This section provides an overview for roller chains as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 27 roller chain manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked roller chain companies as of November, 2024: 1.Drives, 2.PEER Chain, 3.Renold Jeffrey.
Table of Contents
A roller chain is a crucial component used to transmit mechanical power. It typically operates in conjunction with sprockets, featuring rollers that engage with each sprocket's teeth, enabling smooth and efficient power transmission without slippage.
Thanks to their flexibility in shaft distance configuration, roller chains find applications across various industries, from manufacturing to transportation.
Roller chains are versatile, used for transmitting power across shafts or for moving objects via attachments. Examples include driving conveyor belts, bicycle transmissions, conveyor-belt sushi systems, and chain saws with attached blades.
Constructed from interconnected rollers and plates, roller chains feature a pitch that defines the distance between rollers. They are designed to handle significant power transmissions and can be configured in multi-row setups for increased capacity.
Proper slack and lubrication are vital for their operation, with self-lubricating, maintenance-free models available for specific environments.
Roller chains consist of inner and outer links made up of plates, bushings, rollers, and pins, designed to bear loads, resist wear, and ensure durability.
Distinguished into strong chains for heavy-duty applications and environment-resistant chains suitable for challenging conditions.
Special coatings and materials like stainless steel or nickel plating enhance their resistance to specific environmental challenges.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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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.
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.
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.
Atlanta Drive Systems, founded in 1943 and located in Farmingdale, New Jersey, is a supplier of drive systems. The company’s broad range of products includes gear racks, pinion ears, servo reducers, linear actuators, and washdown gearboxes. These products play a fundamental role in automation and robotics for precise and controlled movement, industrial machinery for applications like material handling and manufacturing, motion control for regulating speed and torque, linear motion systems for accurate positioning, and the food and beverage industry. The company’s products are used to enable precise movement, control, and efficiency in mechanical and automated systems across diverse sectors.
E.C. Tool & Supply Co., founded in 1962 and headquartered in Texas, USA, is a manufacturer and supplier of drilling equipment. The company caters to contractors across the United States and internationally, providing drilling equipment, supplies, and repairs. Its product range includes oilfield drilling equipment, drilling rig packages, and related components, with a particular attention on servicing duplex pumps and small to mid-sized drilling rigs. Additionally, E.C. Tool & Supply Co. offers custom fabrication services tailored to specific needs, including vacuum tractors and winch trucks.
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.
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.
Katayama Chain, Co., Ltd., established in 1958 and located in Higashi-Osaka-shi, Osaka, is a manufacturer of power transmission equipment and transport equipment. Their comprehensive product range includes chains, gears, shaft couplings, and roller conveyors. These products are engineered to deliver efficient power transmission in various industries, such as automotive, industrial machinery, agriculture, and construction. Katayama Chain, Co., Ltd. adheres to stringent control measures, ensuring that their power transmission solutions meet or exceed industry standards that are reflected in their certifications, such as ISO 9001.
Asian Engineering Works, in Maharashtra, India, in 1981 is a manufacturer and supplier of optimum grade Conveyor Chains and Belts. Their product portfolio includes Conveyor Chains, Industrial Chains, Top Roller Conveyor chains, Industrial Sprocket Wheels and Bucket Elevator chains. The company serves industries such as Oil and Gas, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Construction, and Power Generation. The company provides services such as Product Selection Guidance, Engineering Support, New Product Design and Development and Custom Manufacturing.
Daido Kogyo Co., Ltd was founded in 1938 in Nagoya, Japan, as a manufacturer of chains and other components used in bicycles, motorbikes, cars, and industrial applications. It produces conveyor belts, rim wheels, spokes, thrust washers, and welfare equipment. The company is reputable for crafting quality bearings that reduce friction and wear in the internal combustion in motorbikes, vehicles, and industrial use. Products, including camshaft, connecting rod bearings, and main bearings, are created to withstand high pressure, temperatures, and angular speeds, thus meeting the demands of the latest engine technology.
