Which Machinery Skates Have the Longest Shelf Life?

Heavy machinery is not just heavy—it’s also bulky, awkward, and sometimes delicate. That’s why if you move heavy machinery around even semi-regularly, you should have some machinery skates around your shop.

Machine moving skates and machinery rollers save you tons of heavy lifting. (Literally!) They also save you money (provided you don’t have to buy new machinery skates every time you need to move a piece of gear) because improper handling is one of the leading causes of damage to equipment.

Here are some tips on how to find moving skates that will last while protecting your investment, your body, and your machinery.

How to Find the Most Durable Machinery Skates

The first step in helping you find the best, longest-lasting machinery skates for your buck is knowing what kind of machine moving skates are out there. This will help you determine which will best suit your shop’s needs.

Utility Skates

Like the name suggests, utility skates are the most basic kind of machinery skate. Don’t let the name fool you though: Basic does not mean you can’t use utility machinery skates and rollers for a wide variety of purposes.

Utility skates:

  • Are ideal for maneuvering heavy machinery around your shop
  • Offer basic turnability, as well as the ability to easily move equipment in a straight line
  • Can handle equipment between 1.5 tons and 37.5 tons

Straight Line Skates

Straight line utility skates are an excellent choice if you won’t be doing much turning with your heavy equipment. They are even more rugged than utility skates, and each one can handle between 2.5 tons and 100 tons.

Compact Swivel Skates

Compact swivel skates are the best choice for when navigability is an issue. Although they are a little less robust than other machine rollers on the market, compact swivel skates can handle loads between 1.5 tons and 12.5 tons.

They more than make up for the weight difference with full mobility, however. Compact swivel skates feature omnidirectional turning capabilities. So, if your work area is a little tight, it’s a good idea to have one of these in your arsenal.

Choose the Right Material

Now that you know what type you’re looking for, you’ll need to decide which material will best suit your needs. Machinery skates tend to come in steel and polyurethane.

In general:

  • Steel rollers tend to be more durable and a good selection for general purposes.
  • Polyurethane rollers are for a better bet for floors that need to be protected.
  • Polyurethane machine skates distribute the load’s weight more evenly across the floor.
  • Polyurethane rollers are more stable, for additional protection.

If you move equipment around a lot, finding the best machinery skates for your particular needs is the simplest way to protect your equipment and your workers. They also make your shop function more efficiently, letting you reconfigure your space at a whim.

Looking for Machinery Skates for Your Workspace?

Our machine rollers first hit the market in 1938. We’re as committed today to helping people move equipment with ease as we were 80 years ago.

Ready to find the right rollers for your business? Check out our full line of machine rollers today!