Industrial Casters. Engineered for Spec.
The floor-friendly, high-capacity wheel used in warehouses, hospitals, and manufacturing. Polyurethane bonds a tough elastomer tread to aluminum, polyolefin, or iron cores — delivering quiet, non-marking performance across 3" to 12" sizes with capacities up to 8,000 lbs.
Polyurethane wheels are best for facilities that need high load capacity without damaging floors — warehouses, hospitals, food service, and manufacturing.
The polyurethane tread is softer than nylon or phenolic, so it cushions loads and absorbs impact while leaving no marks on finished floors. The rigid core provides the structural strength to handle weights from a few hundred to several thousand pounds. This combination makes PU wheels one of the most versatile options in industrial caster applications.
Choose aluminum for light-to-medium loads with corrosion resistance, polyolefin for economical medium-duty use, and iron for heavy industrial loads up to 8,000 lbs.
Solid polyurethane wheels are ideal for very light loads or clean environments. Aluminum cores balance weight, corrosion resistance, and capacity up to 1,500 lbs. Polyolefin cores are cost-effective for loads up to 1,000 lbs in dry environments. Iron cores deliver maximum load capacity for demanding industrial use.
Yes — polyurethane remains flexible at low temperatures and is available in FDA-compliant formulations for food service environments.
Unlike standard rubber, polyurethane does not crack or harden significantly in cold storage environments above -20°F. For food processing, look for natural-colored or FDA-compliant PU formulations. Always verify the core material — aluminum or stainless is preferred over iron in wet or corrosive food environments.
Polyurethane outperforms rubber on load capacity and wear resistance, and outperforms nylon on floor protection and noise reduction.
Rubber wheels excel at vibration dampening but wear faster and carry lower loads. Nylon handles very high loads and rolls easily but can damage soft floors and is noisy. Polyurethane sits between the two — better load capacity than rubber, quieter and floor-safer than nylon — making it the preferred choice for facilities that prioritize both performance and floor protection.
Total load ÷ number of wheels × 1.25 safety factor = minimum wheel capacity per wheel. Select core type based on environment: aluminum or stainless for wet/corrosive areas, polyolefin for dry medium-duty, iron for maximum load capacity.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Core | Aluminum |
| Sizes | 4" – 8" |
| Capacity | Up to 1,500 lbs |
| Tread | Polyurethane elastomer |
| Best Use | Wet/corrosive, food service |
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Core | Polyolefin (plastic) |
| Sizes | 3" – 8" |
| Capacity | Up to 1,000 lbs |
| Tread | Polyurethane elastomer |
| Best Use | Light-medium duty, dry |
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Core | Cast iron |
| Sizes | 4" – 12" |
| Capacity | Up to 8,000 lbs |
| Tread | Polyurethane elastomer |
| Best Use | Heavy industrial, dry |
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Core | None (solid PU) |
| Sizes | 3" – 8" |
| Capacity | Up to 1,000 lbs |
| Tread | Solid polyurethane |
| Best Use | Clean rooms, light duty |
Further reading
Not sure if polyurethane is the right call? Our engineering team compared polyurethane and rubber head-to-head across load capacity, floor protection, chemical resistance, noise, and cost. Read the full Polyurethane vs Rubber guide →
These calculators apply to any caster application—even if you’re browsing a different category. Use them to estimate load rating per caster, select wheel material, and estimate push/pull force. Expand any tool for full analysis + a share-ready spec line.
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