Cartwheels are the heart of any cart and need to be chosen carefully. After all, a wheel designed for an office floor and one designed for a gritty workshop floor are worlds apart, and using a wheel not meant for the application can lead to over-exertion injuries.
Understanding the distinct features of each caster type empowers buyers to make informed choices, ensuring smooth and efficient movement.
Utility Carts
Whether at work, school, or home, utility carts can simplify everyday tasks by transporting objects from one location to another. These rolling carts usually have a handle that makes pushing or pulling them easy. Some also have swivel wheels or locking casters for stability. Corrosion-resistant stainless steel or aluminum construction helps them resist rust and withstand the elements.
Depending on the cart’s intended use, it may have different tiers or drawers to hold items in storage or during transportation. Some also feature an antimicrobial plastic that prevents the growth of bacteria, mildew, or mold. Drawer and compartment utility carts are often used in healthcare or laboratory settings to transport supplies and equipment from one area to the next.
The three-lipped shelves on bussing or general utility carts can be modified to fit a variety of objects, including bus tubs, dishes, and food pans. They’re commonly found in restaurants, cafeterias, and schools.
Industrial Carts
In industrial settings, wheels for carts help facilitate moving materials to and from multiple areas in a facility. For example, maintenance workers use industrial carts to move heavy engines or equipment from one workplace area to another. These carts typically feature a variety of ergonomic features to reduce worker stress and fatigue, including adjustable handles, swivel casters, and comfortable grips.
Stainless steel carts with removable coverings are essential for food manufacturing facilities to move products as they cool down between processes. They can also be used to transport medical devices and supplies that require sanitary handling.
Powered tuggers like railroad trains often pull these industrial carts. They are ideal for transporting large, bulky, or oversized loads in tight spaces. They are designed to support up to 7,000 pounds of evenly distributed load.
Medical Carts
Medical carts allow nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals to spend more time with patients. This improves the standard of care and lowers the possibility of medical mistakes. These carts are also designed to be simple and use high-quality materials that hold up to repeated cleanings.
An excellent medical cart is also a great place to store essential equipment and supplies, like gloves, masks, and isolation gowns, often shared by multiple employees. It’s essential to include drawers with a lock, as well, for medications that need to be kept secure from other hospital attendees.
Having a fully stocked medical cart means less time to return to storage rooms for supplies, which can add to significant workflow disruptions. It also allows staff to restock the needed items at a patient’s bedside quickly. The right combination of drawer heights and organization accessories ensures that narrow medical carts can meet any healthcare facility’s needs.
Shopping Carts
A shopping cart, a trolley, or a buggy is a wheeled cart supplied by a store for customers to transport merchandise inside the premises before checkout. Carts increase the goods a shopper can purchase in a single trip, increasing store profitability.
As you explore your cart options, it is essential to consider what type of user experience you want your customers to have. Choose a cart that allows for the integrations and extensions you need, and pay attention to the analytics available through the admin control panel. This can help you determine whether the cart works for your business and make necessary adjustments.
