Caster Manufacturing Article Archive

31Jan 0

Polished & Powerful

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Our 7003 and 7009 Series casters have it all. Sleek lines make them a thing of beauty and their welded construction provides 1,250 lbs. of heavy duty strength. These casters are as rugged as they are versatile and are suitable for a host of applications.

7003 Series: S7063-A38H-UR-PB [Zinc Finish]

The 7003 Series comes with a double raceway construction that ensures outstanding maneuverability. The 5/8″ diameter nut and bolt coined kingpin adds stability and sturdiness. Diameters range from 3-1/4” to 8” with 2” tread widths. Because of its unique construction the 7003 can be produced with two and even three wheels.

The versatility of this caster is enhanced by an array of available options, including brakes/locks, bearings, plates, washers and stems. It can also be made in a variety of finishes including the standard corrosion resistant bright zinc as well as black, chrome and brass. The unique construction of this caster allows us to customize the overall height and swivel lead to meet specific customer requirements.

The 7003 Series is suitable for innumerable applications including stock carts, platform trucks, garbage bins, wire shelving units, heavy service equipment and factory use.

There is also a stainless steel version of this caster. The 7009 Series is produced using work-hardened, electro polished and de-magnetized SAE 304 stainless steel. Raceway balls, top plates, bearings, bushings and side washers are also produced using stainless steel. This caster is perfect for hospitals, pharmaceutical, food processing and other clean environments.

The 7003 and 7009 Series casters are manufactured in our fully integrated production facility in Toronto – stamped, plated, and welded all under one roof. That means you get attractive lead times, dependable delivery dates and trusted North American quality backed by our 3-Year No-Excuse Warranty.

7009 Series: S7069-A38H-NYNW-RB [Stainless Steel Finish]

If you’re looking for casters that are heavy duty and come with heavy beauty, find out more about the 7003 and 7009 series. Contact your local Algood representative or a member of our customer service team.

Algood is proud to manufacture its casters and wheels right here in North America. With our fully integrated manufacturing facility in Toronto, we are leaders in quality and innovation. For more information about Algood Casters, Call: 1-800-254-6633 or Email: Service@Algood.com

Product Spotlight

26Jan 0

To Determine Capacity Start with Weight

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Weight is one of the things that we don’t like to talk about, but when it comes to determining the capacity of a caster, it’s a must-have discussion. At first, calculating the required capacity of a caster would seem simple. Start with the weight of the equipment to which the casters are being fastened. Divide by four, and Bob’s your uncle.

But not so fast. There are lots of other considerations.

Load Weight. It’s not just the weight of the equipment that you have to think about. You must also include the weight of whatever is going in or on the equipment. And this isn’t a time to be modest about weight. Be sure to calculate the absolute maximum load that the equipment will carry.

Floor Surface. An uneven surface means that all four casters will not touch the floor at the same time, which means that a smaller number of casters will bear the load. Your capacity calculation must be based on the minimum number of casters that will be in contact with the floor at any time.

Wheel Selection. To reduce noise, avoid marking or provide a smoother ride, customers often choose soft tread wheels, like rubber and polyurethane. But here’s the thing. Those wheels generate more surface friction making a piece of equipment harder to move. The solution is to select casters with higher capacity.

Movement. A caster’s specified capacity usually assumes movement at a walking speed – up to 3 miles or 4.8 kilometres per hour. However, if your equipment is moving faster than that, let’s say as part of a towline, the caster’s capacity will be reduced. That’s because increased speed leads to increased wheel temperature and greater friction. Also, many starts and stops also increase surface friction and require casters with greater capacity.

Caster Components. Many components impact capacity. The choice of bearings, for example, can offset capacity requirements by increasing a caster’s rollability. In addition, using a stem will increase the capacity requirement by 25%. Be sure to discuss the effect of components when specifying a caster.

