On warehouse and production floors the wheel is the most neglected component, yet it signs off on a large share of downtime. The wrong wheel damages floors, shortens bearing life through vibration and reduces operator comfort. Here is where polyurethane-coated wheels make the difference and how to choose them.
Why Polyurethane Coating?
1. Floor-friendly: Unlike steel or cast iron, it does not mark or chip epoxy and concrete floors. 2. High load: Cast PU at the right hardness (typically 90-95 Shore A) carries loads rubber of the same size cannot. 3. Quiet: Noticeably lower noise than metal wheels. 4. Wear life: Several times the service life of rubber on abrasive floors. 5. Energy: Low rolling-resistance formulations extend battery vehicle range. 6. Re-coatability: If the core is sound, the coating is renewed instead of scrapping the wheel.
The Load - Speed - Floor Triangle
Three questions cover wheel selection: What is the load per wheel (vehicle plus payload at worst-case distribution)? What are continuous speed and distance (heat build-up is PU's main enemy)? What is the floor condition (burrs, metal chips, chemicals)? High-speed duty calls for larger diameters or special formulations to shed heat; with chemical contact, formulation comes before hardness.
Re-coat or Replace?
If the cast core is sound and bearing seats are in tolerance, re-coating costs less than half of a new wheel and ships faster. Cracked cores, weld repairs or ovalised seats favour replacement. See our polyurethane industrial wheels page for forklift, pallet truck and AGV production details.
Three Habits That Extend Wheel Life
Regular clearing of metal chips from floors, avoiding overload, and inspecting the coating at the first change in vibration or sound — three simple habits that visibly shrink the wheel budget.
Send us your wheel dimensions and duty conditions; we will quote re-coating or new production the same day: +90 (224) 411 03 24 | beray@beraymakina.com