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Getting the best ergonomic industrial caster wheel is essential in reducing overexertion injuries on manual carts. Of course, there is also no argument that you want to purchase the most efficient caster wheel you can for the best price.
And while there are many factors to consider in the quality vs. price equation, many companies hang their hat on using lower prices as their primary selling point.
Many factors go into the ergonomic efficiency of a heavy-duty industrial caster used to move loads weighing tons. With loads of that magnitude, slight variations in performance can mean big problems.
For example, two casters may look the same or very similar. However, the bearings packed inside the swivel section may be very different. Bearings are an integral part of a caster, as they are the primary driver of how easily the caster (and the cart) will turn and maneuver.
There are two common bearing types you’ll find in industrial casters. These are precision sealed bearings and ball bearings. The main difference is that precision sealed bearings do not require greasing, so they are maintenance-free.
This means they have a longer use life rating than standard ball bearings. An important distinction in terms of the overall cost. While they might cost you more initially, you’ll save money in the long run.
Case in point:
A caster with precision bearings has a list price of $44, and a caster with traditional ball bearings has a list price of $32. We will assume that the market average labor rate is $20 per hour and that grease costs .50 cents per caster
For the standard ball bearing, if it takes an average of 16 minutes to pull the cart out of service, tip it over, and grease two swivel casters, the average is 8 minutes of maintenance labor per caster. This breaks down as:
| Grease: | .50 cents per application. Four times a year. | $2.00 |
| Labor: | .33 cents per minute. Eight minutes each at four times a year. | $10.56 |
| Purchase price: | $32.00 | |
| Total: | $44.56 |
Over an average life span of three years, plus grease and labor costs for the next two years, the actual cost tops out at a total price of $69.68. Although the precision caster had a higher initial cost at $44, it was less expensive overall as no additional costs were added/needed.
And with the standard ball bearings, costs related to the time and labor spent monitoring maintenance schedules and purchasing needed maintenance supplies haven’t even been added.
It’s easy to think that casters aren’t all that different and shouldn’t require much thought when purchasing. Where this may be true with a caster that you are putting on your chair, the reality is quite different for industrial carts. These casters are designed to carry the entire load and can significantly impact the operator (ergonomics), overall productivity, and operating costs. Buying off a spec sheet and online price shopping can be an expensive mistake if you don’t consider all these factors.
When determining the best and most cost-effective caster for your application, it’s important to factor in all the variables. A quality caster will last longer and perform better to meet your overall needs. If you have questions about choosing the most efficient and cost-effective ergonomic caster for your application, give Caster Concepts a call at 517-680-7950