Practical Wisdom – Divide by Three. After almost 60 years in the caster business, we have lots of practical wisdom – particularly regarding capacity. So, here’s a gem that you should keep in mind. When calculating capacity, divide the load weight by three, not four. That creates a 33% safety allowance to account for uneven surfaces or unforeseen stops and starts. It may cost a little more but it will keep your employees safe, protect your investment in what is being transported, reduce maintenance costs, spare you a ton of aggravation and may even save a bundle of money in the long run.

For much more information about capacity, contact your local Algood representative or a member of our customer service team. Just remember that when you’re talking about capacity, it’s not a time to be shy about weight.

For help choosing the caster that best meets your needs, contact your Algood Sales Rep or reach out to our customer service team by email service@algood.com or by phone at +1 (800) 254-6633.

CasterU

9Nov 0

Caster Combinations

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Order something at your favourite fast food joint and it’s likely that the person behind the counter will ask if you’d like to “combo” that. That usually means that you can add things like soft drinks and fries and pay less than you would if you ordered everything individually. Well, it turns out that combos are just as important to casters. You can use a number of combinations of rigid and swivel casters to meet specific needs and applications. In this edition of CasterU we present some of the most common caster combinations along with the pros and cons of each.

Caster Combinations_Two-Rigid-Two-Swivel-B

Two Rigid, Two Swivel is generally the most popular pattern used. This combination is the most practical and the most economic design, primarily used for straight and/or long distances and can be used for most loads, depending on the total weight capacity.

The Three Swivel pattern is found on barrel dollies and small portable machines, which generally require excellent manoeuvrability. Installing a positional swivel lock on one of the casters provides additional control when needed. Because the load is distributed over only three casters, choosing casters with the right capacity is critical to performance.

Caster Combinations_Standard-Tilt-Mount-B

The Standard Tilt Mount consists of four swivel & two rigid casters and is designed for heavy load and long platform trucks. The two rigid casters are higher than the four swivel casters. The tilt is most effective when the rigid casters are 1/8″ higher than the overall height of the swivel casters. This platform design is often used for towing applications and offers easy manoeuvrability with uneven loads and higher capacities.

Diamond Mounting uses two swivel and two rigid casters. However the rigid casters are set at the sides and the two swivel casters are set at the ends. This configuration allows the platform to pivot in the middle and turn on tight corners. It is highly manoeuvrable but less stable and therefore not recommended for ramps. The capacity is strictly dependent upon the capacity of the casters required.

Diamond Tilt Mounting is identical except the two rigid casters are 1/8″ higher than the overall height of the swivel casters. Again capacity is determined by the capacity of the casters. The tilt mount accommodates uneven loads and higher capacities.

Caster Combinations_Diamond-Tilt-Mount-B

Four Swivel casters respond instantly to directional change, making limited spaces easy to manoeuvre. This configuration is recommended for short distances. Installing a positional swivel lock on two of the casters effectively allows you to switch to a two rigid/two swivel configuration when additional control is needed.

Four Swivel, Two Rigid is designed for extremely heavy loads and long platform trucks. The two rigid casters help to distribute and reduce the load on the swivel casters, which maintain good manoeuvrability and makes steering very easy.

For help choosing the best caster combination for your needs, contact your Algood Sales Rep or reach out to our customer service team by email service@algood.com or by phone at +1 (800) 254-6633.

CasterU

26Oct 0

Algood Product Spotlight: Moldon Urethane Wheels

High Capacity Wheels | Easy on Floors

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Here’s a wheel that will handle capacities up to 6,600 lbs while leaving your floors looking like new. Our Moldon Urethane wheel features a urethane tread secured to a cast iron core.

With high tensile strength, these wheels are non-marking and will protect all surfaces while providing a smooth and quiet ride. Moldon Urethane wheels extend the longevity of equipment and by preventing excess movement, they also protect valuable cargo. and. They are resistant to most chemicals and can be used outdoors.

Here’s a wheel that will handle capacities up to 6,600 lbs while leaving your floors looking like new. Our Moldon Urethane wheel features a urethane tread secured to a cast iron core.

