The Problem
When a leading local Pennsylvania dairy processing company reached out to Conveyer & Caster with mobility issues stemming from their carts, our expert account manager Sean identified a recurring problem with their casters. The constant use of these carts laden with heavy loads of products such as ice cream, yogurt, milk, and other perishable dairy goods were moved daily throughout their facility, as well as in stores all around the region, was causing the casters n which the products rolled to fail.
Conveyer & Caster Uncovered the Cause
The harsh outdoor conditions—snow, rain, ice, and salt exposure—had worn down their wheels and roller bearings, affecting everything from operational efficiency to cart stability. Prior to reaching out, the carts have been outfitted with phenolic wheels, which were doomed to fail and not cut out for the conditions the carts often operated in. These casters would quickly deteriorate once exposed to water, which means that the client was constantly having to replace the partially disintegrated remains of wheels on their carts. Additionally, the deterioration affected the roller bearings, which limited mobility by preventing smooth movement. This, combined with a quick drop off in rollability and ergonomics, and a constant loud chatter of hard wheels on hard surfaces, spurred a need for change. Sean, whose extensive caster experience pointed him in the right direction, proposed testing new wheel materials to address these challenges.
Testing out New Solutions
Sean and the dairy processor decided to run two sample sets of casters on carts side by side to test the application for their environments. They opted for GP wheels, Glass reinforced polypropylene, and Hydrotech wheels, a specialized thermoplastic urethane designed to withstand long term exposure to water, with precision bearings, focusing on durability and rollability. Both wheels can not only withstand the kind of rigorous use that this business put their carts through, but they also reduce the noise level of carts rolling throughout the facility. Sean knew he had the right solution when the customer expressed a strong preference for the Hydrotech wheels due to their excellent performance during testing, where they proved to be reliant in wet conditions, exceptionally quiet and highly floor protective.
The Customer picks the Hydrotech
While the customer was pleased with both options, the Hydrotech wheels became the preferred choice due to their resilience when exposed to the elements on a consistent basis. The Dair Processor decided to replace the casters on 20 carts at first, before eventually upgrading the whole fleet of 100 carts and hand trucks to this robust and durable solution. These casters have proven to be a great benefit to the operational efficiency and throughput of one of Pennsylvania’s top local dairy companies.
If this solution sounds like a good fit for your facility, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by clicking here.
