Too many cooks spoil the broth, or not?
A lot happens in a commercial kitchen. Hundreds of meals are prepared, carts roll between the kitchen and serving areas, and dishes need to be quickly returned to the right place. But in the middle of all this, there is one detail that is easily overlooked: the wheels underneath the carts. Because what good is a fantastic dining experience if the buzz of the restaurant is suddenly drowned out by rattling plates, or if the working environment becomes unnecessarily noisy? It doesn’t have to be that way.
When rattling disrupts the conversation
The sound of porcelain rattling on a cart can quickly disturb conversations in a restaurant. Especially when carts are moved across hard floors, joints or uneven surfaces.
With the right design and the right wheels, you can make a significant difference.
Softer wheel treads
Softer tread materials absorb vibrations more effectively and can contribute to a significantly quieter ride.
This is particularly effective on hard floors such as stone and tiles. On softer floors, such as carpets, however, a softer wheel may feel slightly heavier to push.
Larger wheels
A larger wheel rolls more easily over uneven surfaces and joints. This reduces vibrations in the cart and, consequently, the noise from both the wheels and the porcelain.
In many cases, just a few extra millimetres in wheel diameter can make a bigger difference than you might think.
Vibration-damping components
Even with the right wheels, vibrations can occur between different parts of the cart. By using vibration-damping components in the construction, shocks and vibrations can be reduced even further.
This is particularly relevant between different metal components, where small impacts can quickly turn into an irritating rattling noise.
Our sister company, Hilfa, can provide smart solutions for reducing vibrations and making the cart quieter.
Heat, water and heavy loads
Heat in the bakery. Water and cleaning in the dishwashing area. Heavy loads in the kitchen. And perhaps a hard floor on the way out to the restaurant. A commercial kitchen cart can have many different tasks throughout the day. It may transport ingredients, prepared food, porcelain or dishes and move between environments with completely different conditions.
We are happy to test your existing solution to find the best wheel for your needs and operating conditions.
By looking at the entire application – cart, load, floor, speed and environment – we can recommend a wheel solution that works in real-life conditions.
The wheels need to perform even when the kitchen is running at full speed
Commercial kitchen environments involve plenty of water, washing and cleaning. In bakeries, wheels may also be exposed to high temperatures.
The right materials and construction are therefore essential to ensure that the wheels perform reliably over time. But even the best wheel solution needs maintenance.
How to make your wheels last longer
Regular inspections and proper care can extend the service life of the wheels and reduce the need for unnecessary replacements.
Regularly check that:
- the wheels can rotate freely
- hair, dirt and food residues have not become trapped around the wheel or axle
- fittings and other components are intact
- the wheels show no signs of wear or damage
- cleaning is adapted to the wheel materials and the environment