What is meant by the resistance of wheels and castors?

Rolling and swivel resistance of castors

When you want to set a device in motion, you must first overcome the starting resistance. The manoeuvrability of the equipment thereafter is then influenced by the rolling and swivel resistance. The resistance depends on various factors, including:

• Load
• Wheel diameter
• Wheel material
• Bearing type
• Floor conditions

The type, number and arrangement of the castors have an influence on manoeuvrability. A device that only needs to be moved straight ahead, for example, can be equipped exclusively with fixed castors. If steering is required, a combination of fixed and swivel castors or the use of swivel castors with a directional lock is ideal.

Electrical resistance

The electrical resistance describes the electrical voltage required to allow an electrical current to flow through a conductor. Antistatic and electrically conductive castors and wheels from TENTE protect against electrostatic discharge. Electrically conductive castors and wheels have an ohmic resistance of less than 104 Ω. The ohmic resistance of antistatic castors and wheels is at 107 Ω.

Electrically conductive castors and wheels are important in the medical field, for example, as electrostatic discharges can have far-reaching consequences. They are also frequently used in the industrial sector. TENTE’s meticulous quality control ensures that the wheels and castors meet the strictest requirements.