Swivel Vs. Fixed Castors: Differences & Benefits

When choosing the right castors for your equipment or furniture, the decision between swivel and fixed castors can be crucial. Understanding the differences and benefits of each type will significantly impact the functionality, manoeuvrability, and overall performance of your items.

What Are Castor Wheels?

Castors are essential components designed to be mounted to the base of various items, facilitating smooth and effortless movement. These wheels are engineered to provide mobility and ease of transport for a wide range of equipment and furniture, making them invaluable in numerous settings. They come in a variety of types and sizes, each tailored to meet specific needs and load capacities. They can be equipped with either a fixed or swivel mechanism. Fixed castors allow movement in a straight line, while swivel castors provide the ability to pivot 360 degrees, enhancing manoeuvrability.

The materials used in castor construction play a significant role in their performance and suitability for different environments. Rubber castors offer excellent shock absorption and noise reduction, making them ideal for indoor use on smooth surfaces. Polyurethane castors combine durability with a smooth rolling experience, making them versatile enough for both indoor and outdoor applications, including uneven or abrasive surfaces. Metal castors, known for their robustness, are designed to handle heavy loads and withstand harsh conditions, making them suitable for industrial environments.

Castor wheels are widely utilised across various environments, each benefiting from their unique properties. In industrial settings and warehouses, castors are crucial for moving heavy equipment and materials efficiently. Office environments leverage castors for office chairs, filing cabinets, and mobile workstations to enhance flexibility and comfort. Even in homes, castors are used for furniture, appliances, and storage solutions to provide convenience and ease of movement.

An Overview of Fixed Castors

Fixed castors, also known as rigid castors, are wheels that can only move in one direction: forward and backwards. They are mounted on a fixed plate or bracket, which means that they do not swivel.

Fixed castor wheels are ideal for applications where stability is paramount. Because they do not swivel, they provide a steady and reliable movement in a straight line. This makes them perfect for equipment that needs to travel in a straight path, such as shelving units or heavy-duty trolleys.

Generally, fixed castors can support heavier loads compared to their swivelling counterpart. The fixed wheel design distributes the weight evenly, making them suitable for carrying large, heavy items. Fixed castors are also often more affordable than their swivel counterparts. Their simpler design translates into lower production costs, making them a cost-effective solution for many industrial applications.

As fixed castor wheels do not have the complex swivelling mechanism, they typically experience less wear and tear. This can result in a longer lifespan and reduced maintenance needs.

Product image of fixed castor nylon wheel

Product image of Fixed Castor Rubber Tyred Nylon Wheel

What About Swivel Castors?

Swivel castors are equipped with a rotating mechanism that allows the wheel to pivot 360 degrees. This capability provides greater manoeuvrability compared to fixed castors. The ability to swivel means these castor wheels are highly versatile. They are perfect for situations where you need to change direction frequently or navigate around obstacles. This makes them ideal for use in environments like offices, hospitals, or anywhere that requires smooth, agile movement.

Swivel castors can make steering easier, particularly in tight spaces. This is especially beneficial for items like office chairs, mobile workstations, and carts that need to be moved in various directions. With their 360-degree rotation, swivel castors allow for more dynamic movement. This flexibility is advantageous in situations where you need to reposition items quickly or manoeuvre around confined areas.

For optimal performance, swivel castor wheels can be combined with their fixed counterpart. This setup, often seen in equipment like tool carts or mobile workbenches, provides both stability and manoeuvrability. Fixed castors help keep the equipment on a straight path, while swivel castors offer easy steering.

Product image of Swivel Castor 100mm Rubber/Nylon - With Footbrake

Choosing the Right Castors for Your Needs

When choosing between swivel and fixed castors, several factors should be considered. First, consider the primary application of the item. If it’s designed for straight-line movement and needs to support heavy loads, fixed castor wheels might be the better choice. On the other hand, if manoeuvrability and the ability to change direction easily are important, swivel castors would be more appropriate.

The environment in which the castor wheels will be used is also crucial. Swivel castors are ideal for tight, confined spaces where flexibility is needed, while fixed castors are better suited for open areas where straight-line movement is required.

