This guide is for toolroom managers, plant engineers and buyers who move very heavy moulds, dies and fixtures. A wrong caster can mean a stuck load, a damaged floor or a risk to staff. Here is how to work out the load, and what to tell us so we can confirm the series.
Know the true weight
Start with the weight of the mould, die or fixture. Then add everything that moves with it: the base plate, the platform or carrier, clamps, hoses and any tooling left on it.
Do not use a rounded figure from memory. Use the weight from the tool drawing or a weighed figure. If you only have an estimate, tell us.
Divide the total by the number of casters. Then leave a margin. One caster can take more than its share on a floor that is not flat. Do not order at the top of a rating if the load will be moved often.
Very heavy loads: the extra heavy duty series
Our extra heavy duty series is the HOD 92 range. The catalogue lists PA wheels with double bearing, and a load rating of 2000 to 4000 kg. It is listed as a swivel top plate caster and a rigid top plate caster.
The catalogue gives one wheel option in this series, so there is no wheel choice to make. The main questions are the load per caster and the fitting. Tell us both, and we will confirm the code.
Extra heavy low gravity series
Height matters for many carriers, so measure it. Our extra heavy low gravity series is the HOD A3 range. Measure the space between the floor and the underside of the carrier.
The catalogue lists PA wheels with four ball bearing, rated 600 to 700 kg, as swivel, swivel with brake and rigid top plate casters. The catalogue gives no caster height, so tell us your available height and we will check it for you.
Floor, route and the move
Check the floor on the full route, from the storage area to the press or machine. Look for cracks, drain covers, steel plates, ramps and thresholds. Tell us the floor type and whether oil or water is present. We will confirm the right wheel for the conditions.
Tell us how the load is moved. Follow your site's rules for moving heavy loads.
Write down where the load starts, where it stops and who moves it. A die that goes from a rack to a press once a week is a different job from a fixture that moves every shift.
Check the destination as well. A press bed, a bolster plate or a machine table may have a lip or a gap. The carrier must roll up to it, and the casters must clear it.
If the carrier stays in one place for long periods, tell us. Keep the old casters if you have them. Their fitting, height and wear pattern tell us a lot, and photos of them save time on the quote.
Fixed, swivel and brake
A very heavy carrier needs control. Rigid casters help it track straight. Swivel casters let you turn it into position. Brakes hold it once it is in place.
The extra heavy duty series in our catalogue has swivel and rigid casters, but no brake model. The extra heavy low gravity series has a swivel model with brake. If you need to lock the load, tell us, and we will confirm the series.
Follow the equipment maker's instructions and your site safety officer for moving and securing heavy tooling.
What to send us for a quote
- The mould, die or fixture, with its weight and the weight of the carrier.
- The number of casters you plan to fit.
- The height available between the floor and the underside of the carrier.
- The mounting plate size, hole spacing and hole size.
- The floor type, the route, and any oil or water.
- Whether you need fixed, swivel or braked casters.
- A drawing or photos of the carrier base.
- The quantity you need.
Request a quote on our website or message us on WhatsApp, and we will confirm the right series and code. You can also use our caster finder.