The multi-directional wheel from Rotacaster has enhanced rotational and lateral movement capabilities.

Rotacaster Wheel Limited of Forster Tuncurry, New South Wales has developed a new generation multi-directional wheel that provides an alternative to the traditional caster wheel.

"It rolls rather than swivels," explains senior account executive Dale Sharp, adding that this has major benefits for occupational health and safety within the warehouse and freight environment as it does not have the typical handling constraints associated with a swivel caster wheel.

Other advantages include: direct sideways (lateral) movement which is great for tight areas; greater directional control including on inclines; improved rotational and load stability; precision positioning capability; strength and durability; corrosion resistance; minimal space requirements; and simple mounting alternatives.

Designed and developed in Australia, the product is manufactured from tough polyketones and polyurethane, using an injection moulding process which produces a monolithic wheel structure with seamless rollers and no pins or joints.

The multi-body configuration of the wheel provides it with enhanced rotational and lateral movement capabilities, which enables it to move substantial loads with ease, leaving a forklift free to continue with other duties.

"In most cases, a rotacaster wheel solution can provide an ideal partner to forklifts by allowing packed pallets to be moved out of the way and work to continue while waiting for a forklift. It takes the dependency off a forklift for movement, providing efficiency and better deployment of resources by leaving the forklift to continue with the heavy loading or lifting."

He tells Forkliftaction.com News that purchasers will find the product very competitive with upper quartile casters, especially as it delivers versatility superior to top line swivel casters. "In addition, its fixed mounting combined with its robustness will yield significant savings in maintenance costs."

Typical applications include dollies, trolleys and carts, hand and platform trucks, conveyor transfer tables, mobile benches and shelving, and mobile stands and gantries.

The company has secured contacts overseas to distribute through resellers and distributors in the USA.