Engineering components provider BMG’s power transmission division offers maintenance-free solutions for increased productivity, minimal machine downtime and reduced maintenance costs in the food and beverage sector.

The company’s extensive range of Tsubaki chain products encompasses the Lambda lubrication-free roller chain series, which has been designed for industries where clean working environments are required and where product contamination cannot be tolerated.

Typical applications for this chain are in packaging machines used in food processing, pharmaceuticals and electronics manufacturing, as well as in environments where abrasive contamination is prominent, like wood processing and the paper and packaging sectors.

Tsubaki’s Lambda lubrication-free roller chain series is environment-friendly and has been designed with a sintered oil-impregnated bush, where the chain is internally lubricated to avoid premature wear, says BMG power transmission division business unit manager Carlo Beukes.

He explains that this feature extends the operating life of the chain, without the need for additional maintenance or messy external lubrication.

“Some of the difficulties encountered with conventional chains for case packaging and secondary packaging equipment include contamination of cardboard surfaces and products, caused by lubricants and paper dust. This gives rise to high maintenance costs and costly production halts for the necessary cleaning cycles of equipment. Added to this, uneven wear and elongation cause problems with chain alignment, resulting in unsynchronised product transport,” says Beukes.

Further, BMG’s Tsubaki Lambda lubrication-free roller chains are supplied with a specially developed food grade lubricant as standard and this increases chain wear life by 30%, with no compromise on chain strength.

With there being no need for external lubrication, he highlights that the chain is kept cleaner, making it easier to specify and install, especially in areas with strict hygiene regulations.

“The microscopic pores in the seamless sintered bush of Lambda lubrication-free roller chain are vacuum filled with a high-performance NSF-H1 food-grade lubricant. While most of the lubricant is held in place, where it is needed most, a small amount will inevitably migrate to the surface of the chain. For this reason, it is critical that the lubricant is deemed suitable for use in the food industry.”

The company’s Tsubaki Lambda lubrication-free roller chain meets all NSF-H1 requirements and can be safely used in environments where there is the possibility of incidental contact with food.

NSF-H2 lubricants are suitable for locations where there is no possibility of contact with food and NSF-H3 lubricants, which are typically edible oils, are used where there is likely to be contact with foodstuffs.

Many industries, including food and beverage production, use processes involving heating and cooling. The Lambda lubrication-free roller chain, which has been shot-peened for higher fatigue strength, operates efficiently and safely in an ambient temperature range between –10 ºC and +150 ºC. BMG supplies a special heat resistant series which is suitable for use in environments with elevated temperatures up to +230 ºC.

Additionally, the surfaces of the outer and inner link plates are Fe403 blackened for improved corrosion resistance and there is smooth engagement with the sprocket and reduced wear on the sprocket teeth because of the durable roller. There is also a lower risk of chain breakage because the specially selected steel alloy has undergone effective heat treatment.

Apart from the advantage of the extended service life of this chain – which is achieved as a result of advanced sintering bushing and an improved bushing – the lubricant combination’s other features of this series include easy cutting, a patented ring coining process, high productivity, easy interchangeability of chains and sprockets, and reduced maintenance requirements.

The patented ring coin connecting link of the chain ensures that the chain can be specified to its full capacity. This process increases the strength of the link plate around the pinholes to ensure the link retains the same high strength and wear resistance as the rest of the chain.

The disassemble rivet pin design facilitates easy fitting and removal of the chain and a special coating on the pin surface enhances long-term internal lubrication. The elongation pattern of Tsubaki's Lambda lubrication-free roller chain is extremely stable, which reduces the need for intermediate chain and sprocket adjustment and also contributes to increased service life.

Moreover, the standard Lambda lubrication-free roller chain series includes BS/DIN and ANSI drive and a conveyor chain with attachments, double and hollow pitch conveyor chain, as well as double plus and accumulator chain with centre rollers.

BMG’s national branch network offers a technical advisory service on correct chain selection – a critical factor in any power transmission system. For specific applications, chains with special materials, coatings and lubrications are available nationally, and to meet exact requirements, chains are accessible in any lengths.