2-Ton Caster Walking Endurance Test Machine — Dual Workstation (FH-JL18)

Two casters. One rotating disc. Up to 1,000kg per station. The full caster endurance test — to EN 12527 and GB/T 14688.

The FH-JL18 drives two casters simultaneously through circular motion on a 1,400mm diameter rotating disc, applying stacked dead weights of 35–1,000kg per station at speeds up to 17km/h. Both workstations share the disc — two casters accumulating kilometres at the same time, each under its own independently loaded weight stack. Obstacle elements (3mm or 5mm, standard or custom) introduce periodic impact loads throughout the rolling cycle. Forward and reverse operation, a 0–100°C temperature measurement channel, and a test envelope covering caster heights from 50mm to 300mm cover the full range of furniture, office equipment, and industrial caster test requirements under EN 12527, GB/T 14688, and GB/T 14687.

Quick Specs

• Standards: EN 12527, GB/T 14688, GB/T 14687

• Workstations: 2 (simultaneous, shared disc)

• Load per station: 35–1,000kg (stacked weights)

• Weight configuration: 2 × 35kg trays + 80 × 25kg weights

• Disc diameter: 1,400mm

• Rotation radius (caster axle): 515mm

• Speed: 0–17km/h (VFD adjustable)

• Direction: Forward and reverse

• Obstacle blocks: 3mm or 5mm (standard); custom height available

• Caster height range: 50–300mm

• Temperature measurement: 0–100°C (±1%)

• Drive: 11kW variable frequency motor

• Dimensions: 2040 × 2000 × 3150mm (L×W×H)

• Machine weight: ~4.6 tons (including weights)

• Power: AC 380V, 50–60Hz

 Table of Contents

1. Why Caster Endurance Testing Matters Across Furniture, Medical, and Industrial Applications

2. Overview of the FH-JL18 Test Machine

3. Standards: EN 12527, GB/T 14688, GB/T 14687

4. Three Test Modes: Dynamic, Long-Distance, and Static Load

5. Design Features of the FH-JL18

6. Technical Specifications

7. How the FH-JL18 Testing Process Works

8. Benefits for Caster Manufacturers and Testing Labs

9. Choosing the Right Caster Endurance Tester

10. Real-World Application Scenarios

11. FAQs for the FH-JL18

12. Related Testing Equipment

13. Get a Quote from Feihong Machine

Why Caster Endurance Testing Matters Across Furniture, Medical, and Industrial Applications

A caster's service environment is defined by three variables that do not appear in static load tests: the distance it travels, the speed at which it travels, and the surface irregularities it encounters along the way. A caster that supports its rated static load indefinitely can still fail within a few months of office use if its bearing cage fatigues under the constant small-amplitude oscillations of rolling, if its tread material hardens and develops flat spots from repeated contact stress cycles, or if its swivel mechanism develops excessive play from the lateral forces generated rolling over floor joints and door thresholds.

These are fatigue failure modes — not overload failures — and they emerge only after thousands of kilometers of cumulative rolling. For furniture casters on office chairs, the typical service life expectation is 100,000 to 500,000 chair movement cycles; for heavy-duty industrial casters on warehouse equipment, the expectation is millions of rolling contact cycles under full load. Neither failure mode nor service life can be predicted from static load testing alone.

EN 12527 and the corresponding Chinese standards GB/T 14688 / GB/T 14687 address this by specifying dynamic endurance test methods — driving casters under defined loads on rotating disc machines that accumulate the required distance in controlled, repeatable laboratory conditions. Obstacle elements introduce the periodic impact loads that accelerate fatigue at the bearing and tread interface, compressing years of typical service into manageable test durations.

The FH-JL18 implements these test methods for casters up to 1,000kg per station and up to 300mm in height — covering furniture casters, office chair casters, medical equipment casters, and light industrial casters in a single machine with dual workstations for parallel testing.

Overview of the FH-JL18 Test Machine

The FH-JL18 is a rotating-disc caster endurance tester with two workstations on a shared 1,400mm diameter disc. An 11kW variable-frequency drive motor rotates the disc at programmable speeds from 0 to 17km/h; both casters roll continuously on the disc surface in circular paths with a 515mm radius from the disc center to the caster axle.

