Spring Loaded Caster Series Comparison
Three Albion spring-loaded series stocked. Match series to cart weight and shock-load requirements.
| Series |
Plate Size |
Wheel |
Capacity |
Best For |
| S610 Kingpinless |
7-1/2" x 6-1/4" |
10" x 3" Poly-on-Iron |
Up to 3,100 lb |
Heaviest shock-load applications |
| S410 Kingpinless |
7-1/4" x 5-1/4" |
10" x 3" Poly-on-Iron |
Up to 3,000 lb |
Heavy industrial transport carts |
| S310 Kingpinless |
6-1/4" x 4-1/2" |
6" and 10" Poly-on-Iron |
2,000–3,000 lb |
Medium-heavy industrial |
| 40XS Rubber |
4" x 4-1/2" |
6" x 2" Gray Rubber |
450–500 lb |
Light shock-load, sensitive cargo |
| 40XR Rubber |
4-1/2" x 4" |
6" x 2" Rubber |
450 lb |
Quiet shock-load, finished floors |
How to Choose
1. Cart Weight + Shock Load
Spring-loaded casters protect cargo by absorbing floor shock. Total cart weight divided by number of casters, then add 50% for the dynamic shock peaks the springs are designed to absorb. Standard rigid casters fail when shock loads exceed their static rating; spring-loaded casters absorb those peaks.
2. Albion Series Selection
S310 (6-1/4" x 4-1/2" plate): 2,000-3,000 lb medium-heavy. S410 (7-1/4" x 5-1/4" plate): 3,000 lb heavy. S610 (7-1/2" x 6-1/4" plate): 3,100 lb heaviest. 40XS and 40XR series: lighter rubber-wheel spring-loaded for sensitive cargo <500 lb.
3. Why Kingpinless?
All S-series Albion spring-loaded casters use kingpinless swivel design — the swivel raceway is integrated into the top plate. Eliminates the kingpin failure point that loosens under repeated shock loads. Required for any high-cycle shock-load application.
4. Swivel vs Rigid Pairing
2 swivel front + 2 rigid rear for stable straight-line tracking on warehouse aisles. All-swivel for tight maneuvering. Spring-loaded casters work in any configuration — the spring action is independent of swivel/rigid choice.
Engineer Tip: Spring-loaded casters compress under static load — that's how they absorb shock when the cart hits an expansion joint or bump. Specify them with 10-30% capacity headroom above your static load so the springs have travel left to compress. If you size them at exactly 100% capacity, they're fully compressed at rest and behave like rigid casters — defeating the purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a spring-loaded caster?
A caster with an internal coil spring between the wheel yoke and the mounting plate. The spring compresses when the cart hits a bump or expansion joint, absorbing the shock that would otherwise transfer to cargo. Specified for sensitive electronics, lab equipment, fragile cargo, glass transport, and any cart that traverses uneven warehouse floors.
How much does a spring-loaded caster cost vs rigid?
Spring-loaded casters typically cost 2-3x rigid casters of the same capacity. The cost premium is justified by cargo protection — a single damaged electronics shipment or broken lab instrument often costs more than upgrading all 4 casters to spring-loaded.
What is the difference between S310, S410, and S610?
Plate size and capacity. S310: 6-1/4" x 4-1/2" plate, 2,000-3,000 lb. S410: 7-1/4" x 5-1/4" plate, 3,000 lb. S610: 7-1/2" x 6-1/4" plate, 3,100 lb. Match plate size to your cart's existing mounting plate. Capacity scales with plate size.
Are these casters non-marking?
Poly-on-iron wheels (S310/S410/S610): slight-marking under heavy load. Rubber wheels (40XS/40XR): non-marking. For finished commercial flooring, specify the rubber-wheel variant. For industrial concrete and warehouse floors, poly-on-iron is fine and provides higher capacity.
How much shock can a spring-loaded caster absorb?
Spring travel is typically 1/2" to 1" on industrial spring-loaded casters. Within that range, the cart deck stays approximately level while the wheel absorbs floor imperfections. Beyond 1" deflection, the spring bottoms out and load transfers to the cart deck like a rigid caster.
Where do spring-loaded casters fail?
Two failure modes: (1) spring fatigue at very high cycle counts (10+ years of daily use), (2) under-sizing — if a cart loads casters above their static rating, springs sit fully compressed and don't flex. Both are preventable: specify Albion S-series, size 30% above static load, replace at 8-10 year inspection.
Will spring-loaded casters work on AGVs?
Generally not recommended. AGVs rely on precise deck height for sensor and dock-plate alignment. Spring-loaded casters introduce variable deck height (springs compress and extend). For AGV applications use Hamilton Maxi-Duty DuraGlide rigid (no springs). Spring-loaded casters are for manual carts where the operator absorbs the height variation.
Can I mix spring-loaded with rigid casters?
Not on the same cart corner pattern. Mixing creates uneven cart deck behavior — the spring-loaded corner sags under static load. Either specify 4 spring-loaded OR 2 spring-loaded swivel + 2 spring-loaded rigid. Never mix rigid and spring-loaded on the same cart.
Albion AuthorizedFull Albion S-series spring-loaded line stocked (S310, S410, S610). Cross-reference and engineering support.
Sensitive Cargo SpecialistLab equipment, electronics, glass, fragile cargo — spring-loaded casters protect your shipments from warehouse floor shock.
Same-Day Ship from TexasStock Albion spring-loaded casters ship same day from Mansfield, TX before 3pm CT.
Engineer Support844-439-4335 for cart shock-load analysis, Albion series selection, and sizing guidance.
