The 3 Best Caster Wheels For Metal Fabrication Facilities (And Why!)
Complete safety is the underlying theme of building metal fabrication facilities of the future. Back in 2014, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) handed out citations adding up to $7 million dollars across metal fabrication businesses nationwide.
Walking/working surfaces were one of the citation areas OSHA focused on. Using our expertise regarding walking surfaces and mobile applications, we would like to share our insights on the top 3 highly recommended caster wheels for metal fabrication environments.
1. INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS ARE MAJOR KEYS TO SAFETY SUCCESS
Our team at Caster Connection has worked with metal fabricators for over 25 years and the most common problem that we encounter on a shop floor is debris buildup from things like weld slag, metal chips, screws, etc. We've witnessed improper casters being used to transport metal fabrication equipment, rolling over debris, which has led to inconvenient buildup over time. This buildup can lead to destruction of the wheel and flooring, while making equipment transport more dangerous.
Shown in the picture above, the metal shavings of the shop floor had created a thick layer of debris onto the improper caster wheel. The buildup of metal shavings disabled the application from rolling easily and smoothly. Thus, damaging flooring and creating frustration and causing stress to one's body when the cart is being maneuvered.
The CC Apex caster wheel is an incredibly innovative product that perfectly meets the needs of metal fabrication applications. It was developed after an elite automotive manufacturer approached Caster Connection in search of solutions for their manufacturing mobility problems, including:
- Durability & ability to dispel debris
- Push/pull ergonomics
- Increasing weight capacities
- Reduction in maintenance downtime
2. HEAVYWEIGHT PROBLEM-SOLVER
Despite sharing similar traits to the CC Apex, the CC Stout caster wheel pulls its own weight and created its own lane. The CC Stout is a polyurethane on iron caster wheel that is ideal for abusive environments where debris is an issue, and where floor protection and noise reduction is also desired. The CC Stout is capable of carrying much heavier weight loads due its iron core and crowned flat-tread design.
3. EMPOWERING WORKERS WITH MORE SAFETY OPTIONS
An alternative to the CC Apex is the Blickle Besthane® Soft caster wheel. The highlights of the Blickle Besthane® Soft caster wheel is that it's resilient, reduces noise, and provides great ergonomics. Not to mention its very low rolling resistance and floor preservation. Contact us for more information if you're interested in the Blickle Besthane® Soft.
Overall, it may be said that when investing in the safety of the metal fabrication shop of the future - start from the floor and work your way up. Pay attention to the debris-creating activities on the shop floor and study what interferes with a person's safety. As we've learned earlier, choosing the right caster wheel for an environment can make a great difference in moving applications around the shop.