Selection of Overhead Crane Wheel Materials

The material selection of crane wheels is critical to their service life, load capacity and wear resistance. The mainstream wheel materials are introduced as below:

The most widely used material with outstanding wear resistance, toughness and high load-bearing capacity, ideal for heavy-duty working conditions.

• 65Mn: High strength and excellent wear resistance, widely adopted for heavy-load wheels.
• 42CrMo: Great toughness and fatigue strength, suitable for high-stress working scenarios.
• 45# steel: Medium carbon steel balancing toughness and hardness, applicable for general working demands.

Cast steel is perfect for wheels with complex structures and features decent impact resistance, yet inferior to forged steel in toughness. ZG55, ZG50SiMn and ZG65Mn deliver superior mechanical properties, commonly used in applications requiring high strength and impact resistance.

Designed for indoor workshops or scenarios where ground protection is required. PU coated wheels effectively reduce running noise and protect floor surfaces, but their load capacity is lower than steel wheels.

Applied to special working conditions, featuring extra high hardness and wear resistance for harsh environments.

Material selection shall be determined by actual load capacity, working environment (indoor/outdoor) and exposure to corrosive substances. Proper wheel material can greatly extend service life and cut maintenance & replacement costs.