Tripcon Engineering Pvt. Ltd., established in 1991, is an Indian manufacturer and supplier of industrial chains, based in Anand, Gujarat. The company manufactures elevator, solid pin, drag, flight, and drive chains. It also provides various conveyor chains such as flow and bulk flow, chip, slat, and special purpose conveyor chains. Simplex and duplex roller, bushed and bushed roller, as well as link and forged linked chains are other types of chains offered by the company, along with various types of sprockets. These products cater to various industries, including coal mines, cement and steel plants, oil extraction plants, paper mills, and road construction.
Ming Chang, established in 1997 in Pingtung City, Taiwan is a manufacturer and supplier of roller chains, conveyor chains and special chains for different industries. The company’s products include corrosion-resistant chains, leaf chains, roller chains with attachments, composite material chains, and more. The company’s MAXTOP brand offers a comprehensive range of industrial chains for diverse applications, serving industries such as manufacturing, transportation, agriculture and construction. The company is ISO 9001 certified and boasts R&D capabilities to deliver custom transmission solutions to suit different requirements.
W M Berg, founded in 1967 and based in Cudahy, Wisconsin, is a manufacturer and supplier of precision industrial parts. The company delivers ISO 9001:2015 certified products and services, including assemblies, bearings, belts & chains, couplings & shafts, gears, fasteners & hardware, pulleys & sprockets and more. W M Berg provides designing, developing, manufacturing and testing facilities to its clients in the aerospace, medical and motion control industries. Its distributors include Applied Industrial Technology and Motion Industries.
Designatronics is based in New York, New York, USA, and is a manufacturer of mechanical products and components that was established in 1960 following the acquisition and subsequent merger of Quality Bearings & Components, QTC Metric Gears, SDP/SI, and Wybur Tools. The company’s products include belt and chain drives for enabling motion and power, gears for transmitting motion and power, and various shafts for supporting and connecting assembly components. The company’s products are used mainly by clients in the aerospace, automotive, and defense sectors.
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.
KOBO USA, LLC, is a chain and sprocket manufacturer situated in Atlanta, Georgia, and was founded in 1894 by Emil Köhler and Hermann Bovenkamp. The company initiated a standardisation process for roller chains that remains a core practice today. Its international footprint extends to France, Austria, India, Europe, and England, making its chain solutions a global staple. These solutions cater to industries including steel, automotive, bulk handling, food and beverage, and escalator manufacturing. It also manufactures casters, sprocket attachments, cell bands, and other accessories.
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.
Princess Auto Ltd., founded in 1933 and based in Winnipeg, Canada, is a supplier of an assortment of tools and equipment with over 50 stores across Canada. In 1977, it opened its first store in Edmonton, Alberta, and became a retailer. The company serves several workers, including inventors, farmers, and tradespeople and stocks products such as outdoor power equipment, hand tools, and hydraulics. It sells items from several brands, such as Dealer’s Choice, Braber Equipment, and King Canada, and it also has a foundation that provides financial assistance to trades students enrolled at Canadian colleges.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Drives |
13.1%
|
2 | PEER Chain |
8.7%
|
3 | Renold Jeffrey |
8.2%
|
4 | Rexnord |
6.9%
|
5 | Wippermann |
6.2%
|
6 | MAXCO Chain Ltd. |
6.2%
|
7 | The Diamond Chain Company |
4.9%
|
8 | Asian Engineering Works |
4.5%
|
9 | Tripcon Engineering Pvt. Ltd. |
3.4%
|
10 | KOBO USA, LLC |
3.1%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the roller 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 | 7 | 38.9% |
Japan | 4 | 22.2% |
India | 2 | 11.1% |
Sweden | 1 | 5.6% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 5.6% |
Taiwan | 1 | 5.6% |
Germany | 1 | 5.6% |
China | 1 | 5.6% |