SKF’s understanding of bearing systems, combined with power transmission technology, ensures cost effective end-to-end customer solutions across diverse applications SKF’s power transmission range includes chains, belts, pulleys, sprockets, couplings and bushings as well as hub taper locking elements and complements the company’s core technologies – bearings and units, seals, lubrication, mechatronics and engineering services. “SKF is experiencing significant success with its power transmission products, and more notably with its chains,” according to SKF product manager for power transmission, Frans Pienaar.

There are a large number of chain configurations and materials available to meet the different types of chain conveyor applications. “As conveyor chains are used to pull or elevate a load, usually in a straight line, at relatively slow speeds, rather than to transfer power from one shaft to another like other types of chains, they are rated in terms of their allowable working loads and not by power or speed,” explains Pienaar. Conveyor chain is found in almost every industry and SKF can supply chain for virtually any conveyor requirement, including lifting applications, in agriculture, sugar, cement, coal, and minerals process. Turning to the agricultural industry, Pienaar says that farmers are increasingly putting quality before price. “As SKF chains for machines like harvesters and planters offer the best of both, I am proud to report that since our entry into the agri-chain market in 2011, we have seen considerable growth in market share,” says Pienaar and recounts a recent successful application of an SKF chain product.      

“Inferior quality chains on a farmer’s planters were not coping with the arduous wet, dry and dusty conditions and were stretching, rusting and breaking, forcing him to replace the chains every season. In addition to high replacement costs, chain adjustments in the field caused constant interruption of the planting process and reduced productivity. The farmer desperately needed a solution. SKF came to the rescue with a competitively priced, high quality chain which is hot dipped, pre-lubricated and pre-stressed, eradicating the main concerns about rust, which can cause stiff links, and excessive wear.” SKF transmission and precision roller chain offerings are based on European and American standards. Due to the advanced manufacturing capability of SKF, any product can be designed for any customer’s needs. “We can also supply customised designs with increased link plate and side bar thicknesses, or with customised pitch,” adds Pienaar. 

“Since high manufacturing standards play an important role in the quality of our chain, it is imperative that the raw materials used to manufacture each chain component must meet very stringent specifications, undergo rigorous processes and strict inspections,” states Pienaar. The shape of the inner and outer link plates on SKF chains has been adapted to have a wider waist link plate design, which according to Pienaar, provides an increase in fatigue strength. In addition, stringent plate thickness controls allow the chains to run smoothly. SKF chains (size dependant) use solid rollers that are cold-drawn from bar stock to improve fatigue strength and resist the damaging effects of shock loads. All rollers go through a hardening process to improve wear resistance and increase service life. Pienaar concludes, “We are able to offer unsurpassed quality products from a single world class supplier and our dependable superior quality rugged chain, combined with our world renowned brand name, give our customers confidence not only in our products, but also in our service and capabilities.”