Product Catalog
Vulkollan Wheels — NDI Polyurethane for High Dynamic Load and Continuous Duty
Updated 2026-11
Vulkollan is not a generic polyurethane — it is a premium NDI-based (naphthalene diisocyanate) elastomer class, and the published procurement guidance is blunt about the difference: if a duty cycle runs around the clock, carries heavy payloads, or moves fast, standard TDI/MDI polyurethane chemistry is the wrong spec and a high-dynamic NDI formulation is what survives. Published reference tables put the NDI class at 92A-95A Shore A with excellent heat resistance up to about 100 °C and a very high dynamic load capacity — the top tier of the polymer wheel world, at the highest cost tier as well.
That is why the class appears where wheels earn their keep continuously: AGV and AMR drive wheels, forklifts, high-speed sorting lines, towed trains, heavy rollover duty. Our line covers Vulkollan-class wheels on cast iron and steel cores through own production and outsourcing, in the standard flat-tread and thick-tread constructions the class is published in. Published per-line reference bands span roughly 1,100-6,295 lb at 4-12 in for the standard tread and 2,350-5,000 lb at 6-10 in for the thick tread — per-line values confirmed at quotation, never merged into one family promise.
Specifications
| Type | Vulkollan-class (NDI-based) polyurethane tread wheels; flat tread and thick tread; cast iron / steel core |
|---|---|
| Chemistry class (industry reference) | NDI elastomer, 92A-95A Shore A typical, very high dynamic load capacity, heat resistance to ~100 °C published maximum |
| Reference capacity bands (manufacturer reference) | Standard tread line: 1,100-6,295 lb at 4-12 in; thick-tread line: 2,350-5,000 lb at 6-10 in — per-line bands, never merged |
| Temperature (manufacturer reference) | -40 to +180 °F continuous for the published wheel lines; the chemistry class is rated to about 100 °C (212 °F) at the elastomer level — ask which limit governs your duty |
| Duty fit (industry reference) | 24/7 operations, heavy payloads, forklifts, high-speed sorting — the published procurement guidance for when NDI replaces standard TDI/MDI PU |
| Lead time | 15–20 days (custom configurations 30–40 days) |
| MOQ | 200 pieces (standard catalog items ship in smaller quantities) |
| Warranty | 18 months |
Capacity and temperature figures above are published manufacturer line bands and industry chemistry-class references, kept separate: a wheel-line band and an elastomer-class heat limit are different claims and are not merged. Ratings for your wheel diameter, tread width and duty cycle are stated on the quotation.
Applications & Selection
What the NDI chemistry actually buys
The published chemistry comparison is the clearest way to see the class: TDI polyurethane tops out near 65 °C with low-to-medium dynamic capacity, MDI improves on both moderately, and NDI reaches about 100 °C with a very high dynamic load rating — at the highest cost. The practical consequence is heat. A wheel in continuous compression cycles builds internal heat (thermal hysteresis), and it is internal heat, not surface wear, that drives polyurethane delamination in 24/7 service. NDI-based compounds dissipate that heat and carry dynamic loads far better than standard PU, which is why published AGV procurement guidance specifies NDI for vehicles running 24/7, above roughly 500 kg per wheel, or above about 1.5 m/s.
The honest boundary comes from the same guidance: no compound is immune. High-performance polyurethanes including Vulkollan are hygroscopic — they absorb atmospheric moisture, and in high humidity that water plus internal heat can trigger hydrolysis, a chemical breakdown that weakens both the polymer and its bond to the core. Bond quality also depends on manufacturing: core surface preparation and curing discipline decide as much as chemistry. Specify chemistry class and demand the supplier core-preparation process when the duty is continuous.
Selection points to settle before you RFQ
Start with the duty cycle, not the load table alone: hours per day, speed, and stops per hour decide whether standard PU is adequate or the NDI class pays for itself. For intermittent, light-duty carts the premium is wasted; for continuous heavy duty it is the cheap option compared with delamination downtime. Bring floor conditions too — published AGV friction guidance shows required traction rises steeply with payload and speed, and wet or oily floors change the tread specification.
Then the mechanical envelope: wheel diameter and tread width against your capacity per wheel (with the divide-by-three safety practice), the core material your hub and axle arrangement needs, bearing type, and temperature at the wheel — ambient in cold storage or elevated near ovens and brakes. Humidity matters for this chemistry class: washdown or tropical-humidity service should be declared so the bond system and compound are chosen for it. Finally state the target life in hours or distance; the class exists to make life predictable under continuous load, and a quotation that does not state the duty basis is not comparable.
Our supply path is own production plus outsourcing: standard constructions ship in 15-20 days, and custom bores, treads or compounds in 30-40 days. Per-configuration ratings are confirmed at quotation; published bands above are references for class positioning, not a family promise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vulkollan just a brand name for polyurethane?
No. Vulkollan is a registered NDI-based polyurethane elastomer class, chemically distinct from the common TDI/MDI cast polyurethanes. Published comparisons rate the NDI class at 92A-95A Shore A with very high dynamic load capacity and heat resistance to about 100 °C, versus roughly 65 °C and low-to-medium dynamic capacity for TDI. The chemistry, not the trademark, is what changes duty capability — which is why procurement guidance says to specify the chemistry class required by the duty cycle, not just the word polyurethane.
When does standard polyurethane stop being good enough?
Published AGV procurement guidance gives three triggers: continuous (24/7) operation, heavy payloads above roughly 500 kg per wheel, and speeds above about 1.5 m/s. At any of those, internal heat build-up pushes standard TDI/MDI chemistry toward thermal failure and delamination, and an NDI-based compound is the specified answer. Below those thresholds, standard PU at 85A-95A remains the economical choice for intermittent carts and lighter AGVs.
What should my Vulkollan wheel RFQ include?
Duty cycle (hours/day, speed, stops), load per wheel with the safety divisor you apply, wheel diameter and tread width limits, core and bore specification, bearing type, floor and environmental conditions — explicitly including humidity, washdown or temperature extremes, since hydrolysis and heat are the class failure modes — and target life. Ask the supplier to state the compound chemistry class and the core preparation process; those two answers separate a bonded NDI wheel from a relabeled standard PU wheel.
Ordering & Documentation
Documents
Every order ships with a packing list and commercial invoice. Dimensional drawings (diameter, tread width, bore, hub length) are available on request, and the compound chemistry class for the batch is stated on the quotation so your duty-cycle calculation rests on the right numbers.
Quotation
A quotation needs: load per wheel and duty cycle, diameter and tread width, core and bore, bearing type, environment (humidity, temperature, floor), and quantity. The confirmed quotation states the rating for your configuration and the compound class behind it — published line bands are references, the quotation is the commitment.
Sample & supply
Standard constructions are produced to order with an MOQ of 200 pieces; smaller trial quantities of catalog items can ship in some sizes — ask with your RFQ. Lead time is 15-20 days standard, 30-40 days for custom bores, treads or compounds. For continuous-duty applications the usual validation is a trial set under the real vehicle for the first production interval, then a tread and bond inspection before the fleet order.
Storage & shipping
NDI-class wheels store like other polyurethane: dry cartons, away from sunlight and ozone sources, rotated in stock. Because the chemistry is hygroscopic, sealed storage in humid climates is worth the discipline. Before installation, inspect the tread-to-core bond line; any lift, blister or discoloration at the bond is flagged and replaced before the wheel enters continuous service.