Casters in the Food Industry

Stainless Steel Swivel Caster

Casters and wheels are a essential partner in the food processing and service industries. These casters range from heavy duty to light duty and come in assortment of styles and options.

Some of the most common are the non marking gray rubber wheels on a stainless steel caster. This is a quiet, easy to roll, corrosion free setup. With the constant cleaning and spraying down of the carts in the food industry, stainless steel is a logical choice. The standard zinc coated casters will resist rusting but over time will corrode and while the stainless option is more expensive this set up will save time and money in the long run.

Another popular one is the high temperature caster and wheel, phenolic or nylon, these wheels will withstand extremely high temperatures, perfect for ovens, autoclaves and steaming. The high temp nylon wheel is perfect for high temps that have a high humidity level or wet applications, the Phenolic is better in dry heat.

The bottom line is that casters are a fixture in the food industry, whether food service carts, dollies, kitchen and bakery racks, equipment or cleaning and service carts like Rubbermaid. Whatever your needs high quality casters and wheels are a must. But the proper application for each casters is paramount. Contact our caster specialists and let them assist you in finding the right casters and wheels for your application.

Stainless Steel vs. Tarditional Steel Casters

In most cases a traditional steel caster is sufficient for strength, durability and corrosion resistance. 
These casters are zinc coated to help with rust but are not rust proof. However there are certain applications that require more protection from the environment in which they are used.

Some examples are if the swivel, rigid or stem mounted casters and wheels are used on carts or dollies outdoors in rain or snow. Other like the food industry or medical equipment in hospitals and laboratories that require steam cleaning and wash downs on a regular basis.  Some manufacturing and processing plants may use heavy duty carts that are subject to corrosive chemicals and cleaning agents, or in marine In these cases a stainless steel caster would be ideal, While stainless steel is more expensive than traditional steel the life span will be greatly increased in those situations and will save you money and time down the road by replacing them less, it will also increase safety, by having a properly rolling cart or equipment and have less chance of operational failure.

Buy Casters' stainless steel casters are made from the highest quality materials, 304 Stainless steel coupled with a nylon, polyurethane, polyolefin or rubber wheel, with a stainless bearing and axle the caster will be virtually impervious to corrosion.

Visit buycasters.com or call us at 1-855-WHEEL11 (943-3511) for more information on our line of stainless steel casters. A experienced sales professional will be happy to help you!

Top Food Industry Uses for Casters

In the food industry, speed and portability are two of the biggest elements of success. Delivering delicious food in a timely, convenient manner will earn you some serious respect from your customers, and they'll be back again when they're hungry. Casters can be highly useful in a food service environment. Catering and food industry casters and wheels are typically placed on the bottom of something to make it easily mobile. Food industry businesses benefit from this idea tremendously in several ways.

• Service Carts - Perhaps the best way to serve meals to a table is with a caster-wheeled cart. Carts can allow a server to deliver food to multiple tables quickly. There is also virtually no risk of a server dropping the meals, since they aren't the ones physically carrying them. A clean cart with some simple coverings can also make you look more professional. Choose locking swivel casters for increased mobility and the ability to secure the cart while removing items from it. With the locking ability, a lot of restaurants use carts with these casters to add service area to a buffet line. Great for weekend brunch or dim sun, this is definitely something that beefs up any restaurant's image. 

• Catering Services - Casters can also be beneficial to catering services. Casters for catering carts are faster and more convenient for the catering workers to set up. By using sturdy, maneuverable casters on a cart, it makes it possible to easily diversify the setup of catering displays. As many successful catering businesses know, appearance and display mean as much as the taste of the food itself. If using casters for catering make sure the wheels are suitable for a variety of floor surfaces and establishments. Sometimes the cart will begin outside and need to be wheeled into a venue with nice hardwood floors or even carpet. It’s important to be ready for any type of environment. 

• Storage and Transportation - Casters also aid food industries by providing easier methods for storage and transportation. What if you have a bunch of chicken that needs to be stored in a freezer? It's much easier and faster to just load all the chicken on to a caster-ready cart or shelving unit and simply wheel it into the freezer than pick up handfuls of it and walk into the freezer. It's also easier to push a cart on to the back of a truck using a ramp than walking up and down the ramp a bunch of times. Sturdy, locking casters are best for this type of use. 

• Vending Appliances - Though many vending machines are stationary, they are fitted with casters for occasional movement and stationary placement. That’s why OEM and OE replacement casters are best for vending purposes. These casters are sturdy and will fit directly and easily with your vending appliances. Many of these casters are fitted with a locking feature to ensure that once your vending machine is where you want it, you can lock it in place to prevent any accidental movement. 

• Kitchen Appliances - Wheeled casters can also help you move appliances around a kitchen or back room safely and quickly. If you're preparing a bunch of food, you need your appliances to go with you wherever you go. Casters on the base of large appliances or such as a dishwasher, grill or large deep fryer help get work done anywhere. 

These are just a few of the common uses of casters in the food industry. Interested in learning more or finding casters to aid in your food service business? Visit buycasters.com or contact us at 1855-WHEEL11.