What Are Polyurethane Wheels? Types, Benefits and Uses

What are polyurethane wheels?

Polyurethane wheels are wheels with a polyurethane tread, a tough synthetic material that combines the grip and cushioning of rubber with the load capacity and wear resistance of a hard wheel. In practice that means a wheel that carries heavy loads, rolls quietly, resists wear and does not mark or damage the floor.

Polyurethane, often shortened to PU, is not one single material but a family of grades, each tuned for a different condition. That is why the same type of wheel can be specified soft for grip or firm for load, standard for everyday use or a premium grade for demanding work.

Polyurethane wheels vs rubber wheels

The most common question is how polyurethane compares with rubber, since both are used on industrial wheels. The simple rule is that rubber suits outdoor use and polyurethane suits indoor use, but the fuller picture looks like this.

Neither material is simply better than the other. The right choice depends on the conditions the wheel works in, which is the theme that runs through every polyurethane grade below.

The main grades of polyurethane

AVM's wheels come from Räder-Vogel, a German wheel maker in business since 1946, whose polyurethane range is built around suitability to conditions rather than a single all-purpose material.

• Standard polyurethane is the everyday grade for general indoor use.
• Vulkollan is the premium grade, a licensed high-performance polyurethane used for critical and high-load equipment. It is generally recommended when the load or the duty is demanding.
• Hydrolysis-stabilised Vulkollan is made for humid climates such as Singapore. In constant high humidity, a standard polyurethane tread can break down within a year. Special additives allow this grade to last several times longer.
• Anti-static Vulkollan (ELF) stops static building up on the wheel, so it suits areas where a spark would be dangerous, such as chemical stores, mining and fuel handling.
• Soft Vulkollan trades firmness and load capacity for extra grip and quieter running on slippery floors.
• Vulkollan with quartz adds anti-slip bite for wet floors, at the cost of being harder on the floor surface.

The point of the range is that a wheel can be matched to the real conditions it will face, whether that is humidity, heavy load, explosion risk, noise or a slippery surface.

Why choose polyurethane wheels

Polyurethane earns its place on industrial equipment for a few clear reasons:

• Load capacity. For a given wheel size, polyurethane carries more than rubber, which matters on heavily loaded equipment.
• Floor protection. It rolls without marking or damaging finished floors, which is important indoors and in clean working areas.
• Wear resistance. It holds up to long service and abrasive conditions better than rubber.
• Quiet running. It moves smoothly and quietly, which suits indoor and staffed areas.
• Grip. It grips well without the give of a soft rubber tyre, so loads stay controlled.

Where polyurethane wheels are used

Because polyurethane spans so many grades, its wheels turn up across industrial equipment: on heavy machinery, on material-handling and conveyor equipment, on the load and drive wheels of forklift trucks used indoors, and on trolleys and carts that need to protect the floor. Hardness is measured on the Shore A scale, and a wheel is specified soft or firm on that scale to suit its job.

Polyurethane is often used where load capacity, floor protection and wear life matter. Outdoors, on rough ground, rubber often still makes more sense.

On a forklift truck the same logic applies to each wheel: the load wheel and the drive wheel are both fitted in polyurethane for indoor work, because a marked or damaged warehouse floor is expensive and a polyurethane tread rolls cleanly across it. On heavier machinery and material-handling equipment, polyurethane is chosen for its load capacity and long wear life, so as to minimise equipment down time. In every case the tread is matched to the floor and the load for best performance and lifespan.

How to choose a polyurethane wheel

Choosing a wheel is a matter of matching the grade and hardness to the conditions:

• Humid environment? A hydrolysis-stabilised grade lasts far longer than standard polyurethane.
• Explosion or spark risk? An anti-static grade is the safe choice.
• Heavy or critical load? A premium grade such as Vulkollan is built for it.
• Slippery floor? A softer or quartz-filled grade adds grip.
• General indoor use? Standard polyurethane does the job.

AVM supplies polyurethane wheels from Räder-Vogel and can match the grade to the application. To see the range, visit the wheel and castor category.

Frequently asked questions

What are polyurethane wheels?

They are wheels with a polyurethane tread that combines the grip and cushioning of rubber with the load capacity and wear resistance of a hard wheel, while protecting the floor.

Are polyurethane wheels better than rubber?

Neither is simply better. Polyurethane suits indoor use, higher loads and floor protection, while rubber suits outdoor and rough ground. The right choice depends on the conditions.

What is the difference between standard polyurethane and Vulkollan?

Standard polyurethane is the everyday grade. Vulkollan is a premium, high-performance polyurethane used for critical and high-load equipment, so it is chosen for demanding duty rather than general use.

Which polyurethane wheels last in humid climates?

A hydrolysis-stabilised grade is made for constant high humidity. Standard polyurethane can break down within a year in those conditions. Special additives allow the stabilised grade to last several times longer.

How is the hardness of a polyurethane wheel measured?

On the Shore A scale. A wheel is specified soft or firm on that scale so the grip and load characteristics suit its job.