Polyurethane Wheels Manufactured in Queensland

Elastomers Queensland manufactures cast polyurethane wheels for some of the most demanding applications in Australian industry. From forklift wheels operating across port terminals and distribution centres to trommel wheels running around the clock on mineral processing screens, our wheels are engineered for longevity in high-wear environments.

Unlike imported wheels or off-the-shelf products, every wheel we manufacture is cast from raw polyurethane materials in our Clontarf facility. This means we control every variable: the polyurethane formulation, the hardness, the bonding to the steel hub, and the final machined dimensions. The result is a wheel that performs to specification from first rotation and holds up across the full service life.

Why Polyurethane Outperforms Rubber for Industrial Wheels

Rubber has been the default for industrial wheels for generations, but polyurethane has overtaken it in most demanding applications. The reasons are practical and measurable.

Cast polyurethane delivers significantly higher abrasion resistance than natural or synthetic rubber — typically three to five times greater in comparable wear tests. In mining and processing environments where wheel contact surfaces are constantly exposed to rock, ore, slurry, and abrasive particulates, this translates directly into longer wheel life and less frequent replacement.

Polyurethane also offers a broader hardness range. Rubber compounds are largely limited to the 40A–70A shore hardness band. Our cast polyurethane spans 40A through 80D, allowing us to produce wheels that are genuinely soft for produce handling, through to near-rigid wheels for high-load structural applications. One material serves applications that would require multiple rubber compounds.

Oil resistance is another advantage. Polyurethane resists degradation from oils, solvents, and hydrocarbons that rapidly attack rubber compounds. For automotive workshop floors, manufacturing environments, and anywhere machine fluids are present, polyurethane wheels maintain their integrity where rubber would swell and degrade.

Finally, polyurethane wheels can be bonded directly to steel hubs using chemical bonding processes that create a mechanical and chemical interface between the urethane and the steel. This bond outperforms mechanical retention methods and keeps the wheel intact under shock loads.

Wheel Types We Manufacture

Forklift wheels are one of our highest-volume products. We manufacture both drive wheels and load wheels for a full range of forklift classes. Our forklift wheels are available in solid polyurethane (press-on) and bonded-to-rim configurations, with hardness options matched to the floor surface and load requirements of each application.

Trommel wheels run inside rotating screening drums in mineral processing plants. They operate under continuous load, constant rotation, and exposure to ore fines and water. We manufacture trommel wheels in polyurethane hardness ranges suited to the specific ore and drum diameter, with dimensional accuracy that ensures correct drum rotation without excessive vibration.

Castor wheels for industrial trolleys, hospital equipment, and warehouse material handling benefit from polyurethane's floor-protective properties and load capacity. We manufacture castor wheels from 75mm up to custom large-diameter configurations.

Custom profile wheels for specialised equipment are a core capability. If you have a drawing or a worn original wheel you need replaced, we can reverse-engineer and reproduce it. Send us the dimensions or the original part.

Re-Lining and Wheel Refurbishment

We offer a complete wheel re-lining service for worn wheels where the steel hub or rim remains serviceable. Rather than replacing the entire wheel assembly, the worn polyurethane is stripped and a new cast layer is applied and machined to specification. This approach typically costs 30–50% less than a new wheel and generates less industrial waste.

Wheels suitable for re-lining include press-on forklift wheels, bonded trommel wheels, and any configuration where the core structure is sound. Send us your worn wheels for assessment — we will advise whether re-lining is feasible and provide a quotation.