Hospitals, hotels, and all kinds of businesses depend on trolleys and utility carts to help with their movement and storage needs. From distributing meals and medication, to picking up parts and postal packages, these compact, general-purpose haulers are the perfect solution for maximum maneuverability in small spaces.
But while metal trolleys and carts are classic workplace accessories, especially in clinical and catering environments, a growing number of businesses are realizing that metal isn’t the ideal option. Metal trolleys are difficult to clean, costly to repair, and can even be dangerous if the person handling them loses control of it.
Fortunately, they’re not the only option anymore. A new generation of polymer-based carts offers the same strength as metal, but with half the weight and twice the serviceability; that makes them the logical choice for businesses that are looking at acquiring new carts.
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Time to Assess the Advantages of Polymer Trolleys and Carts
Let’s be honest: while metal trolleys and carts have been regarded as standard corporate material movers for a long time, the advantages that heavy-duty polymer plastic trolleys and utility carts now have to offer are too good to ignore. That’s because they not only match their metal counterparts for durability and versatility, but they also bring a cost and value proposition to the table that metal simply can’t compare with.
The durable, low density materials used for plastic trolleys and carts are based on structural foam composites that feature a honeycomb-like core surrounded by a tough polymer outer skin. It’s not a new forming process, but when it’s applied to trolley and cart construction, the result is a unit that weighs 30% less than a metal one would, with up to 8 times the rigidity of even a solid polymer equivalent.
The immediate benefits of this sturdy, lightweight construction couldn’t be clearer, and they include:
· Increased mobility. Lightweight plastic trolleys are easier to navigate and control than metal units, allowing personnel to work safer and more productively with them.
· Decreased noise. Metal trolleys and carts are loud; that makes non-resonant plastic units the ideal choice for medical, research, or academic environments where ambient noise needs to be kept to a minimum.
· Maintenance-free operation. Whereas metal trolleys typically require regular repairs and maintenance, with the exception of the wheels, there’s nothing to damage on a plastic trolley.
The fact is, plastic trolleys and carts are simply more versatile than metal units. And together with their lower weight, plastic trolleys and utility carts typically feature ergonomic, thermoformed handles that are easier to hold onto than stress-mounted metal cart handles. That means less risk of employee injury due to sustained pressure from awkward arm and wrist angles.
Strength and Stability Make Plastic Trolleys Ideal for Any Environment
Although plastic trolleys and carts have a clear weight advantage over metal units, they critically don’t compromise on any of the strength or stability they need to be efficient. Customizable, heavy-duty shelves make it possible for plastic carts to be configured in ways that solid-framed metal trolleys and carts can’t, while still supporting load capacities up to 250kg.
And when it comes to maximized cargo space for specific activities, you can find plastic trolleys and carts for a range of specialized workplaces and environments, including:
· Hospitality, institutional, and multi-purpose trolleys;
· Kitchen, catering, and general use utility carts;
· Electronic equipment and instrumentation carts;
· Heavy duty tradie, and tool drawer trolleys; and,
· Stock picking, and line service trolleys.
And within these variations, there are also different ranges of optional features available, such as:
· Choices of flat, lipped, or tubbed shelves;
· Lockable swinging and sliding doors; and,
· Integrated tool drawers and bin boxes.
It’s also important to keep in mind that while you can buy plastic trolley and utility cart units that are designed to be exceptionally durable, the quality of the wheelsets is going to make a big difference in overall reliability. A trolley’s only as tough as its wheels, so you want to ensure that it’s properly outfitted with castors that are made for the work the unit’s expected to do.
Make Sure to Choose the Right Wheels and Castors For the Job
Trolley and cart wheels are responsible for more than just getting the unit from one point to the next. The unit’s maneuverability, suitability for specific work environments, and even the height of the shelves and handles are all determined by the type and diameter of the wheels, so you only want a plastic trolley on wheels that are suitable for the job.
That’s why when it comes to making the right wheel choices for any type of cart or plastic trolley, Australia depends on Richmond castor wheels. They specialize in superior quality rigid, and swivel castor sets for trolleys with attributes that include:
· Capacity ratings from 50kg to 250kg;
· Full nylon, poly / nylon-centred, or low resistance rubber construction; and,
· Wheel diameters from 100mm – 125mm.
Wheel brakes, directional wheel locks are also desirable features to have on trolley and utility cart wheels, especially if they’re used in environments where cargo and personnel are constantly in motion, and Richmond makes them too.
Plastic Trolleys and Carts are the Wise Choice for Businesses
Cost is everything when a business invests in its material movement equipment, and that applies to trolleys and utility carts as well. These costs, however, typically extend beyond just acquisition and maintenance. Not only do safeguards frequently need to be put in place to protect personnel and installation equipment from being struck by mishandled trolleys, but the trolleys themselves need to be protected against damage that could render them unserviceable.
The value proposition that plastic trolleys and carts offer isn’t just that they cost less to acquire: they also don’t require that their surroundings be impact-proofed against incidental contact if one is mishandled. Polymer trolleys can’t do the kind of extensive damage that metal units are capable of doing; nor are they prone to rust, corrosion, or being damaged by anything other than the most serious entanglements. In short, plastic trolleys and carts are an investment that businesses can hold onto for decades.
The Final Word
At the end of the day, businesses that invest wisely in their front tier material movement equipment know that they can expect to see it reflected in the organizational flexibility and productivity. And it’s no coincidence that as ever lighter, stronger, and more durable materials are used for that equipment, that the drop that’s achievable in life cycle costs can be substantial. Trolleys are in that category, and plastics are the key to satisfying all of their objectives.
Heavy duty polymer plastic trolleys and utility carts have all the qualities that businesses want from their corporate material movers. That’s why they’re the logical choice to make when it’s time to purchase new movement equipment.
