Which material has the longest lifespan for supermarket trolley caster wheels?

Among supermarket trolley caster materials, polyurethane (PU) generally has a longer lifespan than nylon (PA), but the difference is significantly affected by usage scenarios.

Polyurethane outperforms nylon in terms of wear resistance, aging resistance, and impact resistance. Its wear resistance is 1.5–3 times that of nylon, and it wears more slowly with frequent use. It also exhibits better aging resistance and is less susceptible to brittle cracking. Its combination of elasticity and rigidity cushions ground impacts and prevents deformation and damage.

The actual lifespan depends on the operating environment:

In dry, flat areas, PU wheels have a lifespan of approximately 2–3 years, while nylon wheels have a lifespan of approximately 1–2 years.

On damp or rough surfaces (such as in fresh produce areas and warehouses), nylon wheels are prone to moisture absorption, deformation, and accelerated wear, resulting in a lifespan of only 6–12 months. PU wheels, however, are hydrolysis-resistant and highly wear-resistant, and can still last up to 1.5–2.5 years.

In heavy-load environments (such as replenishment carts), PU wheels offer greater toughness and stress dissipation, resulting in a lifespan of up to 2–3 years, significantly longer than nylon wheels (approximately 8–15 months).

In summary, polyurethane casters have a longer overall lifespan, especially in large supermarkets and in damp, rough, or high-load environments, reducing replacement frequency and long-term maintenance costs. Nylon wheels may be an economical choice only in small supermarkets with low frequency, light loads, and good surface conditions, but their lifespan is still shorter than that of PU wheels.