Rotacaster Workstation Table More Cost-Effective than Air Table for Manufacturing

Sept. 1, 2012 - PRLog -- Rotacaster Wheel Limited is an Australian company with a focus on innovative product design.  Rotacaster is a patented multi-directional wheel quickly becoming the alternative to the swivel caster. The Rotacaster is a sturdy, robust wheel, adaptable to a vast array of applications and it overcomes many of the limitations associated with the traditional swivel caster wheel.
American Ceramic Technology Inc. (ACT) needed to increase productivity and improve workplace ergonomics in the fitting of grommets to their Silflex radiation shielding. On the original workstation it was ergonomically challenging, requiring a two handed effort to position the up to 200lbs heavy Silflex blankets to precisely install the grommets.
The Rotacaster solution was a precision grommet fitting table for American Ceramic Technology. After investigating several options for an improved workstation, including an air table, ACT opted for the Rotacaster multi-directional wheel. Working with Integrator Prime Resource Inc., ACT developed a workstation using 48mm Rotacasters framed in modular T-slot aluminum extrusion from 80/20 Inc. The wheels were sourced from Rotacaster reseller Magnus Mobility Systems.
Indeed, 80/20 is an ideal material to frame transfer tables using Rotacasters thanks to its adaptability and modularity. The chosen wheel density provides excellent load support, very easy movement. It also has the ability to precisely position these relatively heavy blankets.
The heavy Silflex radiation shielding blankets are now maneuvered and positioned easily with one hand eliminating the need to lean, twist, and pull the item into place.
The new workstation exceeded all expectations for increased productivity and improved ergonomics while saving ACT over 75% in acquisition costs compared to the installation of an air-table. Thanks to the Rotacasters operating without power and with minimal maintenance.
The Rotacaster was developed to improve on the swivel caster wheel and it does so in a number of ways. The key improvements are:
•   The ability to move loads in any direction while in a stable fixed mount. This delivers significantly improved load stability by eliminating caster induced shift in the center of gravity when changing directions. This is particularly critical for tall and or stacked loads.
•   A precise response to steering input by eliminating caster lag during directional change.  
•   Directional stability on inclined surfaces. The stable fixed mount eliminates the ‘runaway shopping cart’ syndrome, significantly reducing the force required to move perpendicular to the incline.  
•   Bottom line, the ROTACASTER offers a significantly improved floor wheel performance compared to the traditional swivel caster.
Applications for the Rotacaster range from material handling equipment (hand trucks, trolleys, dollies, carts, skates) to shopping carts and luggage; from conveyor transfers, pipe rollers, and other inverted applications to robotics and patient lifts in medical settings.  Contact Rotacaster at www.rotacaster.com.au or via phone: 61 2 4907 8100.


Rotacaster Wheel  Ltd.
www.rotacaster.com.au
Peter McKinnon, Managing Director
info@rotacaster.com.au
+61 2 4907 8100