Conveyor Chain Types: How to Read the Catalog

Drop forged, roller, enclosed track, stainless — a field guide to conveyor chain types and which working conditions each one is built for.

A conveyor chain catalog is not a price list. For a B2B procurement engineer, it is a map of track size, load capacity, material, attachment pattern, and packaging. The same model prefix can hide different pin/roller details, while the same duty can be served by more than one family. This guide keeps the reading order simple: identify the chain family, match the track and load, then verify the supplier and logistics data.

The Five Main Chain Families

Drop Forged Rivetless Chain

Drop forged rivetless chain is a forged-link overhead chain family catalogued as X228, X348, X458, X678, 698, and S-698. Its structure is built around forged links and a rivetless connection, so it is used where overhead conveying needs a robust, maintainable chain rather than a precision roller chain. Typical duty includes automotive manufacturing, paint lines, and foundry work. For the family overview, see drop forged chain; for a 4 in. track example, see X458 drop forged chain.

Forged Link / Scraper Chain

Forged link/scraper chain uses forged links with scraper attachments. Specified materials are 42CrMo and 20CrMnTi. (For reference, I-beam monorail conveyor systems built around X series chains cover 125 to 2400 lbs of load, and hand push trolleys are listed at 500 and 2000 lbs.) This family is a practical match for bulk or abrasive duties such as sugar, cement, mining, and palm oil, where scrapers move material rather than simply suspend a product.

Roller Conveyor Chain

Roller conveyor chain follows standard roller-chain geometry and is catalogued against ISO 606 (DIN 8187) and ANSI (DIN 8188). It is the usual choice when the conveyor needs rolling contact, lower friction, and a familiar sprocket interface. Typical duty includes food processing, car wash lines, and general conveying. The roller chain page is the place to check pitch and sprocket matching.

Enclosed Track (BI-Planar) Chain

Enclosed track (BI-Planar) chain runs inside an enclosed track and is catalogued as BI-Planar 42032 and 72032. The enclosed profile protects the chain from debris and keeps the conveyor path compact. Typical duty includes automotive manufacturing, paint lines, and car wash lines, where cleanliness and defined routing matter. See enclosed track chain for the track/chain interface.

Stainless Steel Chain

Stainless steel chain is a roller chain variant in stainless steel. It is selected when corrosion resistance or washdown exposure is part of the duty, such as food, poultry processing, car wash, and palm oil applications. The conveyor chain section can help separate stainless roller chain from carbon steel roller chain and from forged-link families.

How to Match Model Numbers to Duty

Start with Track Size

The model prefix is often a track-size clue. X348 is for 3 in. track, X458 is for 4 in. track, and X678 is for 6 in. track. If the existing conveyor header, trolley, or turn roller is tied to one of these track sizes, the chain family must match it. Do not read the model number in isolation; read it with the overhead trolley, pusher dog, turn roller, and attachments that share the same track.

Check Ultimate Tensile and Load Coverage

For drop forged rivetless chain, X678 has an ultimate tensile strength above 125,000 lbs, while X348 is below 40,000 lbs. That gap is why X678 appears in heavier overhead duties and X348 in lighter ones. I-beam monorail conveyor systems cover 125–2400 lbs of load, with hand push trolleys at 500 and 2000 lbs. Always compare the chain’s stated limit with the actual trolley load, attachment weight, and any shock load in the process.

Confirm Material and Environment

42CrMo and 20CrMnTi are the specified forged fork chain materials. Use them as a starting point for forged link/scraper duties where strength and wear resistance are needed. For washdown, food, poultry, or corrosive exposure, stainless steel roller chain is an option to evaluate — confirm against load, medium, temperature and compliance requirements. For standard roller conveying, verify the chain against ISO 606 (DIN 8187) or ANSI (DIN 8188), then check the sprockets that will drive it.

Read the Packaging and Export Data

Packaging is part of the specification. X348, X458, and X678 regular products use fumigation-free plywood cases; assembled chains and forged fork chains with scrapers use pallets. These details matter for unloading, storage, and line-side handling. Company, certification and trade-term background is on the about page; if the specification is unclear, the FAQ and applications pages are useful cross-checks.

What to Put in Your RFQ

Send the chain family, track size, model number if known, load per trolley, attachment drawing, environment, and required packaging. If you are replacing an existing chain, include the old chain’s link dimensions and the sprocket details. That turns the catalog from a list of names into a matched assembly.

For a specific chain selection, send your duty cycle and track data through the contact page for a model-against-application check covering chain, sprockets, trolleys, and packaging.