The Central Place of Movement
Any office is a place of constant movement and on the go activities. No matter what type of office it may be, it is often considered the headquarters, a constant hive of activity. And in today’s increasingly fast-paced world, offices are becoming even more active. With increased and improved digital technologies, individual workers are being asked to be responsible for even more activities, and therefore, a constant stream of action and activity is often taking place in an office setting. One of the physical ways in which this is demonstrated is in the use of furniture and equipment that is made mobile, and this is made possible by the addition of a simple and often overlooked item, the caster.
Adding Mobility to Increase Efficiency
In an office setting there are many things that can have casters added to them in an effort to increase mobility, office chairs, tables, filing cabinets, printer stands and much more. Each item that is put on casters can enable the workplace efficiency to increase by making items more accessible and more easily moved. Casters make it easier to transport files across rooms or departments. They make it easier to move pieces of equipment that need to be shared between workers. They even make it easier for office chairs and tables to be rearranged for group gatherings and meetings that require a reconfiguration of office furniture to accommodate larger groups.
Things to Consider When Choosing the best Caster for the Job
There are many things to consider when trying to choose the best casters for office furniture and equipment. The very first thing to consider is the weight of the object that is being made mobile. The next thing to consider is the workplace conditions in which the item will be regularly used. These two things have a great bearing on the type of caster that should be chosen to make furniture mobile. For example, some of the specific questions that can be asked to help determine what the best option is, include:
o What is the floor type in the workplace?
o Is it a hard, smooth surface of more rough, such as carpet?
o How often will the item need to be moved?
o How far will the item need to be moved?
o Does the item need to be able to move freely at all times or will it need to be stabilized with a brake?
o What is the main purpose of making the piece of office furniture mobile?
An Industry Favorite
One of the most popular designs in casters for office furniture is the spherical ball caster. One brand that stands out among the rest is the Shepherd brand. They offer a popular favorite, a line called the Baron Series. The design is a special spherical, hooded design that has numerous benefits. There are a variety of options in the types and materials of decorative finishes. Additionally, the ball caster has a high level of functionality, and therefore, allows you to have the best of both worlds when it comes to function and appearance. This can be a very important aspect when it comes to choosing the right caster for the job because in an office setting the aesthetics can have an impact on impression given to clients and customers. Another plus to the Baron Series is where it is made. It is manufactured in the US and therefore it offers with it a high level of quality craftsmanship.
Many Other Possible Options to Choose From
In addition to the Baron Series of casters, there are also many other casters that may serve the purpose you need in a better way. There are many standard options available, and therefore, it is very useful to have a basic understanding of the potential options when trying to choose the best caster for the job. In general, most casters come in three different categories that are based on the weight load capacity that they are able to bear. With today’s advancement in design technology and material options that are many different options available within each weight category. Some of the different options that can be chosen include the type of mounting, the mechanism by which the caster is attached to the piece of furniture, the size, type and material of the wheel, and the also the metal finish of the caster housing. Additionally there are different options for locking and braking. Within the standards options that are available, there are also many more specialized options in certain categories; in addition, there are a whole range of specialty casters that are designed to accomplish very specific jobs.
Basic Varieties
Of the aforementioned characteristics that can be specified within the basic categories, there are so many options that it can be useful to have a basic knowledge of the options. For example, some basic mounting options that are available include:
o threaded stem
o square stem
o top plate
o stainless steel expanding adapter stem
o grip ring stem
o pipe thread stem
o modular stem
o top plate swivel
o kingpinless top plate. Some of the available options of wheel materials include:
o polyolefin
o phenolic
o performa
o performa conductive
o polyurethane Hi-Tech
o cast iron
o maxim
o stainless steel
o therm
No Matter what your caster needs may be, Douglas Equipment can help you not only narrow the choices, but help you to select the caster that is absolutely the best match for your specific workplace setting. We have over fifty years experience in the material handling and caster business and we are proud of our reputation of professionalism and accuracy. Please contact us Toll-free at 1-800-451-0030, locally at 305-888-3700, or by faxing us at 305-883-9563. We can also be reached electronically by contacting us through the Contact Us section on our website. We look forward to hearing from you soon and working closely with you to find the best casters for your office furniture.
