This section provides an overview for tensioners as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 39 tensioner manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked tensioner companies as of November, 2024: 1.Dalton Gear Company, 2.Fenner Drives, Inc., 3.BRECOflex Co., LLC.
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A tensioner is an adjustment device used to prevent slack in drive chains and belts.
Tensioners provide constant tension to the chain or belt, preventing it from falling off, damaging peripheral parts, or deteriorating transmission efficiency due to slack.
Tensioners are used in combination with sprockets and chain guides for chains, and with pulleys for belts, to prevent resistance to rotation. They are broadly classified into two types: those that adjust the tension on a case-by-case basis and those that automatically adjust the tension to an appropriate level.
Tensioners are mainly used to adjust the tension of automobile fan belts, air conditioner belts, and timing chains.
Since fan and air conditioner belts are made of rubber, they stretch during use. If left unchecked, this can result in high-frequency noise due to belt slippage, inadequate alternator power generation due to deteriorated transmission efficiency, and insufficient cooling of the air conditioner. Providing tension with a tensioner can solve these problems.
Also, by limiting the range of motion of the tensioner, it is possible to determine the limit of belt/chain elongation when slack occurs, even after adjusting the tensioner to its maximum value.
There are two main types of belt tensioners: manual and automatic, which use hydraulic pressure or spring tension.
In the case of manual tensioners, the pulleys and gears are adjusted up or down with bolts and nuts to set the belt to the desired tension, offering the advantage of being less expensive than automatic tensioners.
In the case of automatic tensioners, the tension is continuously adjusted to an appropriate level by hydraulic pressure or spring tension. This saves maintenance time and is particularly useful for parts like timing chains that are not exposed and difficult to adjust manually.
Additionally, tensioners that incorporate a hydraulic anti-return mechanism minimize tension fluctuations caused by hydraulic pulsations.
Manual adjustment of tensioners requires careful attention to avoid noise from insufficient tension or belt breakage due to over-tensioning. In contrast, auto tensioners avoid these issues, though they are more expensive. When replacing a tensioner, often other parts like chain guides and pulleys must also be replaced. If a tensioner with an anti-return mechanism is removed during belt or chain replacement, it cannot be reused as it is stretched to the limit and will not return.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Lovejoy was founded in the 1920s and is headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois as a subsidiary of Timken. The company is an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer of couplings, universal joints, hydraulics, and vibration demeaning products serving customers located around the world in the energy, fluid power, food & beverage, and paper & steel industries. The company carries many types of couplings including grid, flexible, disc, and gear type and is the inventor of jaw type couplings.
Fenner Drives is a global manufacturer of power transmission, motion transfer, and conveying products, with its headquarters in Manheim, Pennsylvania. The company has production facilities across the United States, and its offerings include locking devices, V-belts, resistant belting and O-rings as well as maintenance tensioners, power transfer pulleys, and idlers. These offerings play a crucial role in maintaining efficient operations and facilitating the movement of materials and components within machinery and systems.
HYTORC, established in 1968, is a manufacturer based in the United States, specializing in the production of bolting systems, including pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric bolting systems. The company’s products cater to a wide range of industries, including steel mills, mining equipment, refineries, power plants, and wind turbines. With an experienced engineering team, it continues to develope solutions for every bolting application imaginable for custom projects. Its latest product line features patented industry-firsts like hands-free operation to keep tool operators at a safe distance from the application, onboard documentation systems to provide job accountability and assurance, and more.
HANNON HYDRUALICS was established in 1976 and is based in Irving, Texas as a manufacturer and repairer of hydraulic equipment. The company produces some of the world’s largest hydraulic cylinders and pneumatic cylinders, as well as other industrial and heavy-duty equipment. The products are used in various sectors, such as oil and gas, mining, marine, aerospace, and defense. It also offers reengineering, installation, servicing, and spare parts for hydraulic systems. It is an important by global OEMs, contractors, and equipment service providers for its advanced solutions and craftsmanship.