Each workstation carries an independent weight stack — a 35kg tray loaded with stacked 25kg weights, configurable from the empty tray (35kg minimum) to the full stack of tray plus 80 weights per station (35kg + 80×25kg = 2,035kg per station). The two weight stacks are independent, so the two workstations can carry different loads simultaneously if the test requires it.

Obstacle elements on the disc surface introduce periodic impacts — standard 3mm or 5mm height blocks, customizable to other heights for specific standard requirements. The disc can run forward or reverse, allowing the test to apply the obstacle impact in both rolling directions.

A temperature measurement channel (0–100°C, ±1% accuracy) monitors the caster's operating temperature during the test — used to track bearing or tread heating that indicates developing friction from wear, and to verify that the test environment remains within the temperature range specified in EN 12527 and GB/T 14688.

Standards: EN 12527, GB/T 14688, GB/T 14687

EN 12527 — Castors and Wheels: Test Methods and Requirements

EN 12527 is the primary European standard for caster and wheel testing, covering:

• Dynamic load test — rolling under defined load for a defined distance or cycle count, with obstacle elements, to evaluate bearing, tread, and swivel mechanism endurance

• Static load test — application of defined static load for a defined duration to evaluate structural integrity and permanent deformation

• Braking test — where brake mechanisms are present

The standard defines specific test loads, speeds, distances, obstacle heights, and surface specifications for different caster categories. The FH-JL18's load range (35–1,000kg), speed range (0–17km/h), and obstacle specification (3mm or 5mm) cover the EN 12527 test parameters for furniture, office equipment, and general-purpose caster categories.

GB/T 14688 — Castors for Furniture: Test Methods

GB/T 14688 is China's national standard for furniture caster test methods, closely aligned with EN 12527 in structure. It specifies the rotating disc test method for dynamic endurance evaluation, with test loads, distances, and obstacle specifications for furniture caster categories. The FH-JL18 is designed to implement GB/T 14688 test protocols.

GB/T 14687 — Castors for Furniture: Requirements

GB/T 14687 specifies the performance requirements (load rating, endurance distance, temperature range) that furniture casters must meet. The test method to verify compliance is defined in GB/T 14688. Together, the two standards constitute the complete Chinese national framework for furniture caster qualification — and both are directly applicable to the FH-JL18.

Load Categories by Application

The FH-JL18's 35–1,000kg load range covers all four categories on a single machine.

Three Test Modes: Dynamic, Long-Distance, and Static Load

1. Dynamic Endurance Test

Test condition: Caster rolls under the programmed load at the set speed, with obstacle elements on the disc surface introducing periodic impacts throughout the run.

What it evaluates:

• Bearing fatigue life under dynamic rolling load

• Tread material wear rate and hardening

• Swivel mechanism play development under lateral forces

• Wheel core crack initiation from repeated impact stress

• Brake mechanism integrity (where present)

EN 12527 / GB/T 14688 specification: Defined load, speed, distance, and obstacle height per caster category. The test ends either at the specified distance (pass — caster survived) or when the caster fails to continue rolling within specification (fail — failure mechanism recorded).

Pass criteria: No fracture, no excessive permanent deformation, no wheel seizure, swivel function maintained within specified play limits, no brake mechanism failure.

2. Long-Distance Walking Test

Test condition: Caster rolls under load at the set speed for an extended distance — the same rotating disc setup, but without obstacle elements, to accumulate rolling distance that represents cumulative service life mileage.

What it evaluates:

• Rolling bearing and race wear over extended distance

• Tread material long-term durability and dimensional stability

• Swivel mechanism wear over extended service simulation

Application: Used for product life validation programs that specify a minimum distance (e.g., 100km, 500km) rather than a fixed cycle count — particularly relevant for office chair and medical equipment casters where "distance traveled" is the most relevant service life metric.

3. Static Load Test

Test condition: The disc is stationary; the full test weight is applied to the caster for a defined dwell period.

What it evaluates:

• Structural integrity of the caster bracket, mounting plate, and wheel core under sustained load

• Permanent deformation (set) of the tread material under static compression

• Swivel mechanism alignment under sustained vertical load

EN 12527 / GB/T 14688 specification: Load multiplier above rated dynamic load, defined dwell period (typically 24 hours or as specified). Pass criteria: no fracture, no permanent deformation exceeding limits, swivel mechanism function retained.

