This section provides an overview for conveyor chains as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 43 conveyor chain manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked conveyor chain companies as of November, 2024: 1.West River Conveyors, 2.Rexnord, 3.Renold Jeffrey.
Table of Contents
A conveyor chain is a critical component in conveyors, particularly those used in chain-type conveyors on production lines. Designed to meet high specifications for temperature tolerance, weight transfer, and durability, it operates in challenging conditions where belt conveyors are not suitable. Conveyor chains engage with gear-shaped parts called sprockets to facilitate the transportation of products.
Conveyor chains are essential in environments requiring high load capacity, durability, and resistance to high temperatures, surpassing the capabilities of belt conveyors. Examples include:
Used in machining centers for storing and transporting specific tools to the spindle for exchange.
Employed in waste incineration facilities to transport materials into incinerators, requiring chains with high wear resistance due to the harsh conditions.
Operating on the same principle as roller chains, conveyor chains consist of short plates connected by pins, with rollers engaging sprockets to drive the chain. Smooth operation is ensured by a bush between the pin and roller, acting as a sliding bearing to absorb the load during sliding motions.
The structure of a conveyor chain includes:
Plates are subjected to tension from sprocket rotation, designed for toughness and resistance to fatigue from impact loads.
Pins support the load when the chain bends, requiring high shear and wear resistance.
Bushes absorb impacts between the chain and sprocket, necessitating toughness and wear resistance.
Rollers mitigate impacts with the sprocket, demanding resistance to impact and abrasion.
Conveyor chains are categorized by their shape into several types:
The standard conveyor chain type, with rollers larger in diameter than the plate width, offering high versatility for various conveyors.
An R roller type with a flange to prevent lateral vibration, suitable for smooth, inclined, and specific product conveyors.
Distinguished by roller diameter sizes and pin diameter, these types are designed for specific applications like bucket elevators and flow conveyors, with a focus on shock and wear reduction.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Rexnord, is a Regal Rexnord Brand, founded in 1948, and is a manufacturer of industrial lead products for the toughest applications. The products include bearings, conveying solutions, couplings, gears, industrial chains, and PT drive components. Smart solutions include smart condition monitoring systems, smart tags, and digital productivity platforms for use in aerospace, mining, beverage & food, energy, and marine markets. The Milwauke, Wi company offers services such as coupling re-certification, gap walk, gearbox repair & upgrade, custom gears & drives, and installation & rebuild services.
Renold Jeffrey, founded in 1887 and based in Morristown, Tennessee, is a chain designer and manufacturer and the oldest chain company in the U.S. In 1987, the company became the first chain company to obtain BS:5750, which later became ISO:9002. Later, in 2000, Renold acquired Jeffrey Chain Corp, broadening its line of chains. Some of its products include tooth chains, asphalt chains, dairy case chains, chain pin extractors, and sprockets. The company’s chains can serve various industries, including transportation, mining, material handling, manufactured products, and construction machinery.
Wisconsin Oven Corporation has operated since 1973 and is located in East Troy, Wisconsin. Wisconsin Oven designs, engineers, and manufactures industrial ovens and other heating equipment for numerous applications including heat treating, powder coating, paper pulp drying, finishing, drying, and curing in the aerospace, automotive, composite, energy, finishing, foundry, heat treating, annealing, military, and pharmaceutical industries. Types of ovens and equipment include custom and standard batch ovens, conveyor ovens, pollution control equipment, and walk-in ovens.
West River Conveyors & Machinery Co. is the manufacturer and supplier of conveyor systems and related equipment since 1981 and is based in Oakwood, Virginia. The company designs and constructs a wide range of conveyor systems and components. Their product line includes belt conveyors, overland conveyors, underground conveyors, and terminal equipment such as drives, take-ups, and pulleys. The company serves industries that require efficient material handling solutions and transport of bulk materials such as coal, ore, aggregates, and other resources. These industries include mining, construction, power generation, tunneling, and processing plants.
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.
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.
Roth Manufacturing, founded in 1956 and based in Loyal, Wisconsin, is a manufacturer of fabricated farm equipment. The company’s primary products include manure spreaders, hay bale elevators, calf hutches, gutter grates, and conveyor chains. These products find applications in crop production, primary and secondary tillage of the soil, and fertilizer distribution. The company is certified under ISO 9001, maintaining quality management systems. The company also provides online services to meet its customers’ needs.
Span Tech LLC., founded in 1988 and based in Glasgow, Kentucky, is a manufacturer of plastic chain conveyors that are capable of vertical, horizontal, and helical bends. The company stocks several types of conveyors like helical, wedge, and twist conveyors, and it also sells the accompanying components like drives, support structures, and chains. It serves industries like food production, manufacturing, and packaging and also offers services that include breakdown repairs, regular conveyor inspections, and service training. The company has its university with training programs to teach users about its conveyor systems.
