Vulkollan Wheels from Wicke: High Performance Polyurethane Wheels for Heavy Duty Transport
Vulkollan wheels are Wicke’s high performance polyurethane wheels for heavy industrial use, combining NDIIThane/Vulkollan treads with robust wheel centres for long service life, high loads and smooth running.
Why Vulkollan Wheels Matter
When loads are heavy, routes are long, and downtime is expensive, the choice of wheel material makes a decisive difference. Vulkollan wheels combine a high performance polyurethane tread with precisely engineered wheel centres to deliver reliable, quiet and efficient in plant transport. For forklifts, driverless transport systems or heavy duty trolleys, they help keep operations moving safely while protecting floors and equipment.
What Are Vulkollan Wheels?
Vulkollan is a superior NDI-based polyurethane elastomer with excellent mechanical and dynamic load-resistance characteristics. Wicke uses this material as NDIIThane® wheel coatings and tyres, which are bonded to steel or cast-iron centres to form high-performance load, drive, and transport wheels. Since acquiring a licence to produce Vulkollan in 1983, Wicke has used this technology across a wide range of industrial wheels and castors.
Key Benefits Of Wicke Vulkollan Wheels
- Very high load capacity and dynamic resilience
Vulkollan treads withstand high static and dynamic loads, making them ideal for heavy transport applications and continuous duty. Even under long periods of static loading they recover well, maintaining shape and performance over time. - Outstanding abrasion resistance and service life
The polyurethane/Vulkollan tread provides excellent resistance to wear, cuts and tear propagation, significantly extending wheel life compared to many rubber or standard PU solutions. This reduces replacement intervals and helps lower total cost of ownership in demanding intralogistics environments. - Minimal resistance of rolling, noiseless operation and floor safety.
The Vulkollan wheels are super smooth and require little energy to start and roll, which facilitates manual and powered equipment movement. Simultaneously, they reduce noise and are not floor-unfriendly, which is an advantage when working in a sensitive workshop or warehouse floor. - Chemical and environmental resistance.
Vulkollan tyres resist many oils, greases and chemicals typically found in industrial environments, though they are sensitive to hydrolysing agents such as hot water, steam and strong acids or alcohols. For humid or demanding conditions, special polyurethane grades are available to maintain load ratings and performance.
Typical Applications For Vulkollan Wheels
Wicke produces wheels and castors for a broad spectrum of in plant transport tasks, from light equipment to heavy-duty special solutions. Vulkollan wheels are particularly suitable for:
- Electric forklift drive and load wheels, where high load capacity, good traction and long service life are crucial.
- Industrial trailers, machinery transport systems, and workshop equipment with abrasion-resistant, low-noise wheels that preserve floors.
- Automated systems and intralogistics, such as conveyor and driverless transport systems that require high-speed and duty cycles wheels that are reliable.
Example: Heavy Duty Transport Wheels
On Wicke’s heavy duty transport wheel guide, polyurethane/Vulkollan wheels are recommended where high abrasion resistance, noise damping and moderate unevenness come together, such as in workshops and production halls. In this case, the centres, made of steel or cast iron with Vulkollan treads, provide high running qualities and floor protection even when loaded.
How To Recognise Wicke Vulkollan Wheels In The Range
Within the Wicke portfolio, Vulkollan wheels typically appear as NDIIThane® or Vulkollan coated products in the load and drive wheel ranges. On individual product pages, the tyre description will state NDIIThane/Vulkollan, often with a hardness of around 92 Shore A on a cast iron or steel wheel centre.
Customers can use this material information, along with diameter, width and load ratings, to select the right wheel for their forklift, transport carriage or conveyor system.