Design Features of the FH-JL18

Dual Workstation on a Single Disc — 2× Throughput

Two casters roll simultaneously on the same 1,400mm disc, each at the 515mm radius position. Both accumulate distance at the same rate, with independent weight stacks per station. For comparative testing (two caster variants under identical conditions) or for throughput (two units of the same model tested in parallel), the dual workstation design halves the test calendar time required for a defined number of tested units.

1,000kg Maximum Load — Heavy-Duty Category Coverage

With the full weight stack (35kg tray + 80×25kg weights = 2,035kg total, with 1,000kg per station for the dual station configuration), the FH-JL18 covers the highest load categories in EN 12527 and GB/T 14688 — including industrial and logistics equipment casters that most lighter furniture caster testers cannot accommodate.

2,035kg Total Weight Stack — Flexible Load Increments

The 80×25kg weight configuration allows load to be adjusted in 25kg increments from the 35kg tray-only minimum to the 2,035kg maximum. This granularity supports both the specific test loads defined in EN 12527 and custom load settings for product specifications that fall between standard category values.

0–17km/h VFD Speed Control

The 11kW variable-frequency drive motor allows speed to be set anywhere from stationary to 17km/h — covering EN 12527's specified test speeds for all caster categories and allowing accelerated testing at higher speeds (within the standard's permitted range) to shorten test duration. Forward and reverse operation allows obstacle impacts to be applied in both rolling directions, replicating the bidirectional travel pattern of real caster use.

515mm Rotation Radius

The 515mm radius from disc center to caster axle determines the path length per disc revolution: at 515mm radius, the caster travels approximately 3.24m (2π × 0.515m) per disc revolution. At 17km/h, the disc completes approximately 1,460 revolutions per hour — accumulating approximately 4.7km of caster path per hour at maximum speed.

3mm and 5mm Standard Obstacle Blocks (Custom Available)

EN 12527 specifies two obstacle heights for different test categories — the FH-JL18 is supplied with both 3mm and 5mm obstacle blocks as standard equipment. Custom obstacle heights are available for manufacturers whose products are tested to non-standard specifications or who require specific obstacle geometries for their application.

0–300mm Caster Height Accommodation

The adjustable fixture accommodates casters from 50mm to 300mm in height — covering the full range from compact furniture swivel casters (typically 50–100mm) through medium-duty casters (100–200mm) to tall industrial casters (200–300mm) without fixture replacement.

0–100°C Temperature Measurement (±1%)

A temperature measurement channel monitors the caster — specifically the wheel tread or bearing housing — at ±1% accuracy across 0–100°C. The EN 12527 and GB/T 14688 test environment temperature specifications typically require that the caster is tested within a defined ambient temperature range, and that temperature rise of the bearing during testing does not exceed a specified limit. This channel provides the data needed to verify both conditions and to detect bearing or tread overheating that indicates developing mechanical issues during long test runs.

Technical Specifications of the FH-JL18

Test Performance

Disc and Weight Configuration

Mechanical and Electrical

Standards

Why These Specifications Matter

• 515mm rotation radius is the geometry specification that determines path length per revolution and the centrifugal load component at speed. At higher speeds, the centrifugal force on the weight stack adds to the vertical load — the FH-JL18's design accounts for this at speeds up to 17km/h to maintain accurate load application throughout the speed range.

• 25kg weight increments provide the load granularity to hit the specific test loads defined in EN 12527 for each caster category — the standard specifies exact test loads, not ranges, so increment size determines how close the machine can get to the required value.

• 3mm and 5mm obstacle blocks match the two obstacle heights referenced in EN 12527 for different test protocols — having both as standard equipment means the machine is ready for any EN 12527 test configuration without additional procurement.

• 0–17km/h speed range exceeds the test speeds specified in EN 12527 for all current caster categories, providing headroom for accelerated testing at higher speeds (permitted within EN 12527 where the increased speed does not change the failure mode) and future-proofing for any standard revision that increases test speed requirements.