Our Moldon Urethanes come in three versions. The standard wheel has a durometer of 93.5 on the A scale while the Heavy Duty (HD) will handle higher capacities and is much harder with a durometer of 70 on the D scale. There is also a crowned tread that offers exceptional manoeuvrability. Wheels come with diameters ranging from 4” to 10” with tread widths from 1-1/2” to 4”. They come with a wide variety of bearings.

These wheels are ideal for heavy material handling and are used in paper mills, steel mills, aircraft engine cradles and heavy machinery equipment as well as platform and stock trucks.

If you are looking for a wheel with the strength of steel that offers outstanding surface protection, you should find out more about our Moldon Urethanes. Just contact your local Algood representative or a member of our customer service team.

Product Spotlight

12Oct 0

Mixed Signals

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Here in Toronto, as we enter the third quarter, the weather has turned dramatically colder. It feels like autumn. That may be the clearest signal facing us. The economy, global politics, the caster industry and even our own customers are all sending mixed signals. You are likely facing some of the same unpredictability. In the spirit of offering our customers and colleagues some insight, here’s what we see and what we’re doing about it.

Higher interest rates are continuing to have an impact. The cost of capital investments has become prohibitive to some and potentially destructive to others. In our own business, we had the foresight to delay some planned projects and the acquisition of equipment. We will be fine but some of our affiliated companies as well as some of our customers are in precarious positions. With the potential for even higher interest rates, the economy remains hard to read.

The labour market has become much tighter. It’s really hard to get well-qualified employees with specialized skill sets. We have decided that we’re not going to feel pressured and settle for second best. For example, it recently took us months and countless candidates to hire a superb electrician. Other businesses may not be in the position to wait for the right talent.

On the positive side, supply chains are strong. Prices of raw materials and other production inputs have steadied. That’s allowing us to effectively plan for 2024 by securing our supply chains and ensuring that our manufacturing capability remains dependable.

However, the price of oil is precarious. Current events in the Middle East have the potential to put dramatic upward pressure on the cost of oil. That, in turn, could have cascading effects on supply chains.

The move toward reshoring is growing. We continue to receive calls from customers who want to reduce or eliminate their offshore purchasing and replace it with North American-made materials. In fact, our orders from customers specifically switching to materials made in North America have increased significantly.

Many of our customers have ambitious plans for 2024 and that is fueling our research, design and engineering efforts. Our R&D initiatives are progressing very well. We expect to introduce a number of new casters in the coming year.

Despite the uncertainty, we recently introduced a new website and are committed to continuously enhancing our online presence through greater CAD functionality and more resources for our customers. Our online catalogues are continuously updated so that you can always get up-to-date product information. We are constantly seeking to improve the user experience on the website. Please share any feedback.

These mixed signals make it very hard to predict what will happen with the economy and the caster industry in the coming months and into 2024. But we are certain that if we continuously improve our integrated manufacturing facility in Toronto and maintain our commitment to outstanding design and engineering, we can’t go wrong. More importantly, we know that our success will be guaranteed by keeping our customers at the centre of everything we do.

What are the mixed signals you are seeing in your businesses? Take a moment and let me know. Who knows. Together, we might be able to make both our companies stronger.

On a more personal note, I want to thank all of you who have called or emailed with your kind messages about what is happening in Israel. With many relatives and friends in Israel, the current events weigh heavily on me and my family here. Your wishes and concerns are comforting.

President's Blog

21Sep 0

Insights Article: A Win for the ALK ALocking Brake

North American Win-Win

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A significant benefit of being a North American Caster Manufacturer is the ability to improve product design in response to operational issues that are brought to our attention.

6500 Series: S6563-A38H-RXW-RB-TG-ALK [Zinc Finish]

Our ALK Brake mechanism is located in the lead position of the caster and is engaged by stepping on the toe of the brake. That securely and positively locks an adjustable rubber grommet to the tread of the wheel. In addition, it simultaneously locks the swivel raceway in any position.

