Commercial businesses, manufacturers, and fabricators depend on all sizes of tables, stands, and workbenches to hold, support, and secure their goods. These flat-topped working surfaces frequently need to be moved from one place to get the most use from them though, which makes ensuring they have castors an essential requirement.

Castor wheels make it possible to instantly reconfigure a room or workspace to match changing needs or space requirements. As universal as castor wheels are, however, they’re not all the same. Most professional and industrial tables and stands are meant to perform a narrow range of tasks in a wide range of environments, and the castors they’re equipped with need to be able to meet those demands. Fortunately, Australia has one of the world’s premiere castor manufacturers headquartered right here in Melbourne, and they specialize in castors that are robust enough to withstand the country’s toughest working environments.

Australia Trusts Richmond’s Premium-Grade Castor Wheels

For more than 60 years, Richmond Wheel and Castor Co. has been Australia’s leading manufacturer of industrial rolling solutions, and their product lineup includes everything from trailer jockey wheels to heavy-duty pipe rollers. Its durable, high-precision Richmond castors, however, are the preferred choice for tables, racks, and extra high-performance rolling applications up to 10 tonnes. With more than 2000 unique castor models to choose from, they have a full range of wheeled arrangements that are suitable for every condition and contingency.

Smooth rolling Richmond castor wheels are designed to allow products and equipment to be safely and efficiently moved through areas where either they, or their surroundings, might otherwise be damaged. And while the strength and stability of the cart or trolley supporting the equipment is important, it’s ultimately the wheels that make them suitable for:

• Wet, slippery, or caustic environments, including areas where equipment washdowns are typically required;
• Environments where wide and frequent temperature swings are likely to take place;
• Stations, or locations where space or handling restrictive spaces would require 360° of movement;
• Environments where uncommonly heavy products require the extra strength of twin wheel engineering; and,
• Environments where ground surfaces or floor coatings need to be protected.

From the easy swivelling, ESD (electrostatic discharge) free cartwheels found in medical device cleanrooms, to the heavy-duty, cast iron transfer wheels on the tow dollies used on factory shop floors, Richmond makes castors for every contingency. And while most castor users may never need ISO-certified ESD protection, or the compressive strength necessary for prefabricated steel or stage dollies, they still expect a high-quality castor that provides maximum load-bearing capacity. That’s why when it comes to choosing the best all-round Richmond castors, Australia doesn’t need to look any further than their premium-grade Durolight, Elite, and Excel models.

Fast-Moving Working Spaces Demand Durolite Castors

More than ever, today’s fast-moving manufacturing and retail environments expect their product and equipment trolleys, roll cages, and display units be suitable for rapid movement. And with so many of these businesses’ profitability tied to their ability to react quickly, lightweight Richmond Durolite castors are the perfect solution for applications that need to be safe as well as quick.

With their 80kg – 150kg load capacities and twin swivel races, lightweight Durolites are built to move frequently and to pivot easily. These are traits that are bolstered by their massive wheel selection, which includes:

• Quiet, non-marking institutional, or rebound rubber;
• Full, or glass-filled nylon or layered poly-nylon centred;
• High/low temperature polymer, with an exposure range from -30°C – 350°C;
• Fire, and static-resistant polyurethane; and,
• Exceptionally strong aluminium, or cast iron.

With frame heights up to 187mm, and a choice of either zinc or polished chrome finish, Durolites are as suitable for laboratory carts as they are for welding shop trolleys and equipment stands. And with added features like brakes and swivel locks, they’re also among the safest castors that Richmond manufactures.

Excel Castors are the Solution for the Wettest Environments

While water resistance is a characteristic that all castors strive for, 304 stainless steel Richmond Excel castors are designed especially for workplaces and environments that are persistently wet, where trolleys or roll cages are routinely subjected to washdowns or are regularly exposed to liquid cleaning agents or chemicals. Their choice of either bolt hole, plate, or rigid castor mounting options gives them the advantage when it comes to maintaining maximum control over your cargo during movement – an especially important characteristic when working in areas that you can expect to be wet.

• With frame heights of up to 183mm, rugged Excel castors boast a group of features that include:
• A choice of tough, moisture-resistant plain or stainless steel ball, or oilless bearings;
• A capacity rating from 100kg – 400kg;
• Wheel height clearances from 133mm – 237mm; and,
• A complete selection of full or glass-filled nylon, polymer, aluminium, or graphic steel wheels.

From cleaning and laundry facilities to fisheries and fresh fruit warehouses, Excel castors are the wheelsets you can trust for safe, reliable transfers in the toughest, wettest environments.

Elite Castors Keep You Moving Through Temperature Extremes

While Excel castors are the first choice for wet environments, Richmond Elite castors are designed specifically for environments where elevated hygiene, along with rapid temperature changes are the norm. Their 304 stainless steel construction not only means that they’re easy to maintain for health and hygienic purposes, but they’re ideal for moving between hot and cold areas like hot kitchens and walk-in freezers.

These all-temperature castors are ideal installs for cold storage and bakery carts, and offer an array of features that include:

• A capacity rating of 30kg – 100kg;
• An option of either a plain or stainless steel ball or DU® high/low-temperature bearings;
• A choice of nylon, poly/nylon, rubber, or aluminium wheels; and,
• Possible wheel diameters from 50mm – 125mm.

The minimal maintenance aspect of Elite castors also makes them a solid choice for active environments. Where lesser castors would ordinarily require more closely monitored maintenance schedules, Elite castors are capable of providing years of safe, dependable service with only periodic greasing and lubrication.

The Final Word

At the end of the day, with so many possible contingencies that can occur, businesses need the flexibility that high-quality castors have to offer. One size doesn’t fit all though, and that’s where Richmond comes in.

High-precision Richmond castors have everything that businesses to keep their products and equipment moving. No matter what the condition, they have the castors to get you through any situation.