New generation of anti-static wheels

The wheels – which are available now and utilize Huntsman’s TECNOTHANE^® hot cast elastomers – have been designed for use in industrial applications where the use of trolleys, carts, pulleys, and automatically guided vehicles (AGVs) is vital to the smooth running of operations.

The build-up of static on wheels can prove problematic in busy manufacturing or production environments.

• The accumulation of static charge on wheels can result in uncomfortable and sometimes painful shocks to personnel handling equipment or moving carts.
• It can damage the electrical components of a vehicle.
• Static on wheels can also attract and hold dust and particles. This can cause a contamination issue in specialist fields including semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology.
• Dust build-up can also lead to less traction and cause automated equipment to malfunction – leading to costly downtime.

Using Huntsman’s TECNOTHANE^® materials, RÄDER-VOGEL has developed a range of PEVOTEC^® anti-static wheels that can help reduce these issues, with a variety of options available ranging from 55 to 97 shore A hardness. The materials also give RÄDER-VOGEL the flexibility to tailor make customized solutions for customers to meet specific needs.

Initially, RÄDER-VOGEL will be targeting the new range of wheels at four application areas including:

• Warehousing and logistics for automated guided vehicles that move thousands of products
• Space-saving automated car park systems in cities where vehicles are parked using lifts
• Clean rooms where wheels are used in trolleys and overhead pulleys
• Mining for lift shafts that must function with no risk of sparks that could ignite coal dust.

Huntsman and RÄDER-VOGEL have a long history of working together that dates back more than 25 years. Commenting, Martin Schäfer, Sales Director Export – Material Handling & Special Applications at RÄDER-VOGEL said: “As ever, we are grateful to the team at Huntsman for their willingness and enthusiasm to innovate in conjunction with our team. Together, we have a track record for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of wheels and castors. This project is no different. Working side by side, we’ve developed a novel range of anti-static wheels that are set to offer huge benefits across a range of industries. As Industry 4.0 continues to drive new levels of automation and productivity, our wheels will help improve the reliability and lifetime of mission critical equipment.”

Commenting, Nicolaas Weyns, Sales Development Manager Elastomers Europe at Huntsman, said: “It’s always great to work alongside the team at RÄDER-VOGEL. Their high standards and commitment to quality have made them one of the world’s leading manufacturers of pallet rollers, press-on tyres and swivel and fixed castors. There is a unique bond between our two companies that is based on trust and mutual respect and it has been exciting to help the team bring a new generation of anti-static wheels to fruition.”

Since 1946, RÄDER-VOGEL has been developing wheels and castors to meet the ever-evolving demands of different markets – from individual customer-specific items to standardised large batches. Under its PEVOTEC^® range, RADER-VOGEL offers wheels that can be used under extreme operating conditions. Depending on the task at hand, the team will select different wheel materials – adapting chemical and physical properties to suit requirements.

Huntsman’s TECNOTHANE^® range is an advanced portfolio of polyurethane-based, hot-cast, engineering elastomers, which includes a full range of polyols and chain extenders. Over the years Huntsman has blended these raw materials together in different combinations - creating a suite of tried and tested elastomer formulations for a range of different applications.

www.raedervogel.de