The Lab
Durable Superior Casters has invested over $8 million in state-of-the-art testing equipment so innovation never stops. Whether it’s creating a never-before-seen caster, or reimagining an old favorite, our in-house engineering team provides an assurance of quality so our customers can trust they are receiving the best products available.
The Standards
Exceeding the Standard; Setting the New Bar
The Institute of Caster and Wheel Manufacturers (ICWM) Standards were developed under the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Canvass method and approved by ANSI in 2018. This standard provides manufacturers, specifiers, and users with a common basis for evaluating the safety, durability, structural adequacy, and technical requirements for group-specific casters and wheels. They also define industry terms, specific tests, equipment/methods that can be used, the conditions of tests, and minimum acceptance levels to be used in evaluating these products. The lab at Durable Superior Casters allows us to meet and exceed these standards, along with those of The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), and the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS).
The Equipment
Light Duty Endurance
A bidirectional turning drum with optional obstacle plates, controllable running speeds, loads, running time, and target distance with speeds up to 5 mph.
Test Example: Light duty caster endurance test with loads under 250lbs.
Medium Duty Endurance
A bidirectional turning drum with optional obstacle plates, controllable running speeds, loads, running time, and target distance with speeds up to 5 mph.
Test Example: Caster endurance test with loads between 250 – 1000lbs.
Medium-Heavy Duty Endurance
A bidirectional turning drum with an induction heater capable of heating to 110°F, optional obstacle plates, controllable running speeds and track temperatures, loads, running time, and target distance with speeds up to 5 mph.
Test Example: Caster endurance test with loads between 250 – 2000lbs; Hot weather tread-bonding strength test.
Ultra-Heavy Duty Endurance
A bidirectional turning drum with optional obstacle plates, controllable running speeds, running time, and target distance with speeds up to 3.5 mph and test loads up to 20,000lbs.
Test Example: Caster endurance test with loads between 1,000 – 20,000lbs.
High Speed Endurance
A bidirectional turning table with optional obstacle plates, controllable running speeds, loads, running time, and target distance with speeds up to 10 mph.
Test Example: Caster endurance test with loads between 300 – 5,000lbs; High-speed application test.
High Speed Endurance/Temperature
A pneumatic piston with counter weights provide a wide range of loads on the bidirectional turning drum with optional obstacle plates, controllable running speeds, loads, running time, and target distance with speeds up to 10 mph.
Test Example: Caster endurance test with loads between 300 – 5,000lbs; Tread temperature change tracking; High-speed application test
Single Caster Push/Pull Ergonomics
Adjustable loads and different surface types are available for the back-and-forth moving platform that measures the force required to push/pull a cart.
Test Example: Rolling ergonomics comparisons among different wheels; Swivel ergonomics comparisons among different yokes.
Whole Cart Push/Pull Ergonomics
An adjustable cart weight up to 1,000lbs measures the initial force required to pull/push a cart.
Test Example: Measurement of the actual force required to pull a cart with 4 casters rolling on an epoxy floor.
Strength
Tension and compression force up to 40,000lbs with two control modes that automatically adjust movement to maintain testing force and adjusts testing force to maintain moving speed.
Test Example: Yoke strength; Semi-pneumatic tire’s response to load; Spring-loaded caster’s response to load.
Impact
An adjustable impact head weight from 10Kg (22lbs) to 60Kg (132lbs) with an impact height up to 15 feet.
Test Example: Caster or wheel impact resistance; Combined with freezers or ovens for testing material strength changes due to temperatures.
Temperature/Strength
Temperature settings from room temperature to 300°C (572°F) and timer settings up to 9,999 hours give simultaneous heat and compression on a sample to test its ability to rebound.
Test Example: Wheel material temperature limit.
Low Temperature Freezer
Temperature setting from room temperature to -45°C (-49°F).
Test Example: Grease temperature limits; Material strength at low temperature; Caster swivel at low temperature.
Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer
Temperature settings from -40°C (-40°F) to -80°C (-112°F).
Test Example: Low-temp grease temperature limits; Material strength at extremely low temperatures.
Oven
Temperature settings from room temperature to 300°C (572°F) with timer settings up to 9,999 hours.
Test Example: Grease temperature limits; Material temperature limits.
Salt Spray
Compliant to ASTM B117 standards.
Test Example: Stainless steel component rust resistance; Plating oxidation response
Autoclave
Standard 121°C / 25 minutes & 134°C / 6 minutes autoclave cycles.
Test Example: Validation of autoclave compatible products such as wheels, casters, floor locks, etc.
Coming Soon!
As part of our on-going efforts to ensure the best products possible, we have new testing equipment arriving!
-2 new turn tables
-Furniture caster tester
-Brake tester
Measurables
We use all of our equipment, even the small ones, to ensure the products you receive are as specified.
Color Analyzer
Accurately measures colors on the RGB (red, green, blue) and HSL (hue, sanitation, luminance)
Durometer
Polymer Shore A and D hardness measurements for the wheel tread
Rockwell Hardness
Compliant to ASTM E 18 standards to measure the material hardness of metals in Rockwell hardness A, B, and C Scales
Megohmmeter
Relative electrical insulation resistance measurements.
#WherePrecisionMeetsPossibility
The Test Sequence
A manufacturer will select which of the ICWM tests to run on a particular caster, yoke, or wheel based on what is applicable for that item.
Wheel Play
The objective of this test is to determine the initial wheel play (at the beginning of the test sequence) and the final wheel play (at the end of the test sequence).
Swivel Play
This test is used to determine the initial swivel play (at the beginning of test sequence) and the final swivel play (at the end of the test sequence).
Rollability
The objective of this test is to evaluate the rolling and swiveling performance of a caster at the load capacity. The swiveling portion of this test does not apply to rigid casters.
Conductivity
The objective of this test is to establish procedures for testing and identifying electro-statically conductive wheels and casters and to establish the maximum electrical resistance of a wheel and/or caster.
Brake and Swivel Lock Efficiency
The objective of this test is to determine the performance of a wheel-braking device. The brake designs will be tested per the following criteria:
– Tread compression: a braking device that applies friction force to the tread
– Hub compression: a braking device that applies a friction force to the hub
– Positive locking: a braking device that incorporates interlocking features
Braking/Locking Fatigue
This test is to determine if there is any wear and/or permanent deformation that would adversely affect the performance of a braking and/or locking device. This test is not applicable to braking and/or locking devices based on a threaded mechanism.
Static Load
The objective of this test is to determine a minimum factor of safety and to determine the load that the caster can support without causing permanent deformation that would impair the function of the caster.
Dynamic Load
The objective of this test is to establish operational load capacity for industrial casters at, under, and above 2.5 mph and less than 5,000 lb. load capacity, and to establish the maximum load that can be carried during operation and pass the following test procedure with no functional impairment to the caster.
Side Load
This test is to determine the suitability of the housing/rig strength per the following Test Procedure and Acceptance Criteria. This Side Load Test applies to rigid casters only.
Vertical Impact
Casters: The objective of this test is to determine the minimum impact strength of the caster per the following Test Procedure and Acceptance Criteria. This test applies to rigid and swivel casters with a load rating of less than 5,000lbs.
Wheels: This test is used to determine the minimum impact strength of the wheel per the following Test Procedure and Acceptance Criteria. This test applies to wheels with a load rating of less than 5,000lbs.
At your service!
At our strategic locations, we are equipped to fulfill your orders quickly and efficiently. Our warehouses are stocked with the items you need so that you can get what you want quickly and easily. We strive to provide the best service possible so that you can rest assured knowing your order is in good hands.
We're always around!™
Our expert Account Managers are ready to roll out solutions for a purchasing experience that exceeds all expectations.
At Durable Superior Casters, the products are durable, the service is superior, and the shipping is fast. What can we build for you?
