Lexicon: I
Indication of tread hardness
The hardness of the tread plays an important role in the selection of casters and wheels for transport equipment. Different tread materials is required depending on the type of floor where the transport equipment is to be used.
The hardness of the tread is stated on the product pages in Shore. A distinction is made between Shore A for elastomers and polyurethanes and Shore D for hard plastics. Shore hardness is tested by the sticking a spring-loaded pin made of hardened steel into the test material. The scale runs from 0 to 100 Shore. 0 Shore corresponds to a penetration depth of 2.5 mm, while for 100 Shore the penetration depth is 0 mm. The higher the number, the harder the material.
The Shore A method uses a needle with a blunt tip and the Shore D method uses a needle with a spherical tip which is applied at a 30° angle. Since the hardness depends on the temperature, the measurement is carried out at a temperature of 23 °C ± 2 K in accordance with the standard.
In addition to soft and hard rubber wheels, our range includes a hybrid wheel: The hybrid wheel has a hard polyamide tread and soft rubber center. This combines the properties of a hard wheel with the cushioning effect of softer wheels.