Pallet truck wheels and rollers

The pallet truck is a work vehicle designed for moving goods placed on pallets (also called platforms).

Both rollers (positioned under the forks) and wheels, placed under the drawbar, are essential components for pallet trucks in order to ensure an effective operation on different types of surface.

Manual pallet truck and main components

Before considering rollers and wheels, it is necessary to draw an important distinction between manual and electric pallet trucks.

Manual pallet trucks, commonly known as lifts, are compact means, easy to use and handle. They allow transporting pallets and other goods reducing to a minimum the effort linked to manual work.

This vehicle normally consists of two forks (generally made of steel) connected to a central arm featuring special hooks to hold the steering.

Manual pallet trucks are used both in small and large production facilities and in the commercial industry, particularly in the large-scale distribution sector, inside warehouses and on trucks’ loading platforms.

The following diagram lists the main elements of manual pallet trucks:

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Manual pallet truck wheels and rollers

The products by Tellure Rôta recommended in case of part replacement on manual pallet trucks are the following ones:

Steering wheels:

Elastic rubber wheels (72AL),
Nylon wheels (68),
Polyurethane wheels (65AL), diameter of 180 or 200 mm

Rollers:

Pallet truck polyurethane rollers (series 74-75-77-79),
In thermoplastic polyurethane (series 78) or nylon (series 76)

Selection criteria for manual pallet truck wheels and rollers

The choice of a specific type of manual pallet truck wheels or rollers rather than another depends:

On the type of product fitted as original part on the pallet truck
On the pallet truck’s load (with heavier loads, polyurethane products are required)
On the environment of use, thus on whether or not humidity and aggressive chemicals are present in the environment (in case of aggressive chemicals, the use of rollers with metal centres should be avoided)
On the need for noise reduction: in case of environments where silence is required, wheels and rollers with elastic tyre (elastic rubber or “TR-Roll” polyurethane) must be chosen

Electric pallet truck and main components

The electric pallet truck lifts loads and moves them using electrical power supply. Usually, pallet trucks are of pedestrian type, driven by means of a drawbar, but there are also ride-on and transversal pallet trucks.

The electric pallet truck is normally made up of two forks with 2 twin wheels used for steering, rollers that withstand the load and a control for the hydraulic lifting placed near the drawbar. This device allows lifting goods according to the handling operation to be performed. The average lifting height of a pallet truck ranges from 8 to 25 cm, while its loading capacity can reach 2 tons.

Electric pallet truck wheels and rollers

In this case, the products by Tellure Rôta suitable to be used as spare parts are the following ones:

Stabilising wheels:

“TR”, “TR-Roll” or Vulkollan® polyurethane wheels, series 62GH, 62AL, 63, 64 and 65 HT

Rollers:

“TR”, Vulkollan® or “TR-Roll” polyurethane pallet truck rollers, of series 74-75-79, often assembled with labyrinths (namely plastic rings fitted to protect ball bearings. These models ensure the performance of bearings over time, protecting them from dust or foreign bodies that may limit the roller’s rotating freedom).

Drive wheels:

Tellure Rôta offers drive wheels with “TR” and “TR-Roll” polyurethane tyre as customised products depending on the customers’ needs

Selection criteria for electric pallet truck wheels and rollers

In case of electric pallet trucks, it is recommended to only use products with a polyurethane tyre, since the speed of use is normally higher than 4 km/h.

Also in this case, as for manual pallet trucks, the choice of a product rather than another as spare part depends:

On the type of product fitted as original part on the pallet truck
On the pallet truck’s load
On the environment of use
On the need for noise reduction: in case of environments where silence is required, wheels and rollers with elastic tyre (elastic rubber or “TR-Roll” polyurethane) must be chosen
The speed of pallet truck’s movement.

Conclusions

Apart from the presence on the market of many different models of forklifts - including, for example, versions with classic order picker, low, medium or high level order picker, stacker, drawbar truck etc. - the utmost attention should be paid when choosing wheels and rollers for each type of pallet trucks, in order to ensure the safety of operators and the maximum efficiency of performance.