[advertisement]

Chain Drives

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-10-17

Drew Beadle Named President of PEER Chain; Spungens to Remain Active in Company

Drew Beadle, vice president of operations of Waukegan, IL-based PEER Chain & Sprockets has been named the company’s new president, effective January 2025.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-08-12

Norelem Plans U.S. Expansion

The company Norelem, a global manufacturer and supplier of standard components for mechanical engineering and industrial applications, is set to open a new facility in the United States. This expansion represents a significant step in Norelem's international growth strategy and its commitment to better serving its customers in the United States.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2024-08-05

Conveyor Consistency

A roller chain can handle a lot of weight, but it has some significant downsides. It’s noisy and needs regular maintenance. It’s expensive, and when it breaks, workers can be injured. Even its performance is a problem.

REVOLUTIONS | 2024-06-26

Engineering Legacy: Diamond Chain Company (1890)

The "Engineering Legacy" series gives historical context to mechanical power transmission components featured in PTE. Diamond Chain’s products were integral in many historical breakthroughs, including the Wright Brothers’ first flying machine, Henry Ford’s first automobile, and numerous motorsport champion vehicles.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-05-03

Winners Announced for igus 2024 Vector Awards

igus has announced the winners of its 2024 vector awards, a biennial competition that honors bold, exciting projects that incorporate igus e-chain cable carriers made of high-performance plastics. A U.S. company, TDK RF Solutions, took the silver vector award for its automotive test rig.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-04-01

Igus Introduces Draw E-Chain for Drawers

Igus has introduced the draw-e-chain. Thanks to the minimalist design, the price of the compact energy chain cable carrier is 30 percent lower than the most cost-effective standard e-chains. This protects against expensive oversizing, especially if the application is only moved a little.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-03-11

Diamond Drives Offers Chain Solution for Billet Straightening Machine

An industry leader in specialty steel solutions was experiencing premature wear on its billet straightening machine. Due to the high temperatures caused during operation, the competitor’s chain was failing after 15 weeks.

[advertisement]
PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-02-28

Diamond Drives Upgrades Chain for Spiral Freezer Application

A dairy-free ice cream manufacturer was facing recurring challenges with their spiral freezer’s chain drive. Issues included excessive wear and chain failure attributed to side-loading and inadequate lubrication.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-12-04

Igus Releases Assembly Tool for E-Chain System

Installation downtime is costly for production companies. To simplify and accelerate energy supply system installation for customers, Igus offers the readychain service – pre-assembled e-chain systems with integrated cables, connectors, and components. This turnkey solution from a single vendor delivers quality-checked, harness-filled e-chains, positioned for easy installation.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-10-05

PIE Technology Platform Adds Five Product Categories

Bearing Specialists Association (BSA) and the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) announce the introduction of seals, linear bearings profile rail, bushings (hub fixing devices), chains and sprockets to the PIE Technology Platform (PIE). 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-09-01

Iwis and THIEN eDrives Announce Cooperation

Iwis Mobility Systems GmbH & Co KG and THIEN eDrives GmbH recently announced a cooperation to develop, market and produce projects involving electric drive systems for the automotive industry. THIEN eDrives specializes in the development and production of electrical systems consisting of motor and inverter, while Iwis manufactures precision chain systems.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-08-10

Regal Rexnord Launches 6997 Series MatTop Chain

Regal Rexnord Corporation introduces its new Rexnord 6997 Series MatTop Chain. The chain offers an innovative new solution for the increasing performance demands of Pasteurizer, Warmer and Cooler tunnel applications. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-08-01

Iwis Reduces Delivery Times for Accumulation Chains

Shorter delivery times because of more efficient production was the explicit aim of the Iwis Czech plant. Iwis has invested massively in the automation of production in Strakonice in recent months to further reduce manual operations. New automatic machines for inner and outer links were taken into operation to produce JWIS-branded accumulation chains, and chain assembly was also further automated.

REVOLUTIONS | 2023-07-19

Bosch Rexroth Presents Integrated Product Transport Solution

With the VarioFlow plus chain conveyor system, Bosch Rexroth supplies an essential component for flexible and economical transport within a plant. It conveys packed and unpacked goods vertically and horizontally in the smallest possible space. Together, with the spiral transport system from smartPac Srl, manufacturers benefit from a continuous spiral transport system with low commissioning and maintenance costs.

[advertisement]
PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-06-06

U.S. Tsubaki Launches Dura Drum Sprockets

U.S. Tsubaki Power Transmission, LLC (U.S. Tsubaki) introduces Dura Drum sprockets, designed to reduce downtime, increase savings and provide greater reliability for conveyor systems. Available as a full-faced or A-plate drum sprocket, Dura Drum helps keep heavy-duty operations, including forestry and metal recycling facilities, running efficiently and profitably. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-05-18

3BG Supply Acquires Controls and Electric Motor Company

3BG Supply Co. (3BG) recently announced the completion of its acquisition of Controls and Electric Motor Company (CEMCO). 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-05-05

Regal Rexnord to Feature Conveying Solutions at 2023 Craft Brewers Conference

Regal Rexnord Corporation will feature complete conveying solutions for the craft brew industry including Rexnord and System Plast Run Dry, TableTop and MatTop conveyor chain and Sealmaster Stainless Steel Gold Bearings at the 2023 Craft Brewers Conference, Booth #2625. The show will take place at Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee, from May 7–10, 2023. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-02-22

PTDA Raises Nearly $125,000 in First Stage of Fundraising Campaign

During the first three months of its 2023 Fund Drive campaign, the PTDA Foundation raised nearly $125,000. Contributions to the annual PTDA Foundation Fund Drive support PT WORK Force, an initiative to empower PT/MC (power transmission/motion control) industry employers to be more successful in their recruitment and retention efforts. 

