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FAQ

FAQ & glossary: chains, belts, plastics

Answers to the most common questions – and a glossary in case you are not sure of the exact technical term.

Glossary A to Z

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between DIN 8187 and DIN 8188?

DIN 8187 covered roller chains of European design (B series, e.g. 08B-1), DIN 8188 those of American design (A series, equivalent to ANSI, e.g. 08A-1). Both standards have been withdrawn and are now combined in DIN ISO 606 (series B and series A). Even at the same pitch, roller diameter, inner width and pin diameter differ, so chains and sprockets of the two series are generally not interchangeable. If in doubt, check the marking on the link plate or send us a sample.

How do I identify the right roller chain?

The easiest way is to read the designation on the outer link plate, such as 10B-1. If there is none, measure the pitch (pin centre to pin centre), the roller diameter and the inner width between the inner plates, and count the strands. These values let you match the chain to ISO 606. For a new design, power, speed, tooth counts and operating conditions also matter. Katena helps with selection and design, also based on a photo or sample.

How do I calculate chain length?

The number of links X is approximately X = 2·a/p + (z1 + z2)/2 + ((z2 − z1)/(2π))² · p/a, where a is the centre distance, p the pitch and z1 and z2 the tooth counts. Round the result to a whole, preferably even number of links, as an odd number requires an offset link. Chain length equals the number of links times the pitch. Our online chain calculator does this calculation for you.

When should a roller chain be replaced?

Chains elongate as their joints wear. A common guideline is replacement at about 3 % elongation, i.e. roughly 30 mm per 1,000 mm of measured chain length; for precise drives or timing applications the limit is often lower. The manufacturer's specifications take precedence. With heavy wear, check the sprockets too, because worn teeth make a new chain wear faster.

Does Katena supply small quantities or single parts?

Katena focuses on application advice and solutions for industry, OEMs and distributors. Plastic parts to drawing are machined from single prototypes up to series production, and finished parts made of insulation materials are available from a quantity of one. Semi-finished products are also available as cut-to-size pieces. Whether a particular quantity of other products can sensibly be supplied is something we are happy to clarify case by case. Simply send us your enquiry.

Which manufacturers does Katena represent in Austria?

In Austria, Katena represents products from Wippermann (roller chains, sprockets), Jungbluth (bush conveyor chains, special chains, chains for hydraulic steel structures), Murtfeldt (plastics, chain guides, tensioning and lubrication systems), DoTherm (heat-resistant and insulation materials), Uni-Chains (modular belts, slat top and plastic chains) and Ammeraal Beltech (conveyor belts, flat belts and timing belts). Partners are selected for consistent quality, innovation, delivery reliability and short lead times.

Does Katena deliver throughout Austria?

Katena is based in Vienna-Floridsdorf and represents its partners' products in Austria. Semi-finished products, cut-to-size pieces, chain guides and chain tensioners are stocked in many sizes in Vienna or at the manufacturer's plant in Germany and are available at short notice. You will receive binding information on lead time and shipping to your site with our quotation. Simply state the delivery location in your enquiry.

Can I have chains or assemblies made up to order?

Yes. On request, Katena produces or assembles the elements you need, or sources them, for example chains cut to a specific length or fitted with attachments, plastic parts to drawing or cut-to-size pieces from semi-finished stock. The experienced team supports you from application advice through design to delivery. Describe your project in the enquiry, ideally with dimensions, a drawing or a sample.

What if I don't know the technical term?

That is no problem and happens often. Briefly describe your application in our enquiry form and upload a photo, drawing or data sheet, or send us the old part as a sample. Our glossary also explains the most important terms along with common alternative names. You know your application, we know the right product and will get back to you with a suggested solution.

Which plastics are suitable for food contact?

In the EU, food contact is governed by Regulations (EC) 1935/2004 and (EU) 10/2011; in the USA, FDA regulations apply. Many engineering plastics such as UHMW-PE, POM, polyamide and PEEK are available in food-contact grades, but not every grade of a material is approved. What counts is the manufacturer's declaration of conformity for the specific grade. Katena stocks food-compliant plastics and advises on the right choice.

Which heat-resistant and insulation materials are available?

