Air Skids & Air Caster Systems
Move & Position
Air Skids & Air Caster Systems
Air Skids & Air Caster Systems
Airfloat Air Skid systems allow for the safe, nearly frictionless movement of large loads or machinery. Air Caster Skids are available in sets of 4 or 6, or as single skids to design your own configuration. Our Air Caster Skids are built from premium materials that are durable, lightweight and built for years of trouble-free operation. Air Caster Skids are designed to compete – on price and performance – with systems and solutions that are far less flexible, including heavy-duty casters and rollers.
| Model No. | Capacity (LBS) | Length (IN) | Width (IN) | Height (IN) | Average Flow (CFM) | Pressure Req (PSI) | Supply Line Size (IN) | Mounting Hold Size (NPT) | Minimum Lift (IN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AF01012-4 |
12,000 |
13.25 |
13.25 |
3 |
44 |
80 |
1/2″ |
3/8″-16 |
1/4″ |
|
AF01017-4 |
25,000 |
18.5 |
18.25 |
3 |
64 |
80 |
3/4″ |
3/8″-16 |
3/8″ |
|
AF01020-4 |
33,000 |
21.5 |
21.25 |
3 |
72 |
80 |
3/4″ |
3/8″-16 |
3/8″ |
|
AF01024-4 |
50,000 |
25.75 |
25.25 |
3.5 |
88 |
80 |
3/4″ |
3/8″-16 |
3/8″ |
|
AF01030-4 |
85,000 |
31.75 |
31.5 |
3.5 |
112 |
80 |
1″ |
1/2″-13 |
3/8″ |
|
AF01036-4 |
125,000 |
37.75 |
37.5 |
4 |
140 |
80 |
1″ |
1/2″-13 |
1/2″ |
|
AF01048-4 |
210,000 |
50 |
49.5 |
5 |
188 |
80 |
1″ |
1/2″-13 |
1/2″ |
| Model No. | Capacity (LBS) | Length (IN) | Width (IN) | Height (IN) | Average Flow (CFM) | Pressure Req (PSI) | Supply Line Size (IN) | Mounting Hold Size (NPT) | Minimum Lift (IN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AF01012-6 |
18,000 |
13.25 |
13.25 |
3 |
66 |
80 |
3/4″ |
3/8″-16 |
1/4″ |
|
AF01017-6 |
37,500 |
18.5 |
18.25 |
3 |
96 |
80 |
3/4″ |
3/8″-16 |
3/8″ |
|
AF01020-6 |
49,500 |
21.5 |
21.25 |
3 |
108 |
80 |
1″ |
3/8″-16 |
3/8″ |
|
AF01024-6 |
75,000 |
25.75 |
25.25 |
3.5 |
132 |
80 |
1″ |
3/8″-16 |
3/8″ |
|
AF01030-6 |
127,500 |
31.75 |
31.5 |
3.5 |
168 |
80 |
1″ |
1/2″-13 |
3/8″ |
|
AF01036-6 |
187,500 |
37.75 |
37.5 |
4 |
210 |
80 |
1″ |
1/2″-13 |
1/2″ |
|
AF01048-6 |
315,000 |
50 |
49.5 |
5 |
282 |
80 |
1-1/4″ |
1/2″-13 |
1/2″ |
| Model No. | Capacity (LBS) | Length (IN) | Width (IN) | Height (IN) | Average Flow (CFM) | Pressure Req (PSI) | Supply Line Size (IN) | Mounting Hold Size (NPT) | Minimum Lift (IN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AF01012A-1 |
3,000 |
13.25 |
13.25 |
3 |
11 |
80 |
1/2″ |
3/8″-16 |
1/4″ |
|
AF01017A-1 |
6,250 |
18.5 |
18.25 |
3 |
16 |
80 |
3/4″ |
3/8″-16 |
3/8″ |
|
AF01020A-1 |
8,250 |
21.5 |
21.25 |
3 |
18 |
80 |
3/4″ |
3/8″-16 |
3/8″ |
|
AF01024-1 |
12,500 |
25.75 |
25.25 |
3.5 |
22 |
80 |
3/4″ |
3/8″-16 |
3/8″ |
|
AF01030-1 |
21,250 |
31.75 |
31.5 |
3.5 |
28 |
80 |
1″ |
1/2″-13 |
3/8″ |
|
AF01036-1 |
31,250 |
37.75 |
37.5 |
4 |
35 |
80 |
1″ |
1/2″-13 |
1/2″ |
|
AF01048-1 |
52,500 |
50 |
49.5 |
5 |
47 |
80 |
1″ |
1/2″-13 |
1/2″ |
