Industrial Wheels

Industrial wheels are most often made of polyurethane or urethane - the terms are interchangeable. These specialized heavy duty wheels are needed to perform well under extreme conditions. Those consist of radical variations in temperature, exposure to harsh elements, and applications that demand that the wheels keep rolling along smoothly over rough terrain beneath enormously heavy loads. Tread Thickness on Industrial Wheels Tread design is of huge importance in terms of the capacity of a polyurethane wheel to carry extremely heavy weight. Most wheels - particularly those utilized on vehicles - have a tread that enhances traction force when the wheel contacts whatever surface it is rolling across. When the tread is thicker, the wheel’s ability to manage a more substantial load increases dramatically, so most industrial wheels - like those found on large tractors or dump trucks - also have fairly deep treads on them. Polyurethane wheels used on something like a wheelbarrow, on the other hand, would have a thin tread due to the fact that those handle relatively lighter weights. High Durometer Polyurethane Wheels Transporting fragile items like eggs or glass on less rigid wheels makes good sense, whereas vehicles that move loads of cement or gravel demand a tough wheel that's more resistant to going flat when weighted down by the massive weight it shoulders. Many wheels used on earth moving equipment or on multi-ton military vehicles, for example, demand this particular capacity. So those who manufacture them rely upon industrial engineering that ensures that the urethanes used to make them are extremely high on the durometer scale. The density or hardness of a polyurethane or urethane wheel is measured using a technical formula that calculates the durometer value of the urethane material. As the durometer value increases, the density or resistance to indentation of the urethane increases. Polyurethane that is low on the durometer scale is bouncier and more elastic, whereas the urethane used in tough industrial wheels, exhibits high durometer readings. Customized Industrial Wheels When wheels are needed for unusual industrial applications they often need to be custom ordered to satisfy unique specifications. A company that needs a urethane wheel that will be used to lay underwater cable that weighs many tons, requires a product that is not only capable of supporting a heavy load but can also withstand constant exposure to saltwater. Those wheels are not available at the neighborhood tire store, but there are a small number of unique manufacturers that are able to make any type of polyurethane wheels to exacting custom specifications for use in even the most challenging applications. To create these highly-specialized products, they use teams of scientists, engineers, and design experts. Together they are able to develop a precise polyurethane formula and then build a wheel that will not only perform as expected but will likely need less maintenance and have a longer working life. These companies can also refurbish worn out industrial wheels to extend their life expectancy. Sunray, Inc. is a Leader in Polyurethane Industrial Wheels http://www.sunray-inc.com/index.php?page=industrial-wheels