The range includes laminated fabrics, glass-fibre reinforced plastics, mica materials and high-temperature insulation materials, supplied as sheets, cut pieces, tubes, rods or finished parts to drawing. They provide thermal and/or electrical insulation and are used especially in the steel industry, metal processing and mould making for injection moulding. The right material depends on temperature, compressive load and insulation requirements; please state these values in your enquiry.

Is there a web shop, and how do I order?

No, Katena deliberately does not run a web shop. Chains, belts and plastic parts have to suit the application, so every order starts with advice. Send us your enquiry via the three-step form, by e-mail to office@katena.at or by phone on +43 1 292 10 71. You will receive a suggested solution and a quotation; Katena handles order processing and order tracking.

Glossary A to Z

Many components go by several names. Search for the term you know – we show the technical term and the matching product group.

  • Accumulation chain

    Also known as: accumulating roller chain, accumulator chain

    Conveyor chain with additional carrier rollers on which pallets or unit loads rest. When the goods are stopped, the rollers keep turning beneath them, so items accumulate with low back pressure while the chain keeps running.

    Roller Chains

  • Articulated rack

    Also known as: pin rack chain, jointed gear rack, pinion shaft

    Rack made of jointed segments that meshes with a pinion on a pinion shaft and can transmit both pushing and pulling forces. It is used in hydraulic steel structures to move sluice gates and lock gates.

    Steel Hydraulics Construction

  • Attachment

    Also known as: chain attachment, attachment link, bent attachment, extended pin

    Parts fitted to a chain, such as bent or straight attachment plates or extended pins, that act as the interface to the conveyed goods or to fixtures. Chains with attachments are mainly used for transport and conveying tasks.

    Roller Chains

  • Bush conveyor chain

    Also known as: bush chain, conveyor chain, transport chain, DIN 8165, DIN 8167

    Long-pitch conveyor chain whose pins run in bushes, with or without rollers depending on the design. Relevant standards include DIN 8165 and DIN 8167 (now DIN ISO 1977). Attachments such as angles or flights carry troughs, buckets or plates for bulk and unit loads.

    Bush conveyor chains and sprockets

  • Cardan chain

    Also known as: flex chain, multiflex chain, universal joint chain

    Plastic conveyor chain whose links are joined by universal (cardan) joints so it can flex in several directions. This allows curves, inclines and three-dimensional conveying paths with a single chain.

    Slat Top Chains

  • Chain coupling

    Also known as: roller chain coupling, sprocket coupling

    Shaft coupling made of two sprockets joined by a duplex roller chain wrapped around them. It transmits torque, compensates for slight angular and parallel misalignment and can be separated simply by opening the chain.

    Sprockets

  • Chain elongation

    Also known as: chain wear, chain stretch, worn chain

    Increase in chain length caused by wear in the joints between pin and bush. A common guideline is to replace the chain at about 3 % elongation, i.e. roughly 30 mm per 1,000 mm of chain; the manufacturer's specifications always take precedence.

    Roller Chains

  • Chain guide

    Also known as: chain guide rail, wear strip, slide rail, guide profile

    Profile made of low-friction plastic, usually UHMW-PE, that supports and guides a chain. It prevents sag, reduces friction, noise and wear, and is often mounted in a steel C-profile so the plastic can expand with temperature changes.

    Sliding Guides

  • Chain lubrication system

    Also known as: chain oiler, drip lubricator, gravity oiler, automatic lubricator

    Equipment that supplies chains with metered lubricant at regular intervals, for example gravity drip oilers or pump systems with brushes and nozzles. Correct lubrication significantly extends chain service life.

    Lubrication Systems

  • Chain rack

    Also known as: roller chain rack, chain as rack

    Roller chain fixed in a stretched position on a support profile that works together with a sprocket like a gear rack. It is a low-cost alternative to machined racks for linear motion.

    Sliding Guides

  • Chain tensioner

    Also known as: tensioner, tensioning system, belt tensioner, idler sprocket

    Device that pre-tensions a chain or belt with a defined force and automatically compensates for elongation caused by wear. Typical designs are spring-loaded tensioners with a plastic slide profile or an idler sprocket on the slack strand.

    Chain and Belt Tensioners

  • Conveyor belt

    Also known as: transport belt, process belt, belting, fabric belt

    Endless belt of fabric with a plastic or rubber coating that carries unit loads or bulk material over drums or slider beds. Surface, profile and material are matched to the goods conveyed, such as food products.

