Colson Caster Series Comparison
Five Colson wheel-material series stocked. Each handles a different combination of capacity, floor type, and corrosion environment.
| Series |
Wheel Material |
Diameter |
Capacity |
Best For |
| Performa |
Solid polyurethane on polyolefin |
3"–8" |
250–1,000 lb |
Industrial carts, medical, lab |
| Performa BB |
Performa wheel + precision ball bearings |
3"–6" |
250–600 lb |
High-cycle medical and lab carts |
| Polyolefin (Delrin) |
Solid polyolefin, Delrin bearings |
3"–8" |
230–800 lb |
Washdown, food service, dairy |
| Polyolefin BB |
Polyolefin wheel + ball bearings |
3"–6" |
300–800 lb |
Smooth-roll industrial carts |
| Hi-Temp Phenolic |
Phenolic resin wheel |
3"–8" |
300–1,200 lb |
Autoclave, oven trolleys, <475°F |
| Stainless yoke + Performa |
Performa wheel + S304 stainless yoke |
3"–6" |
250–600 lb |
NSF kitchens, pharma, washdown |
| Stainless yoke + Polyolefin |
Polyolefin + S304 stainless yoke |
3"–6" |
230–800 lb |
Salt-air, marine, daily sanitizer |
| Stainless yoke + Hi-Temp |
Hi-Temp Phenolic + S304 stainless yoke |
5"–8" |
1,000–2,200 lb |
High-temp washdown industrial |
How to Choose
1. Identify the Right Series
Performa is the workhorse polyurethane series for general industrial. Polyolefin (Delrin bearings) for washdown food service. Hi-Temp Phenolic for autoclave and oven trolleys. Stainless yoke variant for any series in corrosive environments.
2. Wheel Diameter & Capacity
3" and 3.5" handle 230-450 lb per caster — medical and lab carts. 5" handles 300-1,000 lb — mainstream industrial. 8" handles 600-2,200 lb — heavy washdown and oven trolleys. Match diameter to load AND threshold clearance.
3. Bearing Type
Delrin bearings: lower cost, acceptable for slow rolling and washdown (no rust). Ball bearings (BB): higher rolling efficiency, longer life, premium cost. Specify BB for any high-cycle application or motor-driven cart to reduce amp draw.
4. Lock Configuration
Side Lock: foot-operated wheel-only brake. Total Lock: locks both wheel and swivel raceway — safer for food handlers leaning on prep tables. Plain swivel for free-rolling carts. Match lock type to operator workflow.
Engineer Tip: On 5-inch Performa casters used in medical and lab settings, the precision ball bearing (BB) variant outlasts the Delrin variant 3-5x at ~30% higher cost. For carts that see 8+ moves per shift, specify BB — the math always favors the upgrade. For storeroom carts that move once or twice a day, Delrin is more than enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CasterHQ an authorized Colson distributor?
Yes. CasterHQ is an authorized U.S. distributor for the full Colson industrial caster line — Performa, Performa BB, Polyolefin, Stainless, and Hi-Temp Phenolic. We stock the most common 80+ SKUs and order specialty configurations direct from the factory in 1-2 weeks.
What is the difference between Performa and Performa BB?
Performa uses a Delrin (acetal) plain bearing — lower cost, fine for slow rolling. Performa BB uses a sealed precision ball bearing — faster roll, less drag, longer life under high-cycle use. Same wheel and yoke; bearing is the only difference. BB costs ~30% more.
Are Colson casters made in the USA?
Colson is a U.S. manufacturer (Colson Group, Saint Joseph, Missouri). Wheel compounds are formulated in-house, yokes are U.S.-machined, bearings sourced from U.S. and global precision-bearing suppliers. Specified by hospital, lab, pharma, and military operators that require U.S.-made caster hardware.
What is a Performa wheel?
Performa is Colson's solid polyurethane-on-polyolefin wheel — non-marking, quiet, easy to roll. Standard for medical, lab, hospitality, and light industrial carts. Capacity ranges 230-1,000 lb depending on diameter. Resists oil, water, mild chemicals.
Which Colson series is best for washdown food service?
Polyolefin with Delrin bearings on a stainless yoke. The polyolefin wheel won't absorb water; Delrin bearings can't rust; S304 stainless yoke survives quat sanitizers indefinitely. This is the standard NSF kitchen caster configuration.
Do Hi-Temp Phenolic casters handle ovens?
Yes. Hi-Temp Phenolic is rated to 475°F continuous, 550°F intermittent. Specified for bakery rack ovens, autoclave trolleys, and powder-coat oven carts. For sustained over-475°F applications, contact us for steel-wheel high-temp options.
Can I get Colson casters with side-lock brakes?
Yes. Most Performa, Polyolefin, and Phenolic configurations are available with optional side-lock or total-lock brakes (designated -BRK1, -BRK5, etc. in Colson SKUs). We stock the most common locking variants in 3", 3.5", and 5" sizes.
How do I cross-reference an old Colson SKU?
Colson uses an alpha-numeric SKU format (e.g. 2.03408.444). Give us the existing SKU and we cross-reference current production part numbers. Most legacy Colson SKUs map to a current-production equivalent within the same series. Call 844-439-4335 for cross-reference help.
Authorized Colson U.S. DistributorFull Colson catalog access. Performa, Polyolefin, Stainless, and Hi-Temp Phenolic series stocked.
SKU Cross-ReferenceBring your legacy Colson SKU — we cross-reference to current production part numbers.
Same-Day Ship from TexasStock Colson casters ship same day from Mansfield, TX before 3pm CT.
Engineer Support844-439-4335 for series selection, bearing-type guidance, and Colson factory-direct sourcing.
