Nylon Casters

Nylon casters put a polyamide (PA) wheel on the Sumatic 01 and 011 series fork. PA is the hardest engineering plastic we use as a wheel material, and it is specified where chemical exposure, abrasion or heavy single-wheel loads exceed what TPR, TPU or PVC can take. The line covers 1 to 8 inch sizes with ratings from 10kg to 350kg per wheel, in top plate and threaded stem mounting.

The defining property is chemical resistance. PA wheels do not swell, crack or soften in the oils, solvents and mild acids that destroy PVC and degrade TPR over time, which is why nylon is the default for chemical plants, paint lines, and areas where the floor is treated with aggressive cleaners. The second property is load capacity at the wheel rim: PA carries heavy per-wheel loads without the rim deformation that limits rubber at the top of the range.

The trade-off is noise and floor marking. PA is a hard compound: it is louder than TPR on polished floors and can mark soft surfaces, so it is not the choice for offices, hospitals or cleanrooms. It is the right choice on concrete, resin and sealed industrial floors where the equipment runs hard and the chemistry is hostile. If the application is noisy but chemical-free, TPR is usually the better first order.

Sizing follows the standard rule: maximum loaded weight divided by the number of casters, times 2.5 safety factor for swivel casters on hard floors. A 600kg loaded trolley on four casters needs a 375kg rating, which is just past the nylon line; a 400kg trolley runs on 6-8 inch nylon casters at 250-350kg. Lighter fixtures and chemical trolleys fit the 2-5 inch sizes at the lower end.

Mounting is top plate with 2 or 4 holes or threaded stem M10-M16, in swivel and rigid. Brakes are available on the larger sizes. Because the fork is identical to the rest of the Sumatic range, a mixed-material programme, nylon for the chemical zone and TPR for the general zone, stays to one fork family.

Send the chemical exposure, loaded weight and floor through the RFQ form. We reply with the recommended nylon size and compound grade, load tables and pricing within one business day.