R & K Industrial Wheels
About Our Wheels
Choose from the following selection:
RUBBER: 25-90A Shore URETHANE: 8A-85D Shore PLASTIC: 50-150 Rockwell
Durometer Chart
Tread Materials:
- R&K employs a proprietary testing machine to subject our wheels to incredibly harsh
conditions. Accelerated wear tests have helped us develop materials, components and
processing techniques that result in a longer lasting wheel. The incredible durability of
R&K wheels is due in large part to the tread materials we use. Although there are less
expensive compounds available and in wide use in the industry, R&K uses only the best
tread materials because our goal is to create wheels of truly superior quality.
Natural Rubber:
- R&K purchases the highest quality black natural rubber which has been compounded in
strict accordance with our specifications. High quality natural rubber is versatile,
durable, shock-absorbing, cut-and-tear-resistant and abrasion resistant. A quality tread
material for R&K wheels.
Gray Non-Marking Rubber
- R&K gray rubber is also a top quality compound. Gray rubber is softer, more
shock-absorbing and – most importantly – non-marking. Gray rubber will not leave
scuff marks on floors.
Balloon Rubber
- R&K Balloon Cushion wheels are offered with gray or black Balloon Rubber, a material
specially compounded according to our specs. Balloon Rubber is the most resilient and
shock-absorbing tread material. Balloon Rubber wheels will actually bounce if dropped
several feet. You can compare R&K balloon wheels to other brands by doing your own
drop tests; you’ll see that R&K wheels have much greater rebound.
Neoprene:
- R&K Neoprene rubber is another top quality tread material. Neoprene rubber has some
special properties including oil resistance, heat resistance, and ozone resistance.
Neoprene rubber also provides excellent cut/tear resistance and abrasion resistance.
Richmond Black SBR
- The Black Richmond wheel tread is synthetic rubber. This tread material offers good
durability at an affordable price and is well suited for lighter duty applications such as
hand trucks and carts.
Terminology:
Plain Bore:
- A special bore size, made to client’s specs from a solid hub. Plain bore wheels are
made to order from special castings. They are normally used as drive wheels on a solid
shaft.
Bore Less Bearing:
- Standard R&K bore size listed in the catalog. Refers to bore size without a bearing.
Normally used when the customer wishes to provide bearings or to machine a larger bore
size. Not recommended for solid shafts.
*note: Total Hub length includes bearing.
Manufacturing
R&K has its own aluminum foundry where we cast all our own wheel
cores; that way we know they meet our demanding requirements. The cores are shaped and
finished to precise specifications at R&Kís CNC Machining Centers.
Bonding wheel treads to the cores is critical; this is one area where we
have special skills. After years of improving the process, R&K has developed a tightly
controlled bonding system that guarantees long life by strengthening the critical bond
between tread and aluminum. We use only the best grades of natural rubber and urethane for
treads. The use of higher quality tread materials allows R&K to produce wheels that
have a measurably higher performance.
Finally, we test our wheels to ensure consistency. We sample wheels
through a battery of strength and durability tests on our accelerated wear simulator. Only
when weíre satisfied that our wheels meet the highest standard of quality do we ship
them.
Retreading
Recycling worn wheels is good for the environment; it also is good for
your profit and loss statement. You can extend the life of wheels very cost-effectively by
using R&Kís retreading service. We remove remaining tread and mold new urethane or
rubber treads to your wheel cores. Please contact our customer service department to
verify our ability to retread your core size. We will be happy to give you pricing
information over the phone.
Custom Wheels
R&K can modify any of the standard wheels shown in the catalog or
creat brand new wheels from scratch, using special cores. special tread configurations or
special materials. We have had years of experience with many different types of special
wheels. We also offer expertise as a contract manufacturer of custom aluminum castings,
machine work and rubber or urethane molding for-wheel-related items. Just call R&K and
give us your part specifications.
Select from one of the links below to learn more about our product line.
R&K Industrial Products Co., Inc.
1945 North 7th Street, Richmond, CA 94801
(510) 234-7212 (800) 842-7655 Fax: (510) 234-1923
Last update: June 21, 2000
Webmasters: Ingle & Mead