This guide is for plant managers, production supervisors and maintenance teams who buy casters for mobile racks and tool carts. A rack that is hard to push, or a cart that tips, slows the line and puts your staff and stock at risk. Here is how to choose, and what to tell us.
Start with the full loaded weight
Start with the weight of the rack and its load. Weigh the empty rack or cart first. Then add the heaviest load it will carry: tools, parts, fixtures or stock.
Do not use the average load. Racks fill up on busy days, and someone always adds one more item. Use the heaviest case.
Divide the total by the number of casters, then leave a margin. On an uneven floor, one caster can carry more than its share. If the rack is also pushed over thresholds or joins in the floor, leave more margin.
Medium / heavy duty series
Our medium / heavy duty series is the HOD 62 range. The catalogue lists double bearing wheels and load ratings of 80 to 330 kg per caster. Wheel options are PP, PU, PA, ER and TPR.
It is listed with swivel and rigid top plate casters, swivel threaded stem casters and swivel bolt hole casters, with brake options. Check which of these fittings your rack has.
Heavy duty series
Our heavy duty series is the HOD 72 and 73 range, listed at 120 to 505 kg per caster. It has double bearing wheels in YUPA, PU, Iron Core PU, PA, ER and TPR.
The catalogue lists swivel top plate, swivel top plate with brake, and rigid top plate casters. Tell us your weight per caster and your floor, and we will confirm the wheel.
Floor, route and height
Write down the full route of the rack. Note the floor type, any ramps, thresholds, drains or expansion joints, and how far it travels. Say how often it moves: all day, or only a few times a week. Tell us too if staff load and unload it while it is parked.
Tell us if the floor carries oil, water, swarf or cleaning chemicals. These affect the wheel you need, so send us the floor details along with the load.
A tall rack with a high load is easier to tip than a low cart. Tell us the height of the rack and where the heaviest items sit.
Also check the caster height against the rack. A taller caster raises the whole rack. It can change shelf reach, door clearance and the height of a work surface. Measure the space under the frame and send it to us.
Fixed, swivel, brake and fitting
Most racks use a mix of rigid and swivel casters. Rigid casters help the rack track straight over a long route. Swivel casters let it turn in tight aisles. Fit all casters on a rack from the same series and wheel material, so they wear alike.
Decide where the rack must stay put. A brake on at least two casters keeps it from rolling while you load or unload. If the rack works on a slope, tell us, and we will talk through the number of brakes with you.
Our catalogue uses these mounting names: top plate, threaded stem and bolt hole. If your rack has another fitting, tell us. Measure the plate size, the hole spacing and the hole size. Our caster finder filters by mounting type.
Follow your rack maker's instructions and your site safety officer on how to move and secure loaded racks.
What to send us for a quote
- What the rack or cart is, and what it carries.
- Its full loaded weight at the heaviest, and the number of casters.
- The floor type, the route, and any ramps or thresholds.
- Oil, water, swarf or chemicals on the floor.
- The mounting: top plate, threaded stem, bolt hole or another fitting, with measurements.
- Fixed, swivel or brake, and how many of each.
- Photos of the old casters, if you have them. Keep one old caster, because it saves time on the quote.
- The quantity you need.
Request a quote on our website or message us on WhatsApp, and we will confirm the right series and code.