    Belts and Flat Drive Belts

  • DIN 8187 / DIN 8188 / ISO 606

    Also known as: European series, American series, B series, A series, ANSI chain, 08B-1

    Roller chain standards: DIN 8187 covered the European design (B series, e.g. 08B-1), DIN 8188 the American design (A series, equivalent to ANSI). Both have been withdrawn; today DIN ISO 606 applies, with series B and series A. The digits give the pitch in 1/16 inch, the final digit the number of strands.

    Roller Chains

  • Double-pitch roller chain

    Also known as: long-pitch chain, double-pitch conveyor chain, ISO 1275

    Roller chain with twice the pitch but the same rollers and pins as the corresponding standard chain, standardised in ISO 1275 (DIN ISO 1275, formerly DIN 8181). It suits conveying over long centre distances at low speeds.

    Roller Chains

  • Endless woven belt

    Also known as: seamless belt, endless belt

    Conveyor belt whose fabric is woven as a closed loop without a joint. Having no splice, it runs evenly and suits applications where a joint would cause problems.

    Belts and Flat Drive Belts

  • Flat belt

    Also known as: power transmission belt, drive belt, transport belt

    Flat belt that transmits power by friction between pulleys, today usually with a polyamide or polyester tension member and friction cover. Flat belts run quietly, suit high speeds and are also used for conveying.

    Belts and Flat Drive Belts

  • Food-contact compliant plastic

    Also known as: food grade, FDA compliant, EU 10/2011, food safe

    Plastic approved for direct contact with food. In the EU, Regulations (EC) 1935/2004 and (EU) 10/2011 apply, including migration testing; in the USA, FDA regulations apply. Proof is the manufacturer's declaration of conformity.

    Thermoplastic materials

  • Hollow pin chain

    Also known as: hollow bearing pin chain, roller chain with hollow pins

    Roller chain with bored-through pins that accept cross rods or attachments without opening the chain. It is often used in pairs in conveyor systems and paternoster-type storage systems.

    Roller Chains

  • Insulation material

    Also known as: insulating board, heat-resistant board, thermal insulation plate, electrical insulation material

    Material that conducts heat or electricity poorly and separates components thermally or electrically. It includes laminated fabrics, glass-fibre reinforced plastics, mica materials and high-temperature insulating boards, used for instance in mould making and the steel industry.

    High Temperature Materials / Insulation Materials

  • Laminated fabric

    Also known as: fabric laminate, glass fabric laminate, phenolic laminate, GRP

    Laminate made of layers of cotton or glass fabric impregnated with synthetic resin, such as phenolic or epoxy, and pressed together. It is mechanically strong, easy to machine and serves as an electrical and thermal insulator.

    High Temperature Materials / Insulation Materials

  • Leaf chain

    Also known as: flyer chain, lifting chain, forklift chain, load chain

    Chain without rollers or bushes, consisting only of stacked plates and pins, standardised in ISO 4347 (DIN ISO 4347, formerly DIN 8152). Leaf chains serve as load chains in hoists, cranes and forklifts and for carrying counterweights.

    Roller Chains

  • Lifting chain (hydraulic steel structures)

    Also known as: weir chain, sluice gate chain, lock gate chain, gate hoist chain

    Heavy-duty chain for raising and lowering closures such as sluice gates, weir flaps and lock gates. It is often made of stainless steel with self-lubricating plain bearing bushes to minimise corrosion and maintenance under water.

    Steel Hydraulics Construction

  • Machined part to drawing

    Also known as: custom machined part, part to customer drawing, CNC plastic part

    Component produced from semi-finished stock to the customer's technical drawing, usually by machining such as milling, turning or sawing. Typical examples are star wheels, guides and wear parts.

    Thermoplastic materials

  • Maintenance-free roller chain

    Also known as: self-lubricating chain, low-maintenance chain, lube-free chain

    Roller chain that runs without relubrication, for example using oil-impregnated sintered bushes combined with coated pins. It suits applications where relubrication is impossible or undesirable, such as where lubricant could contaminate products.

    Roller Chains

  • Mica

    Also known as: micanite, mica sheet, mica board

    Natural mineral that splits into very thin layers and is pressed with binders into sheets and moulded parts. Mica materials combine high heat resistance, several hundred degrees Celsius depending on grade, with excellent electrical insulation.