ABC Murray Sprockets, established in 1962, is a sprocket and tensioner manufacturer based in Warren, Michigan, United States. The company offers a range of shear sprockets, such as shear-pin hubs, designed to safeguard slow-speed drives from damages caused by overloads and stalls, shear pin monitors that provide warnings or shut down sprocket drives upon pin failure, and flame-cut sprockets, tailored for slow-speed power transmission and conveyor applications. The company also produces various tensioners, including Murray tensioners with screws for precise, easily-adjustable tensions and heavy-duty tensioners with spring-loaded pivot arms.
Gates Industrial Corporation began in 1911 in Denver Colorado where the company remains today, with additional headquarters in Europe and Asia. The company is a manufacturer of power transmission and fluid power solutions to customers around the world in industries such as agriculture construction, automotive, mining, and heavy-duty industrial equipment. The company’s products include CVT transmission belts, serpentine kits, hydraulic hoses, electric water pumps for electric vehicles, and rubber synchronous belts used in material handling applications.
Mädler North America was founded in 2020 as the US-based subsidiary of Mädler which was founded in Berlin, Germany in 1882. Mädler specializes in manufacturing precision-made machine parts. Product lines include linear guides, bearings, bushes, bevel gears, worm wheels, castors and wheel systems, couplings, fastening elements, clutches, gear boxes, idlers, linear bearings, locking assemblies, machine mounts, elements for pneumatic machines various joints, rubber padding and dampers, splined shafts and hubs, sprockets, timing belts, spindles, adhesives, sealants, and other assorted accessories.
BRECOflex CO., L.L.C., founded in 1989, is a manufacturer of high precision timing belts, pulleys, and accessories for the power transmission and precision mechanical component industries, headquartered in Eatontown, New Jersey. The company offers a wide range of products including timing belts, pulleys, tensioning clamps, tensioners, flat belts, and accessories. Their products are used in many industries including packaging, food processing, robotics, medical equipment, and more. Their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and experienced engineering team allow it to provide custom solutions to meet the unique needs of customers with the highest level of customer service and support.
Dalton Gear Company was formed in 1955 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company is a manufacturer of custom and standard gears related to machined parts for domestic and international customers. The company’s standard parts include overload safety devices, worm gear reducers, and drive tensioners & idler sprockets. The company’s customized manufacturing is accomplished using CNC machining with capabilities including machine centers and CNC lathes with accuracy down to 0.0005 inches, and additional operations such as grading and honing.
Allied-Locke Industries., established in Dixon, IL, in 1965 is a supplier of Agricultural Chain, Industrial Chain, Environmental Products & Sprockets. Their product portfolio includes Agricultural Roller Chain Assemblies, Aprons, Flights & Slats. Their products are used for agricultural machinery, including tractors, combines, and harvesters, and material handling for grains, seeds, and other agricultural products. The company also provides services including national distribution, product selection, installation, repair and customer and technical service.
The Timken Company (Timken) was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in North Canton, Ohio. Timken designs, manufactures, and manages engineered bearings and industrial motion products worldwide. Timken operates in two segments, Mobile Industries and Process Industries. The Mobile Industries segment’s portfolio includes bearings, seals, and lubrication devices and systems. The Process Industries segment provides industrial bearings and assemblies; industrial motion components, such as gears and gearboxes; and linear motion products, couplings, seals, lubricants, chains, belts, and related products and services to OEMs and end users in various industries.
Hersey Clutch Co. (HCC) is an American manufacturer of torque limiting and shaft coupling equipment established in 1963 and based in Orleans, Massachusetts. Under the brand Protek-Sure, the company produces various products, including rigid and flexible shaft couplings, torque limiting devices for minimizing damage to power transmissions, and process control devices for monitoring and controlling torque or shaft performance. These have applications in industrial manufacturing, food processing, medical device production, and automated packaging systems. HCC also offers contract manufacturing, product development, engineering, and fabrication services for clients in need of custom solutions.
York Industries, Inc., founded in 1946, based in Garden City Park, New York, USA, is a manufacturer and supplier of custom and standard timing pulleys, gears, gear racks, and custom assemblies. The company offers various products such as TriMix tungsten, pre-ground tungsten electrodes, tungsten electrode grinders, plasma welding torches and accessories, and replacement grinder wheels. It is a manufacturer of custom timing pulleys, gears, and gear racks. Its products are used in various applications, including the automotive, medical, and industrial machinery industries.