• 11kW VFD motor is sized to maintain constant disc speed under the dynamic load variations produced by obstacle impacts at full weight stack — important for speed accuracy during the impact events that are the highest-stress moments of the test.

How the FH-JL18 Testing Process Works

Step 1: Caster Mounting

Each caster is mounted in its workstation fixture, positioned at the 515mm radius position on the disc. The fixture is adjusted to the caster's height within the 50–300mm range and secured. The caster's swivel mechanism is oriented correctly for the test direction.

Step 2: Weight Loading

The appropriate number of 25kg weights is stacked on each 35kg tray to reach the required test load. For EN 12527 compliance tests, the load is set to the standard-specified value for the caster's category. For custom testing, the load is set to the product-specific specification.

Step 3: Obstacle Configuration

The required obstacle blocks (3mm or 5mm) are installed on the disc surface. Obstacle quantity and spacing are set per the applicable standard specification or custom test requirement.

Step 4: Speed and Test Parameter Setting

The VFD control sets the disc speed (0–17km/h). Test duration (distance in km, or time, or disc revolutions) is programmed. Temperature alarm threshold is set on the temperature measurement channel.

Step 5: Automated Test Run

The disc rotates. Both casters roll continuously, encountering obstacle elements periodically. The temperature channel monitors continuously. The test runs to the programmed distance or stops on any alarm condition.

Step 6: Post-Test Inspection

On test completion, the casters are inspected for:

• Wheel tread wear, flat spots, delamination, cracking

• Bearing function (manual rotation check for roughness or seizure)

• Swivel mechanism play (measured against the pre-test baseline)

• Bracket and mounting plate permanent deformation

• Brake mechanism function (where applicable)

Results are compared to EN 12527 or GB/T 14688 pass/fail criteria.

Benefits for Caster Manufacturers and Testing Labs

Dual Workstation for 2× Throughput

Two casters tested simultaneously — two data points per test run for comparative analysis, or double the throughput for single-model qualification. For caster development programs where multiple material or design variants must be compared, the dual workstation eliminates scheduling dependency between tests.

1,000kg Capacity Covers the Full Category Range

Most furniture-focused caster testers top out at 250–400kg per station. The FH-JL18's 1,000kg per station capacity covers heavy-duty industrial and logistics casters that would require a separate, larger machine on a lower-capacity tester.

Forward and Reverse for Bidirectional Wear Data

Real caster use involves rolling in both forward and reverse directions — swivel mechanisms encounter lateral loads from both directions; tread wear is directionally symmetric in real use. Running tests in both directions on the same machine provides bidirectional wear and fatigue data without separate test setups.

Integrated Temperature Monitoring

In-test temperature data from the bearing or tread surface documents that the test ran within the specified environmental conditions and provides early warning of developing mechanical problems (rising temperature indicates increasing friction from wear) during long test runs.

Choosing the Right Caster Endurance Tester

Disc Diameter and Rotation Radius

The rotation radius determines the distance traveled per disc revolution and the centrifugal load at speed. A smaller radius means shorter distance per revolution — the disc must turn faster for the same caster speed, which increases centrifugal effects on the weight stack at a given test speed. The FH-JL18's 515mm radius and 1,400mm disc diameter are sized to produce representative path length and speed conditions across the full 0–17km/h range.

Maximum Load per Station vs. Caster Category

Match the machine's per-station load capacity to your highest-rated caster category. If your product range extends to 500kg+ industrial casters, a machine limited to 250kg per station cannot test your full portfolio. The FH-JL18's 1,000kg per station covers all current EN 12527 load categories.

Obstacle Height Options

EN 12527 specifies obstacle heights for different test protocols. Confirm the machine supplies both 3mm and 5mm obstacles as standard (as the FH-JL18 does) rather than requiring separate procurement.

Temperature Monitoring

For laboratories running accredited test programs where environmental conditions must be documented alongside test results, an integrated temperature channel is more practical than a separate external thermometer — the channel is part of the test record, not a separate instrument to correlate.

Single vs. Dual Workstation

For high-volume qualification programs or comparative testing programs, a dual workstation machine is more capital-efficient than two single-station machines — shared disc drive, shared control system, smaller floor footprint per simultaneous test.