A long-time customer reported that the ALK Brake was slipping and not always engaging. It was an issue that had never before been brought to our attention.

Our design and engineering team investigated and discovered the spring mechanism was deforming the rivet, preventing the swivel lock from locking into the teeth. After further testing and analysis, an action plan was put into place.

The brake design was modified by replacing the rivet with a heat-treated axle and securing it with a lock nut. In addition, we doubled the depth of the grooves that allow the teeth of the spring to securely and firmly engage. That creates more secure contact and prevents slippage.

After our enhancements were complete, we rigorously tested the mechanism and our customer then performed extensive testing. The brake successfully endured 5,000 on-off movements with no deformation and no other mechanical complications.

We were pleased that our customer brought the operational issue to our attention and proud to be given the opportunity to stand behind our 3-year No Excuse Warranty. In the end, this was a win-win because we resolved our customer’s concerns and the improvements will benefit all our customers.

Insights Article: Innovate ALK Brake Top View

Caster Brakes

Algood is proud to manufacture its casters and wheels right here in North America. With our fully integrated manufacturing facility in Toronto, we are leaders in quality and innovation. For more information about Algood Casters, Call: 1-800-254-6633 or Email: Service@Algood.com

Innovate

26Feb 0

Casters & Cold Weather

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Cold-Weather Considerations

Last week brought extreme weather to North America. Texas, with sustained single-digit temperatures (that’s Fahrenheit) and as much as 5” of snow, seemed to be the focus of attention. But, at the same time, the north-east saw multiple snowfalls exceeding 6” while western Canada saw temperatures dipping well below 40ºC (which coincidentally is -40ºF). At Algood, we got a call from a customer in Texas with a question that we usually get from customers in Wisconsin or North Dakota. “Will my casters work in freezing cold weather and how can I protect them?” he asked. We know that if there’s one person asking, others are thinking about the same thing. So, with that in mind, here’s a CasterU primer on casters and cold weather.

Here are a number of cold-weather considerations for casters.

Raceways & Grease

If the grease in the wheel and swivel raceways freezes, casters will seize. Make sure that casters are well greased and that you are using grease rated for the temperatures in which equipment is being used. The standard grease used at Algood will withstand -25ºC (-13ºF) but specialty greases with even lower temperature ratings are available. Raceways can also be protected by seals and thread guards.

Consider Kinginless

Kingpinless casters are ideal for cold weather because the swivel raceway is concealed and protected from water and snow. They normally require no additional greasing bit if they do, the grease fitting is in a very convenient location. In addition, kingpinless casters have a larger swivel raceway, improving the maneuverability of equipment on cold, hard surfaces.

Wheels & Bearings

In freezing temperatures, surfaces get harder and mobility becomes an issue. Harder wheels, that make it easier to get equipment moving and keep it rolling, are the ideal choice. A wheel like our RollX™ has less surface friction and less resistance. In addition, RollX wheels are less likely to chip in cold temperatures. Obstacles on the ground like snow, ice or salt require additional grip, making a softer wheel like our Envirothane™ or Prothane™ a better choice.

Precision ball bearings are the best choice for cold weather. They are pipe sealed, protecting the balls, and rated for temperatures as low as -25ºC. There are bearings available that are rated for even colder temperatures.

Stainless Steel

Cold weather that includes snow and ice (and therefore salt) can create highly corrosive conditions. Casters manufactured using stainless steel and that include stainless steel components will fare much better in extreme cold.

Stay Inside – Duh!

This may be obvious, but keeping equipment with casters away from the outdoors in cold weather will increase its longevity. If you must take equipment outside, be sure that the casters, including all components and grease are rated for extreme cold temperatures.

Need help you with all your cold weather considerations, contact your Algood Sales Rep or reach out to our customer service team by email service@algood.com or by phone at +1 (800) 254-6633.

CasterU

Tag: Caster Manufacturing