Building the toughest casters and wheels on the planet is macho business. Sometimes, we need to take a break from all the swagger and testosterone to get in touch with our softer side. After all, there are plenty of delicate goods in the manufacturing world that need some extra TLC. Good thing Hamilton’s got a range of cushy wheels that protect as much as they perform. So pull on your comfy sweats, sit back and take a ride with us into the world of soft treads and quiet rides.
Why soft treads?
First, let’s look at the pros and cons of “soft” treads, meaning treads with a durometer of 75 or lower on the Shore A scale.
Pros
- Absorbs shock to cushion your ride
- Minimizes noise for quiet operation
- Non-marking rubber is easy on floors
- Better traction and grip on slippery floors
- Rolls/climbs easier over rough terrain and obstacles like cords or uneven floor expansion joints
Cons
- Can compress under heavy loads
- Tends to build up heat
- Typically lower payload capacity
Behold, the Hamilton Soft Squad:
Hamilton has a softie for many of your most common application needs.
Super Soft Urethane 75A Wheel (not yet listed on our website but currently available in all sizes)
- "The New Kid on the Block”
- Super soft tread: 75A Durometer (±5, Shore A)
- Similar hardness to our Moldon Rubber-Tired Wheel (see below), but polyurethane is non-marking, more durable and can handle heavier loads than rubber—and with dramatically higher abrasion
- Quietest ride among all polyurethanes
- Ideal for drive applications that require more grip
- Customers love the quieter ride of 75A polyurethane
- “The Rebel”: looks like a pneumatic, but is puncture-proof and provides super cushioning
- Extra soft tread: 60 Durometer (±5, Shore A)
- Ultra-thick rubber is permanently vulcanized to cast aluminum wheel center
- Well-suited for outdoor use
- Common applications:
- Missile Transport
- Pottery trucks
- Baggage trailers
- “Your Old Standby”
- 70 Durometer (±5, Shore A)
- Rugged, inexpensive, long-wearing and versatile wheels that are widely used on industrial equipment
- 1” thick solid rubber tires permanently molded into iron wheel centers
- Ideal for lighter-capacity loads
- Can handle the outdoors
- Common applications:
- Platform carts
- Lumber and carpet carts
- “Mr. Clean”
- Optimum rollability and high-impact resistance
- Inexpensive
- Soft tread 65 Durometer (±5, Shore A)
- Non-marking rubber tread permanently bonded to a polyolefin core
- Low load capacity compared to soft poly
- Ideal for institutional applications
- Common applications:
- Platform carts
- Tough environments that include oil, grease, solvents and chemicals
Email our Sales Department for pricing on any of the above wheels.