TPR Furniture Casters – Furniture isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about functionality too. Every piece needs to be designed and constructed with its intended use in mind. And if you need to move that furniture around, you need a set of reliable casters that can do the job.
That’s where TPR furniture casters come in. These casters are specifically designed to provide smooth and safe movement for your furniture, ensuring that you can easily move your pieces around whenever needed.
In this blog, we will explore what a TPR caster is and the difference between TPR and TPE casters. We will also discuss why you should choose TPR casters over TPE casters. So, let’s begin!
What Is A TPR Caster?
TPR stands for thermoplastic rubber. TPR casters are caster wheels that have the advantage of both hard and soft materials. TPR casters roll easily on the surface and have high durability, like hard wheels.
Also, TPR casters are quiet, and they do not damage the floor. They are also weather resistant, chemical resistant, steam and water resistant. TPR casters have traits like both hard wheels and soft wheels.
The thermoplastic material provides structural support and durability, while the rubber compound adds properties such as flexibility, traction, and shock absorption. TPR casters are known for their versatility and are commonly used in a wide range of applications.
TPR Vs TPE Casters: What’s The Difference?
There are quite a lot of differences between TPR and TPE casters. The differences come in terms of materials properties, material characteristics, applications, etc. They also differ in terms of appearance, and they burn differently. Let’s have a look:
Genesis
TPE is the short form of thermoplastic elastomer. TPE comes from SEBS, which is Styrene Ethylene Butylene Styrene Block Copolymer.
TPR is the abbreviation of thermoplastic rubber. TPR comes from SBS, which is a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer. SEBS is the product of the hydrogenation of SBS.
Material Properties
TPE has high elasticity, high resilience, and high strength. This means they are really resilient against wear and tear. They last much longer than most other caster wheel materials.
TPR when it comes to the same properties, TPR is almost similar to TPE. But TPR just has a higher grade of elasticity, allowing them to carry even more weight and are more resilient.
Material Characteristics
TPE is an environmentally friendly material. It is non-toxic and safe. It has excellent colourability, soft appearance, weather, fatigue, and temperature resistance. It also has excellent processing performance.
TPR has better properties compared to TPE, but in terms of tensile strength, fatigue resistance, and mechanical properties, TPR is not as good as TPE.
Appearance
TPR particles are bright. They are light reflective. They are also slightly sticky above the temperature of 30-40 degrees Celsius.
TPE has a different appearance than TPR. The surface of TPE is more matte. It also has light irradiation diffusion. TPE also feels smoother.
Burning Characteristics
If you set TPE material on fire, it will burn with a cloud of light smoke. This is because TPE has fewer carbon elements. On the other hand, TPR burns with denser and darker smoke compared to TPE.
Cost
TPR is relatively cheaper than TPE. This means that TPR casters are also quite cheaper than TPE. So, if you are looking for something budget-friendly, then TPR caster wheels would be much more suited for you.
Why Choose TPR Over TPE Casters?
TPR caster is better than TPE caster in many aspects. It has the look, feel, and elasticity similar to thermoset rubber and the processability of plastic. TPR has good electrical insulation.
TPR is more affordable and has excellent chemical and weather resistance. This makes them well-suited for heavy-use environments and for commercial use in warehouse operations, hospitals and more. TPR is also a very safe material to use.
TPE casters, on the other hand, have quite a lot of disadvantages. Its heat resistance is not as good. As the temperature increases, the physical properties of TPE gradually decrease. So, with TPE, you have a very limited operating temperature. TPE material is also prone to compressional deformation.
So as you can see, TPR has more significant advantages over TPE casters. That’s why you should choose TPR casters over TPE casters.
Which Industries Need TPR Casters?
By now, we’re sure you understand why TPR is so popular among all the other caster materials available in the market. Now, every type of caster wheel has its uses in different industries. But which industries use TRP casters the most? Let’s find out.
Healthcare
TPR casters are purposefully used in the healthcare industry for a number of reasons. We’ve already mentioned that TPR is quite strong compared to its counterparts and highly durable. It does not wear easily. This is exactly why TPR casters are so popular in the healthcare sector.
Stretchers, hospital beds and wheelchairs – these are always in use and often have to carry a high amount of weight. So, using TPR casters avoids scuffs and marks on the floor. Something that often happens with rubber and most other caster wheel materials.
Hospitality
TPR casters are quiet and can roll on any surface, like carpets and hardwood floors, without ruining them or leaving marks.
This is why they are in such high demand in the hospitality industry. They are often seen to be used in hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality settings where quality is of high importance for delivering customers the best experience.
Industrial
No other industry requires heavy-duty components are much as the industrial sector. Every aspect of this sector needs to have a high tolerance to extreme conditions.
And no other caster wheel ensures a high level of strength while also providing flexibility and load resistance as heavy-duty TPR caster wheels. They provide physical and chemical resistance that far outclass any other material used for casters.
Retail
Whether it’s customers pushing their trollies to collect their groceries or retail employees stocking the shelves, casters are always in use in retail settings. If you’ve ever visited a supermarket or mall, you won’t find a moment where these wheels are not hard at work.
Such high use requires extreme resistance to wear. And TPR casters happen to be the only casters that provide such quality.
Automotive
The automotive industry requires heavy vehicle parts to be moved about 24/7. While strength is highly important, casters used in heavy-duty trollies in factories and workshops must also be lightweight and flexible enough to stand high weight.
As we’ve mentioned, while TPR is almost as flexible as rubber, it does not wear and tear as easily. Making TPR casters the best option.
Education
Using TPR casters might be advantageous for the education sector. Desks, seats, and bookshelves are just a few examples of types of furniture that can use TPR casters. They are perfect for use in classrooms and libraries because they are also quiet and easy to roll.
Warehousing and Logistics
The high strength and durability of TPR casters make them an essential aspect of warehousing and logistics operations. Pallet jacks, carts and hand trucks are common tools in this sector. And they all use TPR casters as it does not give in easily to heavy use.
Material Handling
From heavy-duty components to highly corrosive chemicals, there are thousands of things that material handling industries have to consider when it comes to their casters. TPR casters are basically the jack of all trades when it comes to their durability, resistance to physical and chemical hazards, shock and load resistance.
Making them the perfect all-in-one casters that can handle any job with efficiency and reliability. As a result, you can find TPR casters being regularly used in the material handling industry.
Conclusion
TPR furniture casters provide almost every feature you can think of for any industry. They are almost as flexible as rubber while providing the durability and strength of materials that are much harder and not to mention heavier. They are also as almost cheap as rubber as well.
Their durability, resistance and cost efficiency make them the perfect choice for any industry. And this is exactly why TPR casters are one of the most popular casters in the world.