June 8, 2005

2 Min Read
Caster Manufacturer Forms New Division

Originally Published MPMN June 2005

INDUSTRY NEWS

Caster Manufacturer Forms New Division

Susan Wallace

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Reaction Industries LLC provides polyurethane wheel manufacturing services.

A supplier of standard, custom, and special industrial casters, Caster Concepts Inc. (Albion, MI; www.casterconcepts.com), has expanded its in-house manufacturing capabilities with the formation of Reaction Industries LLC. The expansion will enable the company to provide polyurethane wheel manufacturing, which previously provided only an outsourcing basis.

The open casting of polyurethane wheels is performed using a computer-controlled, metered mixing machine that brings multiple components into the pouring head at a predetermined ratio, mixes them at high speeds, and pours the resulting material into precision-machined steel molds. The material is processed at 160°F and the wheels are heated at 350°F during the process.

Reaction Industries can process a variety of prepolymers including TDI or MDI compounds in a variety of different durometers. The company can design, develop, and manufacture all appropriate molds.

William Dobbins, the CEO of Caster Concepts, says, “since we started up in August of 2004, customers have enjoyed some measurable advantages with the new in-house process. Our standard- durometer 95A poly wheels are economical, provide lower rolling resistance than rubber wheels, and are floor-protective. Our 85 Shore A thermoplastic rubber wheel is a proprietary MDI polyester compound that features a high rebound and tear strength.”

He goes on to say, “These characteristics allow the wheels to roll over and reject metal chips, shavings, sheet-metal screws, and other debris found in the manufacturing environment. The high-rebound characteristics of the material also make thermoplastic rubber compounds a wise choice for ergonomic applications, while the toughness of the material will withstand many abusive applications.”

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