Meet the earthquake simulator that gets an assist from Hamilton Caster

If you ever wanted to watch a building survive the unthinkable, head to UC San Diego.

Beneath the California sun sits the world’s largest outdoor earthquake simulator in the world—a mechanical marvel capable of recreating nature’s most violent moods. At its core is a massive “shake table,” essentially a platform engineered to mimic earthquake motion in multiple direction. And quietly supporting part of this seismic spectacle? Hamilton Spinfinity casters.

The shake table can support a staggering 2,000 metric tons and test full-scale structures—including 10-story buildings—under lifelike seismic stress. It’s a fully three-dimensional system that can pitch, roll, sway and move every which way with eerie realism, simulating history’s most devastating quakes.

Underneath it all lies a labyrinth of hydraulic muscle. Pressurized nitrogen and oil surge through steel pipes at up to 3,000 psi, firing actuators that drive the table at speeds reaching 10 feet per second. Every test generates mountains of data that help refine building codes, improve simulations and ultimately save lives.

Here’s where Hamilton comes in. Surrounded the table is a “moat” of underground space, allowing the table to move freely in all directions. To protect both people and equipment, steel plates act as mobile barriers, moving independently alongside the table. Those plates roll on Hamilton Spinfinity swivel casters.

Each caster is engineered for serious performance, with a capacity of up to 2,000 lbs. at 6 mph (and 1,500 lbs at 10 mph). Designed for outdoor conditions, low friction and smooth swivel, they deliver precise, reliable movement where it matters most.

According to Dr. Koorosh Lotfizadeh, project scientist and operations manager at UCSD’s Englekirk Structural Engineering Center, all Hamilton casters have performed flawlessly since the system reached full 3D capability in 2022.

Proof that when the ground goes rogue, Hamilton performance holds the line.

Need casters that won’t get rattled—even when the earth throws its worst tantrum? Contact our sales team.

Zero Fix Spinfinity XC Super Endurance Kingpinless Caster

• Capacity: 2000 lbs. @ 6 MPH / 1500 lbs. @ 10 MPH (Designed for a higher speed)
• Height: 12-3/8"
• Swivel offset: 2-3/4"
• Mounting plate: 5-1/4" x 7-1/4" with 3-3/8" X 5-1/4" slotted to 4-1/8" x 6-1/8" bolt hole spacing for 1/2" bolts
• Wheels: W-95-PORWB-1-1/4
• Axle diameter: 1-1/4"
• Weight: 65 lbs.