Osnabrück, Germany – Räder-Vogel has worked with Huntsman’s elastomer experts to develop a new generation of anti-static polyurethane Pevotec wheels. They are made from Huntsman’s Tecnothane hot cast elastomers, and were designed for carts, trolleys, pulleys and automatically guided vehicles in industrial settings.
The build-up of static on wheels can be particularly problematic in manufacturing and production environments. Not only can the accumulation of static charge on wheels give operators a shock, it can damage any electrical components in the vehicle and cause malfunctions. The static can also attract and retain dust and other particles, posing a contamination risk in sectors such as electronics and pharma/biotech.
The new anti-static Pevotec wheels were designed to reduce the impact of all these problems. Options ranging from 55 to 97 shore hardness are available, and customised wheels are also possible to cater for specific customer needs.
Four applications are being targeted in the first instance. These include warehousing and logistics for automated guided vehicles moving thousands of products, and space-saving automated parking systems where the cars are parked using lifts. Also on the list are cleanrooms, where the wheels are used in trolleys and overhead pulleys, and lift shafts in mines where sparks could ignite coal dust.
The two companies have been collaborating for more than a quarter of a century. “Together, we have a track record for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of wheels and castors,” said Martin Schäfer, export sales director for material handling and special applications.
“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.”