Cloyes Gear & Products Inc., founded in 1921, is an American manufacturer and distributor based in Fort Smith, Arkansas, specializing in the production of timing drive systems and engine components. The company developed and patented the first timing set in 1970. Since then, the company has produced various timing sets, including heavy duty, racing, and roller timing sets. It also offers a range of replacement timing drive systems and components, such as timing belts, timing belt tensioners, and timing chains.
GMB, founded in 1943 with headquarters in the USA, is a global manufacturer of OEM and aftermarket automotive parts, components, and accessories. The company's extensive product line includes car batteries, electric water pumps, fan clutches, timing belt kits with water pumps, and universal joints. GMB brand auto parts are available to consumers through a diverse range of suppliers, including Amazon, Auto Parts Warehouse, Auto Tech Warehouse, Mizumo Auto Parts, and Summit Racing. Wholesale product supply is available through AutoBarn, AutoPride, Cold Air Distributors, Fisher Auto Parts, and many more distributors.
Brewer Machine & Gear Company is a manufacturer and distributor of tensioners and accessories for industrial applications. Established in 1944, the company is based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. The company specializes in designing and manufacturing a wide range of "custom" gears and sprockets. Its product offerings include spurs, helicals, miters, bevels, and worm gears as well as timing pulleys (including HTD), sprockets tensioners, accessories, and custom solutions, serving sectors such as packaging, paper processing, and textiles. Brewer Machine & Gear Company provides services like technical consultation and product customization.
AIRMATIC was founded in Philadelphia in 1944. AIRMATIC serves a many industries including cement and concrete, oil, gas, energy, biomass, chemical products, feed & grain, food manufacturing, glass & ceramics, and clay. For these industries, AIRMATIC provides installation, maintenance, fabrication, silo cleaning, inspection, and repair, as well as repair and rebuilding of power tools. AIRMATIC also has an extensive lineup of products for sale including air cannons, automatic lubrication systems, belt conveyor components, flow detectors, finishing equipment, safety equipment, industrial vibrators, railcar openers and unloading equipment, rebar tools, valves and actuators, and mechanical force exciters.
Dunham Rubber & Belting Corp. (DRB) has been in operation since 1965 and is based in Greenwood, Indiana. DRB offers a variety of products and services, including conveyor belts and accessories, hydraulic hose and fittings, industrial hose and fittings, sanitary hose and fittings, material handling and ducting, sheet rubber and gaskets, UHMW, polycarbonate, and acrylic sheets, as well as supplies for the egg processing, brewery, distillery, and winery industries. In January of 2023, DRB was acquired by Belt Power, an independent distributor and fabricator of conveyor system components.
Hangzhou Chinabase Machinery Co., Ltd., founded in 1992 and based in Hangzhou, China, is a manufacturer specializing in an array of products, including power transmission components. Its key products encompass chains and sprockets for industrial power transmission, gearboxes to enhance torque and reduce speed, couplings for shaft connections, and gears used across industrial applications. Its products find applications in automation, conveyor technology, packaging, food, pharmaceuticals, and more. The company maintains quality and sustainability, holding certifications like ISO 9002, ISO 9001, API, ISO/TS 16949:2002, and ISO 10012 measurement management system.
GMB Corporation, established in Japan, in 1943, is a manufacturer engaged in auto parts for the global the global automotive industry. The company's product range includes engine drive systems, transmission parts, drive line components, cooling systems, and electronic water pumps. In 1976 the company established the subsidiary GMB Universal Joints Inc. in the USA. In 1988, GMB Universal Joints Inc. and GMB Universal Joints (West) Inc. merged and had a new company name - GMB North America Inc.
Miki Pulley Co., Ltd., founded in 1939, is a manufacturer and provider of solutions for power transmission and control problems, headquartered in Kawasaki City, Japan. They manufacture various products essential for all industries, including couplings for high-precision power transmission, electromagnetic clutches and brakes for power transmission when energized, and speed changers and reducers for controlling the speed of machinery. They also offer inverters, linear shaft drives, rotation speed indicators, torque limiters, and ROSTA rubber springs.
