials, weight capacity, and hardness determine whether goods are delivered safely and with minimal effort or whether more elbow grease is needed.
When moving items outdoors, on uneven surfaces, and in wet terrain, equipment fitted with a shock-absorbing and durable pneumatic wheel at each corner performs best. They’re specifically designed with shock absorption in mind, easier movement over loose surfaces such as grass and mud, and the ability to endure continual abuse. These are just a few benefits that make them ideal for construction, warehousing and agriculture, among dozens of other uses.
What Are Pneumatic Wheels?
Pneumatic wheels are specialised casters rolling on air or foam-filled rubber. They differ from solid wheels in that they cushion the impact from uneven surfaces, meaning a smoother and safer ride, free of jolting, accidents or material damage. The foam or air compresses to absorb obstacles and provide stability.
Like other casters, pneumatic types come in different configurations in terms of how they mount to the equipment, whether they’re rigid or swivelling, braked or unbraked and the loads they can carry. Mounts often consist of forks connected to metal plates and a robust metal or plastic rim with a bolt-through axle. Moreover, there are puncture-resistant wheels where more strength and longevity are needed, as well as centred or offset wheels to fit different material handling equipment.
Benefits They Offer
Pneumatic casters are seen in dozens of applications due to the long list of benefits, especially compared to alternatives like polyurethane and Nylon wheels. Factors that single out a pneumatic wheel from other types include:
- Improved safety and stability – air and foam-filled tyres do a better job of evenly distributing weight, thus providing more stability. They significantly lower the risk of tipping over and potential accidents that can also hurt equipment operators and damage goods.
- Shock absorption – this improves comfort when transporting valuable items of heft over uneven ground. Tyres absorb bumps, cracks, obstacles and undulations, and reduce vibrations that can damage transported items.
- Versatility across varied surfaces – pneumatic wheels are equally adept on concrete, timber and synthetic surfaces indoors, as well as gravel, mud, grass, sand and loose ground when outdoors. They offer high traction and grip when you need it.
- Exceptionally quiet – in industries and areas where noise is detrimental, pneumatic wheels make light work of moving equipment and goods. Here the rubber treads and high shock absorption help.
- Easy on interior flooring – these wheels won’t leave marks, scratches, dents or other damage to delicate flooring materials. Moreover, they reduce stress on the caster assemblies and equipment they’re attached to, meaning lower maintenance.
Where They’re Used
The wide array of benefits means pneumatic wheels are an effective, safe and sturdy solution for numerous applications. This includes areas like construction, where heavy-duty types with high load capacities and puncture resistance provide easy movement of equipment and materials over rocks, gravel and dirt.
The same shock absorption is put to good use in warehouses, production sites, and outdoor storage facilities, protecting fragile items when they’re transported across rough surfaces or unloaded from loading bays. The wheels are additionally seen in carts, trolleys and other material-handling equipment for outdoor hospitality uses, landscaping and gardening, and hefty agricultural equipment.
Other uses are in medicinal chairs and stretchers where they limit unwanted patient movement to prevent injuries; in restaurants, libraries, hotels and airports for their quiet operation; and in research facilities where they limit damage to equipment and materials.
Choosing the Right Pneumatic Wheels for Your Purposes
Size, mount type, carrying capacity and specific design features mean some pneumatic wheels work better than others for your uses. Sizes and overall wheel diameters range from 60 to 400mm, with larger wheels also going wider to accommodate larger tyres. Bigger wheels also use larger, 1″ axles that can handle more weight.
Loading capacities for each wheel range between 50 and 200 kilos, and are often dependent on size, mounting hardware, and bearing types. Heavy-duty variants with foam fill are puncture-resistant and meant for heavy loads of 1 tonne or more, with multiple casters evenly distributing the weight.
Mounting types determine the equipment the wheels can be used with. Threaded stem pneumatic casters are meant for light-to-medium-duty trolleys and carts, often with loading capacities averaging 100 kilos. For use with trolleys in industries such as hospitality, also consider wheels with offset centres for easier fit and maneuvering. Those that fit bigger equipment such as hand trucks have base plate mounts and heavy-duty ball bearings.
Lastly, design features determine ease of use, the flooring and surfaces the wheels work best, and durability. Different tyre treads have the biggest say in overall grip. Choose wheels with industrial treads for low rolling resistance in warehouses and production facilities, or turf and knobby treads for improved shock absorption in construction and agricultural uses outdoors. Materials and bearing types also matter. Plastic rims and threads work in wet and corrosive environments. while large metal rims with matching heavy-duty bearings can carry heavier loads.