PEER Chain, founded in Waukegan, Illinois, in 1969 is a manufacturer of Industrial Roller Chains. The company's product portfolio includes Standard Roller Chains, ANSI Standard Roller Chains, Multi-Strand Roller Chains, Quest Solid Bushing Standard Roller Chains and C-Type Standard Roller Chains. The company serves markets including Medical and Healthcare, Aerospace and Defense, Consumer Goods, Industrial Manufacturing and Construction and Building. The company also provides services including national distribution, product selection, customized services, technical support and customer service.
Ramsey Products, also known as Ramsey Silent Chain, established in 1923 and based in Belmont, North Carolina, is a manufacturer and supplier of silent chain drives. Its product line includes silent chains utilized for power transmission, glass conveying chains specifically designed for the glass industry, and wear-protected chains. It also specializes in custom manufacturing chains, and produces complete drive systems, pre-assembled and ready for installation. It maintains a global network of distributors, representatives, and warehouses, extending its reach across various regions worldwide.
LubriSource, Inc. is an American ISO 9001 certified manufacturer of automated lubrication systems and industrial lubrication equipment that was founded in 2001. Based in Middletown, Ohio, the company produces a wide range of lubrication systems and equipment including dye and part spray systems, filtration and desiccant breathers, pumps, and injectors. They are also an authorized dealer of Lincoln Industrial, Graco, Alemite, and Bijur Delimon brand products. LubriSource provides support services such as installation, maintenance, and centralized system design for customer projects. The company primarily serves clients in the pulp and paper, robotics, steel, and chemical manufacturing sectors.
The Conveyor Guys was established in 1988 and is headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts. The company is a designer and manufacturer of industrial conveyor systems for 3PL, warehousing, and retail customers across most of the United States including Amazon, Staples, and Verizon. The company’s 3 product lines are Conveyors, Material Handling, and Parts. The company offers services encompassing all facets of use including design, installation, service, repair, expansion, and reconfiguration of conveyors and machine handling equipment.
Bearings Industrial Supply Company, Inc (BIS) was founded in 1982 in Addison, Illinois. The company is a supplier and distributor of bearings, seals, belts, power transmission parts, and a variety of other industrial supplies to small and large customers such as Boeing and Toyota. The company isources from manufactureres such as Emerson, KOYO, Tsubaki, NTN, and Timken. The company's offerings include numerous types of bearings, many varieties of seals, several different belts, AC and DC motors, and power transmission components.
National Element, Inc., founded in 1960 and headquartered in Brighton, United States, is a designer, manufacturer, and distributor of heating elements for various sectors. The company offers a diverse range of electric heating elements, including resistance wires, coil heaters, tubular heaters, radiant heaters, and flexible heaters with customized solutions. These elements are precision-manufactured with advanced materials to ensure superior performance and energy efficiency. The products are designed to provide rapid heat-up times, precise temperature control, and heat distribution, making them ideal for various industrial heating processes.
W.C. DuComb Company was founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan, where it still operates. W.C. DuComb Company is a stocking distributor of bearings, popwer transmission, and. Linear motion products, electric motors, and VS drives. W.C. DuComb Company serves industries such as conveyor and machinery OEMs, industrial processors, machine rebuilders, wastewater, sand & gravel, tool & die, steel, metals, and scrap. W.C. DuComb Company product offering lines include accessories, bearings, belts, belting, electrical, linear motion, lubricants & sealants, power transmission, and sealing solutions.
Global Bearings Import (GBI), based in Austell, Georgia, provides quality bearings and related products in the power transmission industry. Established in 1977, GBI offers ball bearings often used in aerospace, roller bearings, seals, and various other power transmission components. As part of an integrated family of companies under KS Supplies, GBI boasts exceptional customer service, technical expertise, and competitive pricing, making it a trusted partner for businesses seeking reliable and efficient solutions for their bearings needs.
Emerson Bearing is based in Boston, Massachusetts and serves both domestic and international customers of industries ranging from mining to machine tools to power generation to wood products to wastewater treatment to robotics and more with bearings and casters. Emerson Bearing’s product list includes adhesives, sealants, ball bearing, roller bearing, mounted nut bearings, linear motion bearings, rod ends, belts, sheaves, chains, sprockets, couplings, clutches, brakes, locknuts, washers, lubricants, pullers, tools, retaining rings, seals, and shaft collars.
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.
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.