Shaoxing Zhenghong Auto Parts Co. Ltd. is an automotive bearing manufacturer based in Xinchang County, Zhejiang, China. The company specializes in automotive bearings and related components, including alternator pulleys, clutch release bearings, hydraulic clutch release bearings, and timing belt tensioners. It also manufactures wheel bearings, wheel hub assemblies, and universal joints. These products cater to the automotive industry, with notable clientele like Audi AG, Ford Motor Company, Kia Corporation, Saab Automobile AB, and Toyota Motor Corporation.
Parkburn Precision Handling Systems Limited, founded in 2002 and headquartered in Hamilton, Scotland, United Kingdom, is a manufacturer engaging in product handling systems and equipment for offshore and onshore applications. The company's product range includes general-purpose handling systems, cable lay and cable handling systems, pipe lay and pipe handling systems, as well as dive bell handling systems. The company also offers drive and control systems, launch and recovery systems, as well as naval handling and control systems. These solutions are utilized in various sectors, such as deep water lifting, naval vessels and submarines, oceanographic research, saturation diving, and seismic exploration.
Queen Jen Co., Ltd., established in 2000, is an automotive part manufacturer based in Taichung City, Taiwan. The company’s offerings include timing belt tensioner bearings for internal combustion engines, idler pulleys for belt drive performance enhancement, and alternator pulleys for overdriving prevention. The company also produces timing belt kits, each consisting of a timing belt, a tensioner bearing, and an idler pulley. These products cater to original equipment manufacturers, original design manufacturers, and the automotive industry.
NTN Corporation established in 1918, is a precision machinery manufacturer that researches, develops, and sells bearings and driveshafts (CVJs) based in Japan. Their main products, bearings are essential and precision components that support rotation of machinery. They are used in different types of machinery including automobiles, wind turbines, rolling stocks, and others to support the lives of people around the world. The group has 212 bases in 34 countries around the world (118 sales bases, 72 manufacturing bases, 15 R&D bases, and 7 other bases as of the end of March 2023).
Ruian Sundy Automotive Parts Co. Ltd., a Chinese manufacturer based in Ruian, Zhejiang, providing belt tensioners and pulleys. The company's product line include belt tensioners and pulleys for agricultural and construction machinery, as well as various trucks manufactured in the United States and Europe. These belt tensioners are the components guiding serpentine and timing belts, while the pulleys are engineered to reduce belt slippage, functioning with either mechanical (spring-loaded) or hydraulic systems. These products are tailored for applications in diesel engines.
RUD Ketten Rieger & Dietz GmbH u. Co. KG, founded in 1875 and headquartered in Aalen, Germany, is a manufacturer of chain systems and components. The company is ISO 9001, 14001, and 50001-certified, approved as an aviation company for Bundeswehr aviation devices, and stocks sling and lashing systems and conveyor technologies. As a certified military contractor for aircraft systems and equipment, the company provides lashing systems for transporting military equipment according to international standards.
Mädler GmbH, established in 1882 and headquartered in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, is a manufacturer of industrial machinery that specializes in drive-train components. The company offers a wide range of products, including clutches and safety couplings, ball bearings, bevel gears, and hinges. It also offers a wide range of services related to power transmission elements and standard parts. Its coupling has reduced wear of the elastomer components, which increases the lifespan of the coupling. The company's quality management is certified according to DIN 9001:2015. Its products are used in various industries such as automation, robotics, automotive, medical, and FnB.
Hydratight, founded in the UK in 1901, is a supplier of bolted joint solutions. The company offers extensive engineering services including torque and tension bolting equipment, Pipe cutting, bevelling, milling, boring, grinding and end-prepping, in-place heat treating, valve testing and leak sealing product sales, rental, and technical support. It serves industries such as industrial manufacturing, oil and gas, and power plant maintenance and also provides training and software development of the services.