| Model No. | Capacity (LBS) | Length (IN) | Width (IN) | Height (IN) | Average Flow (CFM) | Pressure Req (PSI) | Supply Line Size (IN) | Mounting Hold Size (NPT) | Minimum Lift (IN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AF01012A-1 |
3,000 |
13.25 |
13.25 |
3 |
11 |
80 |
1/2″ |
3/8″-16 |
1/4″ |
|
AF01017A-1 |
6,250 |
18.5 |
18.25 |
3 |
16 |
80 |
3/4″ |
3/8″-16 |
3/8″ |
|
AF01020A-1 |
8,250 |
21.5 |
21.25 |
3 |
18 |
80 |
3/4″ |
3/8″-16 |
3/8″ |
|
AF01024-1 |
12,500 |
25.75 |
25.25 |
3.5 |
22 |
80 |
3/4″ |
3/8″-16 |
3/8″ |
|
AF01030-1 |
21,250 |
31.75 |
31.5 |
3.5 |
28 |
80 |
1″ |
1/2″-13 |
3/8″ |
|
AF01036-1 |
31,250 |
37.75 |
37.5 |
4 |
35 |
80 |
1″ |
1/2″-13 |
1/2″ |
|
AF01048-1 |
52,500 |
50 |
49.5 |
5 |
47 |
80 |
1″ |
1/2″-13 |
1/2″ |
Move Industrial Loads With Air
features
Focus
On Quality
Our Air Caster Skids only utilize a 100% urethane diaphragm design and are built to not roll under themselves when encountering a bump or a flaw in the floor or when braking quickly. Under safe and clean conditions, these Skids can last for years of use in the field.
Easy
Maintenance
Uh oh - the unthinkable has happened. The Air Caster under your Skid has ripped due to some debris on the floor. We’ve designed our Skids to be easy to repair with slide-out trays to replace the Air Caster without removing the load - leading to minimal downtime and a quick turnaround to get back to moving heavy loads.
Evenly
Spread Load
We care about your facility floors as much as you do. With the size and capacity of our Air Caster Skids, there’s no need to worry about cutting concrete or other flooring conditions. The load is simply spread across the entire Air Caster Skids and floated on a thin film of air throughout your facility.
AIR SKIDS VIDEO LIBRARY
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How Does Air Caster Technology Work?
We exist to create material handling solutions for moving and positioning heavy and difficult to position loads with low friction, omnidirectional movement. The Air Caster is a pneumatic device that forms a lubricating film of air between the load and floor surface, similar in principle to a hovercraft or an air hockey table. We provide material handling products and solutions for heavy loads when frictionless, omnidirectional movement is critical.
Looking for a complete solution for heavy industrial moves? See how air caster skids are used in rigging applications.
Frequently asked questions
What is an Air Bearing?
An air bearing or air skid is a low friction system that uses a thin film of air to lift and float a load above a floor surface. Rather than relying on wheels, rollers, or tracks that create friction and require significant force to move, an air bearing eliminates contact between the load and the floor entirely. The result is near-zero friction, allowing a single operator to glide a load weighing tens of thousands of pounds with minimal effort. Airfloat has been engineering air bearing systems for industrial material handling for over 50 years, with applications ranging from aerospace assembly to power plant maintenance.
Will air casters work on my floor?