Real-World Application Scenarios

An office chair manufacturer preparing EN 12527 compliance testing for a new caster model mounted two units on the FH-JL18 — one at each workstation — and ran the full dynamic endurance test simultaneously at the EN 12527-specified load and obstacle height. Both casters passed the required distance, and the temperature data confirmed that bearing temperatures remained within the standard's specified range throughout.

A caster manufacturer qualifying a new tread material (transitioning from standard polyurethane to a harder compound for improved floor protection) used the dual workstation to run both materials under identical conditions simultaneously — the same disc, same speed, same load, same obstacles. The new compound showed 35% lower wear after the full test distance, but the temperature data revealed 8°C higher bearing temperature — pointing to slightly higher rolling friction that the engineers used to refine the tread hardness specification.

A testing laboratory accepting incoming casters from multiple furniture OEM clients used the FH-JL18's forward/reverse operation to apply bidirectional loading to each caster batch — running the standard forward test on one workstation and a reverse test on the other, generating a complete bidirectional wear and swivel play dataset for each supplier lot.

FAQs for the FH-JL18

What is the maximum load the FH-JL18 can test?

1,000kg per workstation — achieved with the 35kg tray plus 39 × 25kg weights per station (35 + 39×25 = 1,010kg). The total weight provided (80 × 25kg = 2,000kg plus 2 × 35kg = 70kg trays) is shared between the two stations.

How is the test load adjusted?

By adding or removing 25kg standard weights from each station's tray. Load adjusts in 25kg increments from 35kg (empty tray) to the configured maximum. Each station's weight stack is independent.

What is the path length per disc revolution?

At 515mm rotation radius, each caster travels 2π × 515mm ≈ 3,236mm (3.24m) per disc revolution. At 17km/h surface speed, this corresponds to approximately 1,460 disc revolutions per hour and approximately 4.73km of caster path per hour.

Can different loads be applied to the two workstations simultaneously?

Yes. The weight stacks on the two stations are independent — station 1 can carry 200kg while station 2 carries 500kg, for example, if the test program requires different load levels for different caster variants.

What obstacle heights are available?

3mm and 5mm as standard (both supplied with the machine). Custom heights are available on request for non-standard test specifications.

Does the temperature measurement monitor the caster or the ambient environment?

The temperature channel (0–100°C, ±1%) monitors the caster itself — specifically the bearing housing or tread surface depending on placement. It is used to detect bearing heating during the test and to document that the test temperature conditions comply with the standard specification.

What is the minimum caster height the machine accommodates?

50mm — the lower bound of the adjustable fixture range. The upper bound is 300mm.

Can the FH-JL18 test both forward and reverse directions on the same caster in a single test run?

The machine supports both forward and reverse operation, selectable from the control system. Bidirectional testing within a single continuous run requires stopping the disc, switching direction, and restarting — the test program can be designed to include both directions in sequence.

Related Testing Equipment

• Heavy-Duty Caster Static Load and Compression Test Machine — structural integrity and permanent deformation testing under sustained static loads above the dynamic endurance test load

• Caster Swivel Resistance and Starting Force Tester — measures the force required to initiate and maintain swivel rotation under load, before and after endurance testing

• Floor Surface Impact Test Machine — tests the floor surface hardness and damage threshold for different caster tread materials — the inverse test to caster wear

• Caster Brake Force Measurement Equipment — measures braking force and brake mechanism endurance for casters with integral brakes

• Scooter Dynamic Durability Testing Machine — shares the rotating disc test concept for wheeled mobility products; applicable where scooter wheel endurance is tested alongside furniture caster programs

Get a Quote from Feihong Machine

Feihong Machine (Dongguan Feihong Instrument and Equipment Co., Ltd.) designs and manufactures caster and wheel endurance testing equipment for caster manufacturers, furniture OEMs, medical equipment manufacturers, and testing laboratories worldwide.

To get started:

• Request a Quote — share your caster size range, maximum test load, target standard, and whether single or dual workstation is required

• Request Technical Datasheet — full mechanical drawings, weight configuration table, and VFD specification

• Schedule a Demo — see the FH-JL18 run a dual-workstation EN 12527 dynamic endurance test with real-time speed and temperature display

Request a Quote →