    High Temperature Materials / Insulation Materials

  • Modular belt

    Also known as: plastic modular belt, mat top chain, spiral belt, radius belt

    Conveyor belt made of individual plastic modules usually hinged together by rods and positively driven by sprockets. Modular belts are available for straight, curved and spiral conveyors; damaged modules can be replaced individually.

    Plastic Modular Belts

  • PEEK

    Also known as: polyether ether ketone, high-performance plastic, high-temperature plastic

    Polyether ether ketone, a high-performance thermoplastic for continuous service temperatures up to about 250 °C. PEEK is highly chemical-resistant and mechanically strong, and is used where standard plastics reach their temperature or load limits.

    Thermoplastic materials

  • POM

    Also known as: polyoxymethylene, acetal, polyacetal, POM-C

    Polyoxymethylene, a stiff, dimensionally stable thermoplastic with low moisture absorption and good sliding properties. POM suits precision parts such as gears, plain bearings and guides, and is also available in food-contact grades.

    Thermoplastic materials

  • Pitch

    Also known as: chain pitch, link pitch

    Distance between the centres of two consecutive chain pins. Pitch is the key dimension of any chain and must match the sprocket teeth; for standard roller chains it is usually stated in inches, e.g. 1/2" = 12.7 mm.

    Roller Chains

  • Polyamide

    Also known as: PA, PA 6, PA 66, cast nylon, nylon

    Engineering thermoplastic with high strength, toughness and good wear resistance, available as PA 6, PA 66 or cast polyamide. Polyamide absorbs moisture, which affects dimensions and properties; it is used for gears, rollers and sliding elements.

    Thermoplastic materials

  • Roller chain

    Also known as: steel link chain, drive chain, transmission chain, industrial chain

    Chain made of alternating inner and outer links in which free-turning rollers run on bushes. Roller chains transmit force positively without slip and are used as drive, conveyor and lifting chains in machine and plant engineering.

    Roller Chains

  • Scraper chain

    Also known as: drag chain, en-masse conveyor chain, flight conveyor chain

    Conveyor chain with flights that push bulk material along a trough or channel. Scraper chains are used for ash, chips, sludge or granules and must be designed for abrasion and often high temperatures.

    Bush conveyor chains and sprockets

  • Semi-finished product

    Also known as: plastic sheet, rod, cut-to-size piece, stock shape

    Pre-made material in standard shapes such as sheets, rods or tubes that is processed further. Cut-to-size pieces are sawn from semi-finished stock to the required dimensions, saving material and machining time.

    Thermoplastic materials

  • Simplex, duplex, triplex chain

    Also known as: single-strand chain, double-strand chain, multi-strand chain

    Roller chains with one, two or three side-by-side roller strands on common pins. At the same pitch, multi-strand chains transmit higher power and require matching multi-strand sprockets.

    Roller Chains

  • Slat top chain

    Also known as: flat top chain, table top chain, plastic chain, top plate chain

    Conveyor chain with flat top plates of steel or plastic joined by hinges to form a continuous conveying surface. Standardised in DIN 8153 and ISO 4348, it is typically used to convey bottles, cans and packaging.

    Slat Top Chains

  • Snap-on chain

    Also known as: snap-on top chain, roller chain with snap-on plates

    Conveyor chain in which overlapping plastic plates are snapped onto a roller chain with extended pins. This design runs comparatively quietly at high speeds and is widely used in food processing.

    Slat Top Chains

  • Sprocket

    Also known as: chain wheel, pinion, plate wheel, hub sprocket, chain gear

    Toothed wheel that meshes with a chain's rollers to drive or deflect it. The smaller driving wheel is often called a pinion; plate wheels have no hub, while hub sprockets have a hub for mounting on the shaft.

    Sprockets

  • Timing belt

    Also known as: toothed belt, synchronous belt, PU timing belt

    Belt with teeth on its inner side that engage positively with a toothed pulley. Timing belts transmit motion without slip and in sync, and are used for drives, positioning tasks and conveying.

    Timing Belts

  • UHMW-PE

    Also known as: PE 1000, PE-UHMW, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene

    Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene with very long molecular chains. It combines high wear and impact resistance with low friction and low water absorption and is the standard material for chain guides and wear strips; its service limit is about +80 °C.

    Thermoplastic materials

Prefer to talk in person?

Call or write to us – with your application, dimensions or a photo of the old part.

Start inquiry +43 1 292 10 71 office@katena.at