Accent Bearings Co. Inc. was established in 1993 and is a distributor for industrial bearings. Accent Bearings offers a full range of bearing-related parts including ball, cylindrical, radial, thrust, and standard, as well as CAM followers, rod ends, belts, sheaves, busings, bronze busings, bar stock, pulleys, chains, sprockets, gears, speed reducers, motors, clutches, brakes, couplings, shafts, shaft accessories, oil seals, gauges, retaining rings, air cylindeers, conveyor belts, and fluid power process control equipment.
Nitro Chain, LLC, introduced in 2014, is a power transference supplier specializing in Made To Order products for OEMs & resellers, such as specialty chains, custom-manufactured sprockets, and attachment roller chains. The roller chain categories are ANSI, metric, conveyor, corrosion-resistant, and application-specific chains made from plastic, stainless steel, and plated nickel. The products are used in agricultural, food & beverage, lumber, and material handling industries. The company is located in Belgium, WI, and is ISO 9001: 2015 and IATF 16949:2016 certified with custom product services.
USA Roller Chain & Sprockets, founded in Winter Garden, Florida, in 1931 is a supplier of industrial chains, sprockets, bearings, motors, and reducers. The company's product portfolio includes Roller Chain Breakers, Roller Chain Pullers, Roller Chain Tensioners, Roller Chain Lubricant, and Hollow Pin Roller Chain. The company serves markets including Medical and Healthcare, Aerospace and Defense, Consumer Goods, Industrial Manufacturing and Construction and Building. The company also provides services including national distribution, product selection, troubleshooting, repair and customer service.
SKF UK is the British division of SKF, originally founded in 1907 and headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. SKF designs, develops, and manufacturers bearings, seals, lubrication systems, and services worldwide, with industrial and automotive segments, providing solutions for industries including aerospace, agriculture, transportation, food and beverage, general machinery, material handling, mining, energy, paper, and wind energy. SKF UK offers rolling bearings, mounted bearings, automotive seals, lubrication management, vehicle aftermarket services, waste electric products, and electronic equipment products as well as services including maintenance, remanufacturing, customization, and training.
KettenWulf Betriebs GmbH, founded in 1925 with headquarters in Eslohe-Kückelheim, Germany, is a manufacturer of conveyor chains, drive chains, and sprockets. The company's product line includes custom special conveyor and transport chains, custom drive chains for agricultural machinery, and a diverse range of gear sprockets, such as divided sprockets and pinion sprockets. The company also offers a range of custom assemblies that include fully assembled drive shaft units and double-strand chains with fitted conveyor cells or support plates. The company serves various markets, including agriculture, industrial equipment and machinery, material handling, and mining.
Peter Prinzing GmbH, founded in Germany in 1910, is a medium-sized manufacturer of industrial safety products. The company produces various products, including manure scrapers, rounding machines, flanging machines, and sheet metal working machines that allow customers to round, cut, bead, flange, and fold sheet metal. Its services include dung removal systems for transporting solid manure and slurry for cattle, pig, hen, and horse stables and subcontracting services for clients in the agricultural and industrial sectors.
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.
Renold, established in 1947, and based in Manchester, UK, is a manufacturer and supplier of industrial chains, gearboxes, and couplings. Their product portfolio includes tooth chains, transmission drive chains, gear and gearboxes, couplings, conveyor chains, leaf chains, sprockets, and accessories. The company offers the latest innovation with high precision-engineered power transmission products. The products are used in various industries which include agriculture, construction, energy, environment, food and drink, transportation, and machinery.
YT Conveyor, founded in 1989 with headquarters in China, is a manufacturer of elevator and conveyor components for handling bulk materials. The company's products include bucket elevator components, drag scraper conveyor chain components, belt conveyor components, sieve pan cleaners, and proximity sensors. YT Conveyor's equipment and components are used in various industries, including agriculture, mining, food processing, and consumer manufacturing. The company provides custom manufacturing and has completed projects that include rubber conveyor belts, nylon chain rollers, and nylon feed screw design and production.
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.
Renold Canada Ltd. is based in LaSalle, Quebec, Canada, and is a manufacturer of power transmission products established in 1920 as a subsidiary of Britain's Renold Plc. The company specializes in designing and manufacturing a wide range of parts used for power transmissions. These include engineering chains, helical gears, and couplings used for vibration damping. The company also offers equipment for material handling or material separation, and customization options for skids and modules. It serves clients in the oil and gas, mining, and renewable energy sectors.
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.
Wetland Equipment Company, founded in 1940 and based in Thibodaux, Louisiana, is a manufacturer of amphibious excavators and marsh buggies. The company specializes in producing equipment for wetlands and swampy terrains. Its products find applications in the transportation of personnel or equipment, dredging, clearing right of way, improving drainage, swamp marsh or wet terrain construction, and pond and river restoration. The company serves industries such as construction, oil and gas, and environmental services.
