What Weight Platform Trolley Do I Need? 100kg to 2000kg

The versatile platform trolley is characterised by its flat surface that supports goods in transition. They come in all shapes and sizes, with weight-bearing capacities typically ranging from 100kg to 2000kg. 

Platform trolleys play an integral role across a broad range of industries, used across retail, warehouse and logistics, manufacturing and construction environments, among others, to streamline operations and help users safely manoeuvre heavy loads. 

When purchasing an industrial platform cart or trolley for a specific purpose or application, choosing the right type and weight is crucial. In this blog, we’ll explore how to find the right weight trolley for your needs and other important considerations when selecting the right platform trolley.

Trolley sizes and load capacity

When establishing the load capacity you need, you first need to calculate the trolley’s safe working load (SWL) or working load limit (WLL). This essentially refers to the maximum load your trolley must carry, including the weight of the trolley itself.

To help you get a feel for the trolley weight you need, we’ve shared a breakdown of the different trolleys we stock at BlueTrolley, and what they’re typically used for. 

• Platform trolley 100kg - A small board trolley or panel dolly used to transport boards or panels up to 100kg in weight. 

• Platform trolley 150kg - A 150kg platform trolley is suitable for relatively light-duty applications. A manual scissor lift trolley, for example, can be used to lift and move loads of up to 150kg in various environments, from manufacturing and publishing to distribution and warehouse.

• Platform trolley 200kg - Our small scissor lift table handles similar tasks and slightly heavier loads of up to 200kg.

• Platform trolley 300kg - A cash and carry trolley, suitable for moving large items around cash and carry or DIY stores, factories and warehouses.

• Platform trolley 400kg - A glass, granite and stone slab buggy to transport large, flat and fragile materials up to 400kg.

• Platform trolley 500kg - We stock a wide range of flatbed trolleys that can hold up to 500kg, from our mini hand pallet truck, designed to manoeuvre small pallets, to our garden mesh platform trolley for garden use and festivals.

• Platform trolley 1000kg - A 1000 kg platform trolley is suitable for a wide range of heavy-duty applications. Our large turntable platform truck is perfect for transporting large, bulky items, while our mini turntable platform truck 1000kg capacity is small but mighty, capable of transporting small, heavy items through smaller spaces in stock rooms and warehouses. 

• Platform trolley 2000kg - Our large turntable platform truck is the heaviest-duty turntable truck in our range, making light work of heavy machine parts and transportation around oil rigs, steelworks, and automotive environments. 

Material choice 

A platform or manual handling trolley can come in a range of materials, from steel and aluminium to more lightweight materials like plywood and plastic. However, the majority of BlueTrolley trucks and trolleys are manufactured with steel. For heavy-duty applications, a steel platform trolley guarantees strength, durability, robustness and longevity.

Wheel specifications 

When choosing the right heavy duty platform trolley for your needs, you also need to consider wheels and castors. These too come in a broad range of shapes, sizes and weight-bearing capacities. Consider: 

• The surface the trolley will be used on - The wheel material should be able to glide easily across the surface, without putting users at risk.

• The materials you’re transporting - If you’re manoeuvring fragile materials like glass or granite, for example, you need to cushion the load from any bumps or impact the trolley may encounter in transition. Heavy-duty puncture-proof rubber castor wheels are often used for this purpose.

• Weight - Work out the maximum total weight your castors need to support. We use a handy equation for this - explained along with other key trolley castor considerations in this blog.

Safety features

In the search for your perfect industrial transport cart or warehouse trolley with wheels, you also need to consider what safety features you need to keep the load safe in transport and ensure users can operate the trolley safely and effectively. 

These include:

• Brakes to keep the trolley still and secure when not in transition

• Sides or frames to help support the load

• Non-slip surfaces to support materials, like plywood

• Strong, ergonomic handles for safe and comfortable operation

Finding the ideal platform trolley for your needs

Whether you’re looking for a flatbed trolley for heavy loads, a loading trolley for warehouse use, a durable cargo trolley, or something more light-duty or niche, at BlueTrolley we stock a huge range of materials handling equipment. 

Every one of our trucks and trolleys is  designed and manufactured in the UK, which allows us to guarantee quality and offer short lead times. We also take bespoke orders, customising our trucks and trolleys to your exact specifications.  

To discuss your platform trolley requirements, or seek advice from our expert team, get in touch today - we’re always happy to help.