Three reasons — noise, shock, and floor finish. Rubber deadens sound 8-12 dB more than poly. It absorbs shock loads better in light-duty service. And it won't mark new vinyl, polished hardwood, or freshly cured epoxy where even non-marking poly can leave residue. Tradeoff is shorter service life — rubber lasts 1/10th as long as poly under continuous duty.
Soft rubber is solid all the way through (one-piece molding) — quietest, lowest capacity. Mold-on rubber is a rubber tread bonded to a steel or iron core — higher capacity, longer life, slightly louder. Mortuary tread is the premium soft-rubber tier with extra-fine surface for delicate environments.
Soft rubber wheels in continuous 8-hour service typically last 6-12 months. Mold-on rubber lasts 18-30 months. Mortuary-grade soft rubber lasts 3-6 months under heavy duty. For high-cycle service, polyurethane is 10x more economical despite higher per-wheel cost.
For hospital crash carts and equipment carts, spec mold-on rubber on iron with ball bearings — quiet roll plus reliable steering under repeated start/stop cycles.
TPR is the quietest, most chemical-resistant rubber compound stocked. Six diameters from 2-1/2" to 8" with 1-1/4" or 2" widths — light cart through heavy industrial. Non-marking gray. Ships same day.
Custom durometer, hub material, plate spec, or non-standard size — engineering team turns RFQs same day.
Most modern industrial rubber compounds are non-marking. Older soft black rubber can transfer color on light-finish floors. Verify the SKU spec — look for explicit non-marking compound (gray or natural color) for new finished floors.
Yes for occasional moisture. Standing water and wash-down environments will degrade most rubber compounds within 6-12 months. For wet/wash-down, spec polyurethane or solid stainless instead.
Semi-pneumatic and mold-on rubber yes. Soft solid rubber tears on rough outdoor surfaces. For outdoor use, semi-pneumatic with stainless or zinc-plated rig handles parking lot, gravel, and broken pavement.
Yes — black conductive rubber compounds available for ESD-sensitive areas. Submit RFQ specifying surface resistance target (typically 10^4 to 10^6 ohms).
Static load deformation. If a cart sits in one position for 48+ hours under load, soft rubber takes a temporary set. The flat spots roll out within 5-10 minutes. To prevent permanent flat-spotting, specify mold-on rubber or polyurethane for storage applications.
TPR (thermoplastic rubber) is a polymer blend that behaves like rubber but processes like plastic. Compared to vulcanized rubber, TPR offers better chemical and oil resistance, tighter manufacturing tolerances, and is harder than soft rubber so it lasts longer under sustained load. Trade-off: slightly less shock absorption than soft rubber. Best for healthcare, lab, and food-service environments where chemical exposure is a factor.
