Osnabrück, Germany – Elastomers scientists at Huntsman and wheel and castor manufacturer RÄDER-VOGEL have collaboratively developed a new generation of polyurethane-based, anti-static PEVOTEC® wheels. The wheels are now available in European markets. EngineerIT was unable to reach South African distributor VGL Africa to confirm availability in South Africa. (VGL can be contacted via a form on the company website).
The wheels—using Huntsman’s TECNOTHANE® hot cast elastomers—are designed for use in industrial applications where the use of trolleys, carts, pulleys, and automatically guided vehicles (AGVs) keep operations running smoothly.
Static build-up on wheels can be problematic in busy manufacturing or production environments, leading to delays or costly downtime. Accumulated static charges on wheels can result in uncomfortable and sometimes painful shocks to personnel handling equipment or moving carts.
It can also potentially damage the vehicle's electrical components or attract and hold dust and particles. This can cause a contamination issue in specialist fields like semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. Plus, dust build-up can also result in reduced traction, causing automated equipment to malfunction.
Anti-static wheels effectively mitigate these issues, and RÄDER-VOGEL will stock a variety of variations, ranging from 55 to 97 shore A hardness. The company can also tailor-make customised solutions on request.
Initially, RÄDER-VOGEL will be targeting the new range of wheels in 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
Martin Schäfer, Sales Director Export – Material Handling and Special Applications at RÄDER-VOGEL comments: “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.”
Nicolaas Weyns, Sales Development Manager Elastomers Europe at Huntsman, says, “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 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.”