Hale Brothers Inc, established in 1893, and based in San Francisco, USA, is a manufacturer and supplier of jack & ladder chains. Their product portfolio includes a diverse range of customized jack chains, miniature chains, proof coils, stainless steel chains, ladder sprocket chains, and OEM applications. The company also offers diverse range of chain services, link specifications, and tooth configuration. The products are used in various industrial applications for conveyor belts and chain solutions.
Senqcia Corporation, founded in 1972 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer and distributor specializing in building structural components. Its product portfolio includes pioneering raised floor systems, developed with advanced technology since the 1960s, providing free-access flooring solutions. It also offers structural products like HIBASE and HIRING, along with dampers, crucial devices for mitigating oscillatory or vibratory motions. The company's solutions play an essential role in ensuring safety and security in building structures, whether in underground foundations, steel frames, or under floorings.
YUH CHERN MFG. CO., LTD., established in Taiwan, is a manufacturer and supplier of precision metal parts and components founded in 1979. The company specializes in producing CNC machined parts, including precision turned and milled components, such as conveyor chains, trailer and forging parts, drop forged rivetless chain, enclosed track conveyor chain and zinc die casting. It serves diverse industries, from automotive and aerospace to electronics and manufacturing through precision metal parts and systems that are used in various applications, ensuring quality and reliability.
Tsubaki of Canada was founded in 1973 as a Canadian subsidiary of Tsubakimoto Chain Company, originally founded in Japan in 1917. The company is a producer and distributor of precision roller chains and other power transmission products to industries including food & beverage, aggregate & cement, automotive, forestry, and primary metals. The company’s primary product lines are roller & engineering class chains, sprockets, cable & hose carriers, PT components, and backstops & clutches. The company also offers advanced customer service including chain, sprocket, and system analysis, optimization, maintenance, and training.
P.T. International, also known as PTI, was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. PTI is a distributor of European metric and American standard industrial power transmission products, serving the food/beverage, wood products, steel, automotive, and other industries. PTI’s 3 product segments are bearings, power transmission components, and linear products. PTI also offers value-added services including bearing forensics, private branding & custom labeling, custom projects, and new product designing. PTI is ISO 9001 certified.
SERVICE COMPANY was founded in the 1930s in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Today BEARING is a manufacturer and national distributor of bearings and power transmission parts and components. BEARING offers services such as field service inspections, damage analysis, surveys, reverse engineering, repair, part identification, and selection. BEARING parts include seals, gaskets, accessories, couplings, electric motors, gearboxes & gearing, chains, sprockets, belts, sheaves, material handling equipment, linear motion equipment, lubrication, and, naturally, many varieties of bearings.
Tri-State Bearing Company was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Evansville, Indiana. The company is an independently owned and operated distributor of a full line of bearings, mechanical power transmission, and motion control products to customers across North America in the agricultural, automotive, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical industries. The company has several product lines such as chains & sprockets, clutches & breaks, and couplings in addition to its namesake of bearings. The company also offers services such as custom-length modifications of certain components such as roller chains, electronic repair of drivers and controllers, and on-site gearbox assembly.
Green Rubber Kennedy Ag (GRKA) is the merger of two companies, both born in California’s Salinas Valley in 1990. The company has several distribution segments including Food Processing, Transportation & Baggage Handling, Wine and Brewing, Recycling, and Mining, Sand, and Gravel. The company excels in conveyor belt and related materials and also offers abrasion control products, sheet products & rubber goods, safety and sanitation products, industrial hose and assemblies, as well as offering specialized services.
Bearing Distributors and Bearing Distributors & Drives have been family owned and operated since 1953 and are headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina. Bearing Distributors is a distributor of bearings, power transmission components, electric motors, and other parts from companies such as ABB, Bondhus, and American Pulley. The company has additional product segments including Industrial HVAC, Material Handling, Power Transmission Equipment, and Tools. The company offers services including branch inventory, plant surveys, vendor-managed inventory, onsite factory training, and repair services.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | West River Conveyors |
6.3%
|
2 | Rexnord |
5.6%
|
3 | Renold Jeffrey |
5.3%
|
4 | Wisconsin Oven Corporation |
5.3%
|
5 | PEER Chain |
4.2%
|
6 | TIMKEN |
4.2%
|
7 | HANGZHOU CHINABASE MACHINERY CO., LTD. |
3.9%
|
8 | Ramsey Products |
3.5%
|
9 | Roth Manufacturing |
3.5%
|
10 | Iwis |
3.2%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the conveyor chain 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 | 23 | 71.9% |
Germany | 2 | 6.3% |
China | 2 | 6.3% |
Sweden | 1 | 3.1% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 3.1% |
Japan | 1 | 3.1% |
Taiwan | 1 | 3.1% |
Canada | 1 | 3.1% |