Castors are fit for purpose!

The Health and Fitness Industry has continued to grow for the last ten years, despite the economic recession in Britain. According to the Leisure Database Industry that represents the FIA (Fitness Industry Association), the research indicates a growth in the health and fitness sector. With new leisure facilities opening and membership numbers on the increase, the Health and Fitness Industry's Market value is an enormous at over £3.8 billion, with just under six thousand fitness facilities over the United Kingdom. A major part of any health and fitness centre is the equipment, and the movement of the equipment within the health suites. Fitness equipment manufacturers utilise a variety of castors and wheels and tube end fittings on each piece of equipment. Castors tend to be attached to the bases of equipment to ensure smooth maneuverability around the gym. Braked castors ensure the fitness equipment remains in position once located. Castors and wheels have become integral components of any health and fitness centre.

The preferred castors used in health and fitness centre’s vary depending upon the equipment. Usually the general rule of thumb is hard tread castors on softer floors, such as carpets and soft tread rubber wheeled castors on harder floors such as laminate and wood. Many fitness centre’s and health clubs have a variety of rooms and spaces and often the storage of equipment becomes vital as rooms are used for a variety of differing classes. For example many centre’s have maneuverable metal storage frames on castors which can relocate the fitness equipment in and out of any space. Placing equipment on castors ensures the heavy equipment can be moved with ease, without injury or damage to the staff. It also allows for quick turnaround, as often classes are back to back in fitness clubs. Any lengthy removal or set up of equipment can be costly in terms of time and money.

Not only are castors and wheels utilised in health and fitness clubs, but also in many schools and institutions. You may remember your time in the school gymnasium, with a variety of equipment, climbing frames, gymnastic equipment all on castors. Castors ensuring the equipment can be maneuvered into the correct positions, and once the class was over, repositioned as required. One popular piece of equipment fitted with castors was the climbing frame, attached to the gym wall, but with braked castors, which allowed the frame to be stretched into the school hall and secured. This popular piece of equipment is still one of the most popular features of many school halls and gyms today. Not only do the castors ensure the smooth movement of the framework, they can now be easily attached to many pieces of fitness equipment by tubular adaptors. These bolt hole castors have either a square or round tubular adaptor which can be inserted into either square or round tube. Once inserted the castors tube adaptors can expand to suit a variety of tube sizes. This ensures the castors are securely attached to the fitness and gym equipment. With the health and fitness industry showing strong growth over the last ten years, equipment manufacturers continue to take steps to support this sector, making castors fit for purpose!

Ross Handling are the UK’s leading supplier of Castors, offering a wide range of products including locking castors, silent castors and castors for use on multiple surfaces.