Load capacity is another important factor. Fixed castors typically support heavier loads, so if your equipment requires substantial weight support, they may be the way to go. However, if you prefer swivel castors, ensure they are rated to handle the necessary weight. For instance, these heavy-duty castors feature solid rubber wheels, which offer outstanding mobility for transporting heavy loads across smooth, hard surfaces and polished concrete floors. They are designed to ensure quiet operation and protect the floor from damage.

Lastly, consider the surface type on which the castors will operate. Different materials, such as rubber or polyurethane, can impact both the performance and durability of the castors.

Looking for New Castors?

Both swivel and fixed castor wheels have their unique advantages and are suited to different applications. Understanding the key differences and benefits can help you make an informed decision based on your specific needs. Whether you require the stability of fixed, or the manoeuvrability of swivel, selecting the right castor type can enhance the functionality and efficiency of your equipment.

At Highland Industrial Supplies, we offer a wide range of castors and wheels, including both swivel and fixed options, to suit various applications. Explore our selection to find the perfect castors for your needs and contact us if you have any questions or need assistance with your purchase.

For more information, visit us in-store or shop our collection online.

Terms and Conditions

Phone Number: 01463 239 160

Fax Number: 01463 233 424

We are happy to take orders via Fax or email. We are happy to take orders from Local Government, Schools, Colleges and Charities. Just fax or email your order to us and we will contact you to arrange payment. We can supply pre-sale invoices for your Purchase Orders.

CHEQUES. You may also pay by cheque. Cheque should be made out to "Highland Industrial Supplies Ltd". You should allow 7 working days for cheques to clear, after which the goods will be dispatched (subject to stock availability).

You have the right to cancel an order which is not built to special requirements. Please return the items to us within 28 days from the date they were received. Your delivery will contain a retuns slip, please complete this indicating if you require a refund or replacement. Goods must be returned in an unused state, and with their original packaging. The customer should obtain proof of postage or send goods via recorded delivery. The consumer is liable to pay for the cost of returning the goods to ourselves.

Making a Purchase

Making a purchase could not be easier. Just browse our Catalogue, and click on any items that you wish to buy and put them into the shopping cart. After you have finished your selection, click on "Order" and you will be asked for a few details that we need to be able to satisfy the order.

CREDIT CARDS: We accept Visa, MasterCard, Delta, Switch and Solo cards.

Collect in Store

You can choose to collect your order from one of our depots rather than having us deliver your items to you. If you select this option in the checkout, our customer service department will contact you when your order is ready for collection. In the checkout, simply select one of the following depots which is the most convenient for you.

Inverness Elgin Turriff Dundee Perth Fort William Kirkwall

Shipping and Handling

We recommend that goods should be inspected before they are signed for, as goods obviously damaged in transit should be REFUSED. You must notify us as soon as possible and ideally within 24 hours if at all possible, if your goods are subsequently found to be damaged.

If you buy more than one item you will only incur a single delivery charge. You will be charged the highest delivery charge relating to your order.

For example: if you buy 3 items each with a delivery charge of £6.95 then you will incur a single payment of £6.95 (not 3 x £6.95!). If however, you buy 2 items each with a delivery charge of £6.95 and 1 item with a delivery charge of £10.95 then you will pay a single delivery charge of £10.95 for the total order.

Please note that all goods must be signed for on delivery. If you are not at home when your order is delivered, a card will be posted through your door with details regarding collection/re-delivery.

Guarantee

In additional to your legal rights relating to faulty or misdescribed goods, all products come with manufacturer's warranty of between 1 and 5 years. In the unlikely event that your purchase develops a fault within the warranty period, HIS Ltd will refer you to your local dealership where the product will be examined by their qualified technicians and repaired as per the warranty details.

Returns Policy

At HIS Ltd we DO NOT operate a "Try & Return" policy. Faulty goods should be notified to us within 3 working days. If the option of taking them to a local dealership is not available then faulty goods should be returned to our head office. We can arrange courier collection at your cost. For Non-Faulty goods, please inform us within 14 days of receipt of your intention to return them. We must then receive them back within the following 14 days. (Excluding special order items).

All items must be returned in the same condition they were received.

Ordering

An online order through this website constitutes an offer to purchase the item(s) specified by you and does not constitute acceptance of your offer to purchase from us. Your purchase request will be reviewed by a member of our staff and you will be advised when the order has been accepted, normally within 12 hours of your offer. An unsuccessful purchase request will result in a full refund of any monies paid by you to HIS Ltd.