How a reliable industrial wheel is created

The handling of goods represents an increasingly important and at the same time complex business sector for manufacturing companies. Consequently, the choice of industrial wheels for trolleys and other equipment is a crucial step in optimising internal processes.

Contacting a competent manufacturer is the first step to ensuring the durability and reliability of these products.

With this in mind, in this article we will discuss the special features of industrial wheels and related castors made by Tellure Rôta, a leading company within this specific sector.

State-of-the-art technologies and the lean approach for the production of industrial wheels

Unlike many companies that outsource part of their production, Tellure Rôta produces everything in-house, employing qualified skills, modern software and up-to-date technology, also with the help of the TR Lab, the company’s own research and development laboratory, which we will discuss in a few paragraphs.

Tellure Rôta organises its production in three factories with a total covered area of 15,000 square metres. Every stage of processing is scrupulously controlled to ensure the highest quality of the products.

And that’s not all. Production processes at the company follow the principles of Lean Production. This means responding flexibly to customer demands, relying on reliable service and fast product delivery.

Tellure Rôta's manufacturing processes

Let us go into more detail by analysing the company's main production processes, through which high-quality castors and wheels are produced.

Metal sheet pressing

Let us start with the castors and sheet steel components. They are manufactured using automatic mechanical presses for high tonnage (up to 800 tonnes). This allows a combination of high productivity and high quality standards.

Thermoplastic polymers production

The polyamide, polypropylene, thermoplastic rubber and thermoplastic polyurethane wheels are produced with the aid of fully automated injection moulding machines.

Polyurethane production

The automatic production process, designed by Tellure Rôta, ensures complete control over all production stages, i.e.:

- preparation of the wheel and roller cores,
- preparation of compounds, casting and curing

Tellure Rôta wheels are manufactured with standard compounds (TR polyurethane, TR-Roll elastic polyurethane and Vulkollan® Covestro) or customised to meet specific customer application requirements, such as high-performance polyurethane and compounds specifically for ESD environments.

Customised polyurethane products are manufactured on dedicated lines, where skilled operators take care of every detail, ensuring quality and performance.

Assembly

Wheels and castors are assembled on automatic lines, manufactured according to specific know-how. Wheels for waste bin containers and mobile scaffolding have dedicated assembly lines, while special, small-volume products are manually assembled by dedicated workers.

The in-house research laboratory

As mentioned earlier, as part of Tellure Rôta's development and innovation pathway, the company has chosen to qualify and complement its production departments with the TRLab Test & Research laboratory. A multidisciplinary and integrated centre, with operational autonomy and accredited to the Emilia Romagna High Technology Network since 2011.

The fact that this laboratory is part of a network of excellence allows a constant update and expansion of knowledge, with the aim of offering technologically advanced solutions to our customers, with tests on materials, construction and process methods.

TRLab also offers specific consulting services for external companies, focusing in particular on:

- proposals for innovative solutions in terms of materials and applied technologies;
- defining the ideal dimensional features of wheels and castors according to functionality;
- testing services on elastomeric, thermoplastic and metallic materials and on the finished wheel. All this according to international standards and specific customer requirements.

Customised services

In addition to customised products, customers may need documentation and services tailored to their needs and internal organisation.
Tellure Rôta is therefore organised to assist customers in a customised manner, with product advice, 2D and 3D technical drawings, as well as customisation of the packaging and service provided.

The company also provides, on request, testing services on specific standards, visual merchandising projects, customised advertising material, and technical sales training for distributors.

Thanks to the organisational and production flexibility of “lean thinking” and the expertise of our staff, Tellure Rôta is structured to meet the needs of customers operating in Europe and non-European markets.