Polyurethane casters are significantly better than rubber tires in terms of wear resistance, rolling resistance, and tear resistance?. The load-bearing capacity of polycarbonate wheels of the same size is 6-7 times that of rubber tires?. The production process can achieve continuity and automation, generating minimal waste during production and use. More importantly, some of the waste tire bodies can be recycled and used as other polyurethane products without causing environmental pollution. And its manufacturing process is simple liquid casting molding, belonging to a new type of no curtain line casting wheel, therefore it is called the green and environmentally friendly tire of the 21st century. Polyurethane wheels will be the choice for wheels used in future automated storage equipment. It has broad prospects for application in equipment such as stacker cranes, shuttle cars, AGV, etc.
Polyurethane wheels are a material that falls between general rubber and plastic. This is currently a wear-resistant elastomer that is non-toxic to the human body, and does not require the addition of carbon black or some carcinogenic rubber compounds in production and processing. It is an ideal material for manufacturing tire treads. The biggest feature of polyurethane casters is their high elasticity within the hardness range, excellent mechanical strength, oil and ozone resistance, and good low-temperature performance.
There are many varieties of AGV logistics handling equipment with high non-standard degree, which are mostly used for epoxy flooring or even better ESD ground environment. Metal wheels or hard plastic wheels are not only prone to noise, but also prone to serious damage to the walking ground. Choosing a wheel with good noise reduction and ground protection is particularly important. In addition, AGV equipment similar to automobile assembly lines has the characteristics of high self weight and responsibility, and the load capacity of ordinary rubber wheels is difficult to meet the equipment requirements. Choosing a wheel with good load-bearing capacity is also crucial. Finally, the installation and debugging of AGV wheels, including those used in automotive production lines, are relatively complex. The quality of the wheels directly affects the frequency of replacement, and the high cost of replacement and downtime require longer service life and lower replacement frequency (polyurethane wheels can be used for 5-10 years). Therefore, choosing a wear-resistant and long-lasting wheel is also an important consideration for designers.
In summary, due to its advantages such as low noise, high load-bearing capacity, high wear resistance, and long service life, polyurethane wheels are increasingly being applied in the logistics and warehousing automation industry and are highly regarded.
