Engineering components supplier Bearing Man Group’s (BMG’s) Tsubaki high-performance chain range, which offers enhanced strength and reliability, an extended operating life and a better environmental footprint, now includes a “robust” Workhorse elevator series.

BMG GM Carlos Beukes says the recently launched workhorse elevator chains have been manufactured for greater strength and durability and designed to resist the abrasive and demanding forces of aggregate elevators.

“This new chain series is particularly well suited for use in aggressive bulk materials handling environments with harsh fine particulates like cement, lime, gypsum, coal, fertiliser, grain and sugar,” he adds.

According to Beukes, “carefully” selected high-strength steels, advanced manufacturing processes and refined heat treatments ensure maximum fatigue strength and protection against failure in severe applications.

The Workhorse 5800 and 5900 series has average tensile strength ratings of between 65 909 kg and 129 545 kg and can be upgraded with various plated pins, bushings and joint seals, either individually or in combination, to ensure dependability and enhanced wear resistance in specific applications.

Beukes says an important feature of the series is the extended bushing barrier seals that prevent abrasive materials from entering and attacking chain joints.

“The chain bushings are extended beyond the inside sidebars to reduce the clearance between the outside bars and the bushings, which, in turn, creates a solid barrier that inhibits abrasive material from entering the pin or bushing joint,” he adds.

The serieswide face seal, manufactured from a high-temperature engineered polymer, encircles the extended bushing and provides an additional particulate- resistant barrier to help protect the joint, thus, reducing contamination.

“A patented stainless steel internal ring seal holds tight onto the pin and rotates within a groove in the bushing to create a labyrinth to prevent debris from getting into the pin or bushing area,” Beukes explains.