Many people believe a perfect floor, polished to a mirror finish, is required in order to use air caster technology. Most Airfloat equipment is designed to operate on machine-troweled concrete. However, the floor does need to be reasonably flat and level. View our flooring specifications or call 800-888-0018 today to speak with an application engineer to discuss your flooring conditions.
How Does an Air Caster System Work?
An air caster system works in three steps: inflate, float, and move. First, compressed air flows through a hose to the air caster manifold. The manifold distributes air to each air caster in the set. As the air casters inflate, they create a thin pressurized film between the load and the floor. This film supports the full load and eliminates almost all friction. Once floating, the load can be pushed, pulled, or rotated in any direction with minimal effort. When the air supply is shut off, the air casters deflate and the load settles back onto the floor. No power other than compressed air is needed, and if the air supply is lost, the load simply lowers gently to the floor.
What kind of air supply do I need to use air skids?
Air skids require a continuous supply of clean, dry compressed air at approximately 80–100 PSI. The key sizing factor is airflow (SCFM), not horsepower.
As a general rule:
- Small systems: ~30–100 SCFM
- Medium systems: ~100–200 SCFM
- Large systems: 200+ SCFM
For example, a 6-skid system with 30″ skids typically requires ~168 SCFM, which is commonly supplied by a 185 CFM diesel compressor.
Indoor applications typically use electric rotary screw compressors, while outdoor or mobile applications use towable diesel compressors. View the Complete Air Skid Sizing Guide for more information.
In what sizes are Airfloat air skids available?
Airfloat Air Skids range in size from 10 inches to 54 inches, with single-skid capacity from 500 pounds to 60,000 pounds per skid. Custom sizes are also available.
How long do air casters last?
Air casters are wear components, but when used on appropriate floors and handled properly, they can last for many years—often even decades in the right conditions.
The most common cause of damage is not the floor itself, but debris on the floor. Sharp or pointy objects can get lodged in cracks or divots, and as the air bearing passes over them, they can catch and tear the diaphragm.
To maximize lifespan, it is recommended to keep the travel path clean before making a move.
How do you get the loads on and off of the air skids?
Air skids are installed under a structure or frame that supports the load.
Common methods include:
- Using forklifts, overhead cranes, or jacks to lift and set the load onto the skids
- Building a frame with integrated skids
- Starting with a lighter structure and building up the load while already supported on the air skids
Once air is applied, the load lifts slightly and becomes movable.
Are air casters loud?
No—air skids are very quiet.
They produce a light “hiss” from the air escaping at the floor interface, but they operate well below OSHA noise thresholds. It is easy to have a normal conversation while standing next to a system in operation.
In most cases, the compressor is significantly louder than the air skids themselves.
What is the coefficient of friction for air skids?
Air skids operate on a near-frictionless air film.
A typical coefficient of friction is approximately 0.001–0.01, with ~0.008 being a common working value.
This means very large loads can be moved with relatively small force—for example, 100,000 lbs can often be moved with just a few hundred pounds of push.
What kind of floors do I need?
Floor quality is critical for performance. Air skids work best on:
- Smooth, machine-troweled concrete
- Epoxy-coated floors
- Steel plates or other non-porous surfaces
Key requirements:
- Flatness within ~1/16″–1/4″ depending on span
- Minimal cracks, joints, or abrupt changes
- Low porosity to maintain the air seal
If certain areas of the floor are not ideal (such as transitions, joints, or rough spots), there are many simple solutions—such as temporary overlays, ramps, or localized repairs—to make the surface suitable for air skids. View our flooring specifications.
How long does it take to replace an air caster if I tear one?
Air casters are designed to be quickly replaced in the field.
Typical replacement time is about 5 minutes per caster, and the load does not need to be removed. The damaged bearing can be slid out and a new one installed in its place, making the process fast and straightforward.
Can my load sit on top of the air skids while not in use?
Yes. When the air bearings are deflated, the system rests on its structural supports (typically steel on concrete). This is safe and will not damage the equipment, so loads can remain on the skids when not in use.
