company news about WICKE Launches Highperformance Polyurethane Casters for Material Handling

Imagine a bustling factory floor where heavy equipment moves smoothly and quietly, without disruptive noise or damage to expensive flooring. This is not a distant dream but a reality made possible by high-performance polyurethane (PU) casters. As experts in caster technology, we examine the advantages of PU casters and their role in optimizing industrial operations.

Polyurethane is a versatile plastic or polymer whose properties can be tailored to specific needs. It uniquely combines the elasticity of rubber with the hardness of nylon, making it an ideal tread material for both rigid and swivel casters as well as pallet wheels.

The creation of polyurethane involves a precise chemical polymerization process. Through expert manufacturing techniques, PU properties can be precisely adjusted for different applications. This allows PU materials to range from soft and flexible to extremely hard and dimensionally stable, meeting diverse operational requirements.

Compared to other casters used in industrial and commercial environments, polyurethane casters offer significant benefits:

• Exceptional load capacity: PU casters can sustain heavy loads over extended periods, ensuring safe and reliable transportation of equipment and goods.
• Minimal wear: Suitable for continuous use in indoor, cleanroom, and outdoor environments, reducing maintenance costs.
• Quiet operation: Effectively absorbs vibrations and reduces noise, creating a more comfortable work environment.
• Superior floor protection: Prevents damage to sensitive surfaces including tiles, coated floors, and hardwood.
• Excellent chemical resistance: Withstands exposure to oils, greases, and various chemicals, extending service life.
• Smooth rolling: Delivers consistent performance on uneven surfaces and thresholds, improving transport efficiency.
• Wide temperature tolerance: Typically operational in temperatures ranging from -30°C to +70°C.

With their unique rolling characteristics, load capacity, and durability, PU casters are particularly valuable in applications requiring heavy load transportation without floor damage. Key sectors include:

• Industrial trucks and pallet transporters
• Warehouse, logistics, and transport systems
• Mobile equipment in mechanical engineering and manufacturing
• Rolling containers in furniture production
• Cleanroom, laboratory, and food industry equipment
• Medical devices including wheelchairs
• Event production systems including mobile stages

Featuring a die-cast aluminum core permanently bonded to high-quality Topthane® tread (92 Shore A), these casters offer exceptional wear resistance and smooth operation. Load capacity ranges from 380 kg to 1,550 kg depending on size.

Designed for heavy industrial use with cast iron cores and durable Topthane® treads (92 Shore A), these casters withstand impacts and point loads with capacities up to 2,000 kg.

With aluminum cores and softer Redthane® PU treads (75 Shore A), these casters provide quiet operation ideal for noise-sensitive environments, supporting 310 kg to 840 kg loads.

Combining cast iron cores with Redthane® PU treads (75 Shore A), these medium-duty casters (580-700 kg capacity) feature suspension components for exceptionally smooth rolling.

With TPU treads (96 Shore A) molded onto polyamide cores, these casters are particularly suited for high-temperature or high-stress applications, supporting 300-400 kg loads.

The development of specialized PU caster systems represents a significant advancement in industrial mobility solutions, offering customized performance characteristics for diverse operational requirements.