Features Needed In Refrigerator Casters

  • 25 Oct / 2022

Choosing the right Refrigerator caster for your refrigeration unit is essential. For any facility with a mobile refrigeration unit, its wheels are the last thing on anyone’s mind. These wheels should be long-lasting and should not bother the user of the unit every time the refrigerator has to be moved from one place to another. This is a rule for casters in general, actually. They should always be long-lasting and easy to use so that the management does not have to think about the casters every time they are performing maintenance on the facility.


That being said, there are many features that are desirable in casters used for refrigerator units. It is important to get most of these features right on the first try to ensure smooth mobility.


It will also benefit you to keep in mind that a refrigerator is not a product that needs to move around a lot. So you need fridge casters that will allow the unit to remain stationary when it does not need to be moved and to allow it to move when necessary as well. So the refrigerator should not move on the slightest provocation, as the requirement is for most other industries where smooth and quick movement is necessary. On the other hand, when the unit does need to be moved for any reason, it should not be too much of a hassle for the mover.


So let us look at some of the most desirable features in a freezer or fridge caster:

Sturdiness

It is imperative that the casters you use on a refrigeration unit are sturdy. The material should be strong enough to carry something heavy, like a freezer, without buckling under the pressure. Refrigeration units, especially the industrial ones, are very heavy, and they need the kind of support from casters that ensures their life over a long time period.


Materials such as Nylon and PU are ideal for casters used in refrigeration units because they are very sturdy and easy to control.

Durability

As we have mentioned before, the casters of a refrigeration unit are the last thing on anyone’s mind when they are performing maintenance. Having to replace casters over and over again is a terrible ordeal since that only means that you did not pick the right caster or that the quality is subpar.


Installing casters should ideally be a one-time investment. The casters should last the facility for a long enough time to not bother anyone and move whenever the need arises.

Locking Mechanism

One of the most important features of a fridge caster includes a locking mechanism. We all want smooth casters for our refrigerators since that makes their movement much easier. However, we also want to ensure that the fridge remains stationary whenever it is required, and for that, you need a locking mechanism.


A good caster lock is one that remains intact even when the item loaded onto it is very heavy, like a fridge or a freezer. A less sturdy lock would often not be able to withstand the pressure and make the caster mobile even when it s not supposed to be. Therefore, a caster lock and a good one is of the utmost importance for a refrigerator caster.

Ergonomics

Refrigerator and freezer units are very heavy and those that are used for industrial purposes are extremely heavy. They are only moved by manpower, and if the ergonomics are not right, the person moving the unit could get injured.

Therefore, the casters used for refrigerator units should be as smooth as possible. Smooth casters can roll around with the smallest of forces, which means that the mover will not have to exert too much pressure. This will mean that the mover can care for their posture more and move the heavy unit around with ease.


Ergonomic designs are available in most casters in the market, and one of the features of an ergonomic design is the brake. So if the movement gets too much for the user, they should be able to break the casters and prevent any injuries that might result in the process.

Quietness

In most facilities where refrigerator units are used, quietness is of great importance. This includes restaurants and hotels. Even if the freezer units are not moved around all the time, whenever they are, a guttural rumble would shake up the entire facility if the quietness of the casters is not factored in.


Therefore, you should be careful to only choose casters that do not create noise when moved and absorb most of the sound impact when they are moved, even if they are carrying something heavy.

Resistant to Rust and Corrosion

A good freezer caster is one that does not get rusted or corroded easily. Refrigerator units often expose environments to moisture and humidity, and sometimes other harsh chemicals too. It should be kept in mind that the material of the caster should be resistant to corrosion because otherwise, consistent maintenance and even replacement of the casters will be necessary, and it will be a huge qualm for the facility in question.

Non-staining

Not only should the casters be sufficient in themselves, they should also not harm the environment around them. So you need to ensure that the casters do not stain the floor in any way or cause marks and scratches to appear on the floor; otherwise, the floor maintenance costs with stack up slowly and surely.

Needs Little to no Maintenance

Most new casters are now designed with minimum need for maintenance in mind. So you should talk to the manufacturer and have them ensure that their casters do not need to be replaced or repaired every so often.

Conclusion

Refrigerator casters are very important features of any refrigeration or freezing unit, but we want to care about it as little as possible after the initial purchase is made. Therefore, it is important to know the desirable features of these casters and choose the best for your business accordingly.