How does a castor work?

What to consider when choosing castors

Choosing a castor with the appropriate weight rating is crucial as they will need to be able to support the weight of your machinery. You can multiply the castor’s individual weight rating by the number of castors you are using to arrive at a total load-bearing capacity for your arrangement of castors. You should allow room for safety margin by ensuring that the load-bearing capacity is at least 30% higher than the weight of the item being loaded.

It is also important to consider the surface type of your environment. Smaller castors are typically suitable for flat and smooth surfaces, such as hard or carpeted floors. For rougher terrain such as gravel, you will need castors with a larger wheel.

We believe that industrial doesn’t need to mean ugly, so our castors also come in different colours to match the aesthetic of your workplace.

What are my choices?

Whether they are single or twin castors, our components are attached to a plate that can be fixed to the vehicle. The top plate features pre-drilled holes for easy assembly.
Our castors are available in varying specifications and materials to meet your industrial needs. You will find in our catalogue castors for heavy loads, use outdoors and in humid environments. We also provide standard castor wheels that can be paired with different brackets to handle light, medium or heavy loads. For additional functionality, we also supply castors with brakes to ensure safety in the workplace.

Generally speaking, light duty castors can support weights of up to 75kg, medium duty castors are suitable for loads between 76kg and 140kg and heavy-duty castors can typically support weights of over 141kg. This is a rough guide, so make sure to consult the Elesa catalogue for specific guidance.

How do they work?

If you have ever tried to drag a piece of equipment along the ground, you will know how difficult it is to get it moving. This is why castors are so important, as they make light work of heavy loads. The wheels on castors reduce friction between the object and the ground, meaning the wheels can glide along the surface with ease.

At the centre of the castor is a rod called an axle. This helps provide leverage as the rim of the wheel turns a greater distance than the axle, covering more ground and magnifying the pushing force at the axle. The result is you can efficiently move an object on wheels with little exertion, which allows you to remain safe at work.

For our full range of castors and wheels, check out the Elesa catalogue.