Motorcraft, founded in St Muncie, IN, is a manufacturer of Household Appliances and Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment. The company's product portfolio includes Air Conditioners, Alternators, Batteries, Starting and Charging and Belts & Hoses. Their products are used in industries such as Food and Beverage, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology, Chemical and Petrochemical, Environmental Testing and healthcare. The company also provides services including national distribution, product selection, installation, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, repair and customer service.
Tritoric Inc. (Tritorc Equipments Pvt. Ltd.), founded in 1994, is a manufacturer based in Texas, United States and Maharashtra, India, providing pipeline solutions. The company's product lineup includes controlled bolting solutions, such as hydraulic bolt tensioners and torque wrenches, as well as bolting accessories like impact sockets. The company also offers a range of in-situ machines, such as flange facing machine, pipe cold cutting machines, and beveling machines, along with various tube tools.
Mubea, also known as Muhr und Bender, was established in 1916, is a manufacturer of automobile products based in Germany. The company specializes in high-strength spring components and related products, and has evolved into a major automotive supplier with its products for chassis, car body, and powertrain, and innovative solutions for lighter vehicles. It develops new products that set international standards and works closely with customers and scientific institutions. With more than 14,000 employees at 50 locations in 18 countries, it operates as an owner-operated family company and has recently expanded its global presence to respond to its customers worldwide.
U.S. Tsubaki Power Transmission LLC., founded in 1971 and based in Wheeling, Illinois, is a manufacturer and supplier of motion control and power transmission products and is ISO 9001 certified. Its products include sprockets, conveyor chains, and roller chains used in several industries, including automotive, primary metals, and forest products. It’s a subsidiary of the Tsubakimoto Chain Company, and it has several manufacturing facilities in the United States, including Milwaukee (WI), Sandusky (OH), and Chicopee (MA). The company sells its products through distribution channels but can sell directly to qualified OEMs.
MiMotion was founded in 1946 in Birmingham, Alabama and today operates under Genuine Parts Company. The company operates as a distributor and supplier of custom parts for both maintenance repair and operating replacement part market and the OEM market. The company’s product line includes many types of products including abrasives, chemicals & lubricants, hand & power tools, hose & fittings, and process pumps & equipment. The company also provides maintenance repair and operating replacement parts as well as OEM parts ensuring compatibility with existing customer operations.
Wenzhou Tinafor Automobile Bearing Stock CO., LTD., founded in 2007, based in Wenzhou, China, is a supplier of belt tensioner and clutch release bearing. The company sells a range of components, including clutch release bearings, central slave cylinders, timing belt tensors, belt tensor pulleys, and belt tensors. The products are made to offer customers in the aerospace, defense, marine, food, and power industries quality, dependable, and environmentally friendly solutions. Additionally, the business provides system solutions, digital printing, graphic design, and engineering support as customer services.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Dalton Gear Company |
7.1%
|
2 | Fenner Drives, Inc. |
5.8%
|
3 | BRECOflex Co., LLC |
4.5%
|
4 | HYTORC |
4.5%
|
5 | TIMKEN |
4.5%
|
6 | HANNON HYDRUALICS |
3.9%
|
7 | Lovejoy, Inc. |
3.9%
|
8 | ABC Murray Sprockets |
3.2%
|
9 | Cloyes |
3.2%
|
10 | Allied-Locke Industries |
3.2%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the tensioner page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 21 | 70.0% |
Japan | 4 | 13.3% |
China | 3 | 10.0% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 3.3% |
Taiwan | 1 | 3.3% |
16 products are listed.
Japan Pralad Co., Ltd.
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■ Ultra -high pressure hydraulic pump. Maximum pressure 70MPa ~ 280MPa (700-2800BAR) It is an ultra -high -pressure pump of bolt tensioner and hydr...
Japan Pralad Co., Ltd.
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■ Ultra -high -pressure air hydraulic pump 100MPa ~ 300MPa specification The air hydraulic pump for the bolt tension can be connected to the bolt t...
Japan Pralad Co., Ltd.
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High -precision axial force management, bolt is concluded simultaneously and uniformly. ■ Multiple units are connected and simultaneous tightening...