REVOLUTIONS | 2023-01-17

Iwis Examines Predictive Maintenance for Drive and Conveyor Chains

Industrial maintenance consists of keeping equipment running as long as possible. Corrective, preventive and now predictive maintenance has taken a long time to be recognized as an activity in its own right. Since then, it has shown its importance and added value to the point of being a lever for continuous improvement and development in companies.

REVOLUTIONS | 2023-01-17

Is This the Restaurant at the End of the Universe?

The first fully automated McDonald's has arrived in Fort Worth, Texas. Here, a conveyor belt serves customers food they order online or using a kiosk machine. The fast-food restaurant has no seats, tables or drive-thru greeters.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-01-17

Force Control Eliminates Downtime for Industrial Lumber Sawmill

For nearly 50 years, AJD Forest Products has been producing top quality industrial lumber for the Lake States region. Located in Grayling, Mich., the company has earned a reputation for supplying high-grade red oak, hard & soft maple, aspen, ash, and basswood.  The mill processes 1,700-2,000 logs, or 70,000-90,000 board feet of lumber a day, but constant maintenance and adjustment on their stacker and chain conveyor brakes were forcing unplanned downtime.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-10-11

PTDA Welcomes Klockner Group and Gerbers of Montana

The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) welcomes two new member companies, Klockner Group and Gerbers of Montana.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-09-06

SKF Maintains Farm Equipment with Automatic Lubrication System

A new automatic lubrication system from SKF Lincoln helps maintain the performance of farm equipment by increasing chain reliability.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-08-09

PTDA Welcomes MEM Industrial, LLC

The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA), the leading association for the industrial power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) distribution channel, welcomes a new member company, MEM Industrial. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-05-17

Helukabel Group Grows with Two New Acquisitions

Helukabel recently announced two acquisitions to further grow its core competency in the field of industrial automation. The two latest companies to join the Helukabel Group are ekd gelenkrohr GmbH, a drag chain manufacturer, and Sangel Systemtechnik, an industrial cable assembly manufacturer.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-05-06

Gates Wins Motion's 2021 Supplier of the Year Award

Motion Industries, Inc., has named Gates Corporation “2021 Supplier of the Year.” The award recognizes companies that have shown exceptional commitment to Motion through quality products and services, as well as earning the highest score in the multi-faceted Supplier Stratification rating system. The presentation took place May 3rd at Motion’s headquarters in Birmingham.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2019-06-01

Chain & Sprocket Systems and Maintenance

Chain and sprocket drives of one form or another have been driving machines and conveying materials for over a thousand years. The chain manufacturing industry has developed numerous types and sizes of drive chains. Although it is a mature form of power transmission, there are still many industrial applications for which drive chain is suited. It is economical, resistant to shock loads, easy to install, has the ability to transmit high torque, operates in hostile environments, and is efficient. Chain and sprocket drives are highly engineered and manufactured within close tolerances.
| 2018-11-01

Chain-Stretch Monitoring System Prevents Plant Downtime

Chain drives are a critical part of the manufacturing process in many industries, whether the chains act as conveyors for glass containers or trans...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2018-06-01

Pushing Forward with Belts and Chains

The technology continues to evolve in chain- and belt-driven systems
| 2017-11-28

A Look at Belt, Chain and Gear Drive Technology

By Jack Warner The need for producing more energy increases with our rising need for commercial, industrial, and residential space. In North Ame...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2017-06-19

What's New in Belt and Chain Technology?

Here are the latest product and industry news items involving belts and chains in the power transmission market. Please visit
PUBLISHER'S PAGE | 2017-06-01

Moving in the Right Direction

Over the past several months, members of our staff have traveled quite a bit, and we've had a lot of opportunities to gauge their confidence. And while nobody is overwhelmingly enthusiastic - nobody has told us this is their best year ever - almost everyone seems at least content with the stability that slow and steady growth provides.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2015-12-01

Chains and Belts Play to Their Strengths

As with just about everything else in the manufacturing world — and all which that universe entails — it depends. After all, that’s why the art of manufacturing is a process — not a one-system-fits-all discipline. Yes, once that process has been properly designed and correctly implemented for a given manufacturing production need, it may well run like the astest, smoothest cookie-cutter-type operation ever devised.
EVENTS | 2014-06-01

CTI Symposium Raises the Bar on Transmission Technology

The 8th International CTI Symposium on Automotive Transmissions, HEV and EV Drives took place in Rochester, Michigan from May 12-15. The event kicked off with its popular introductory seminar "Basics and Practice of Automotive Transmissions."
[advertisement]