Not only does the adoption of solar panels signify a tangible commitment to sustainability, but it also showcases Tsubakimoto Europe B.V.'s role as a responsible corporate citizen. By investing in renewable energy infrastructure, the company is not only contributing to the fight against climate change but also setting a precedent for other businesses in the industry.
The decision to integrate solar energy into its operations is part of Tsubakimoto Europe B.V.'s broader sustainability strategy, which encompasses various initiatives aimed at conserving resources, minimizing waste, and promoting environmental stewardship.
The installation of solar panels represents a significant milestone for Tsubakimoto Europe B.V., marking the company's steadfast commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change, initiatives like this serve as hope, demonstrating that businesses can play a pivotal role in fostering a greener, more sustainable planet.
]]>In addition, the larger space allows Tsubaki Iberica Power Transmission SL to improve their service. They now have more space for technical support, such as M&T. This allows them to offer innovative solutions and meet their customers' specific requirements.
The move to a new location is a positive step for Tsubaki Iberica Power Transmission SL, allowing them to drive their growth and better serve their customers. They are excited about the opportunities offered by the new location and look forward to serving their customers even better in the future.
]]>Tsubaki will present its gripper chain range for form, fill, and vacuum seal operations. The chain's durable springs have been developed to last for more than 10 million high-speed cycles and the M-type attachment's side-swivel design, which can be combined with Tsubaki sprockets, enables highly smooth operation for optimal material feed-through. With recessed riveted pins for easy chain length adjustment, the gripper chain is also easy to install with a spring clip fitting.
For many food packaging applications, the risk of contamination prevents roller chain lubrication, resulting in accelerated chain deterioration and productivity-stopping breakdowns. To resolve the issue, Tsubaki has developed its Lambda roller chain, impregnated with NSF-H1 food-grade lubrication to protect against friction. Special sintered bushes retain the lubricant, preventing contamination while prolonging chain life.
Tsubaki will also present its Neptune anti-corrosion roller chain. Suited to packaging lines that require hygienic operation and undergo regular washdowns with aggressive detergents, the Neptune chain includes a two-layer surface treatment that prevents rust. The chain is tested to 700 hours of saltwater spray and 2,000 hours of sodium hypochlorite and sodium hydroxide exposure, both of which are used in the food industry to clean and disinfect. The Neptune is also offered in a lubrication-impregnated Lambda version.
To ensure exacting chain measurements for pairs and multiples of chains used together on packaging machinery, Tsubaki also provides a Match & Tag service. This guarantees a maximum chain length difference of just 0.5mm that optimises chain synchronisation for new machines and facilitates a fast, duplicate replacement for retrofit.
"Hispack is an important exhibition for Tsubaki because of the focus we have on packaging machine builders and users," says Jake Yamamoto, Tsubakimoto Europe's Sales & Marketing Director. "Packaging machine users need high throughput as well as minimal downtime, and our chains are designed for long-life, which both optimises productivity and lowers the total cost of ownership. We look forward to welcoming visitors to Hispack and demonstrating these benefits."
]]>The conveyor's chain is vital to ensuring that product is quickly and efficiently transported to despatch without damaging either the packaging or the pizzas. Every three days, the maintenance team had to check the chain for elongation. While this important maintenance forces a halt in the production process, the consequences of chain elongation include uneven conveyor motion as well as an increased risk of breakdown. Vibration and slippage of the conveyor can damage the product, as well as causing uneven alignment and disruption to the subsequent packaging process. More seriously, machine breakdown caused by chain failure can result in lengthy downtime.
Despite maintenance and adjustment, including regular lubrication, the chain had to be replaced every three months. After this situation had endured for 15 years, operations management ultimately calculated that investing in a premium quality roller chain would offset the cost, maintenance and downtime of frequently replacing a lower quality chain. The trial of a premium quality roller chain resulted in increased productivity and a reduction in the total cost of ownership. As a result, the team selected Tsubaki's GT4 Winner roller chain for the replacement.
"Tsubaki's chains have a wide range of sizes and configurations, so it simply meant a direct replacement to prove the concept of significantly reduced elongation and increased chain life," says Tsubakimoto Europe's Sales & Marketing Director, Jake Yamamoto. "Tsubaki's chain features, which are qualified with a highly robust test process, demonstrated that ultimately, the investment reduced the total cost of ownership and most significantly, helped to increase the pizza manufacturer's productivity."
A key attribute in reducing elongation is Tsubaki's patented Ring Coining design. Applying a cold deformation process around the pin hole of the connecting link plate adds strength and reinforces the chain immediately surrounding the pin. Reinforcing this typical stress area allows the chain to be specified to its full kW rating and significantly decreases the effects of elongation.
In combination, Tsubaki's Lube Groove system enables more effective lubrication, both decreasing maintenance requirements and increasing chain life. The specially designed lube grooves mean that lubrication is retained between the pin and the bush, the point of highest contact and friction, instead of dispersing. This feature minimised chain wear and elongation over time.
Following installation, the Tsubaki GT4 Winner far exceeded the three months lifetime of the previous chain and only required its first adjustment after 18 months' use. The longer life of the new chain resulted in a new challenge that the production facility's maintenance engineers hadn't previously encountered with the former roller chain: humidity. The original chains didn't last long enough to be susceptible to corrosion, so Tsubaki suggested using the Neptune chain instead to further prolong life in humid conditions.
With a special coating and resin, the Tsubaki Neptune is tested to withstand 700 hours of saline spray and remain corrosion free. The chain retains the same tensile strength and resistance to elongation as the GT4 Winner, thanks to its carbon-steel base. The Neptune's anti-corrosion treatment doesn't impact its strength or durability in any way, unlike some rust-prohibiting coatings.
"Now with the Tsubaki Neptune, the original chain is still running and, following its first upcoming adjustment at 18 months, the chain will provide the plant with many additional months of service," Jake adds. "The pizza manufacturer's maintenance and operations teams are convinced that the initial investment in a precision engineered roller chain certainly provided economic pay-back as well as reducing their maintenance requirements and overall budget."
]]>Another corrosion resistant chain in Tsubaki's range, BS stainless steel chain, is designed for more aggressive environments, such as underwater, acidic and alkaline applications, and high and low temperature operations (-20°C to +400°C) All basic components of this chain are manufactured from SUS304 stainless steel, except the spring clips, which are made of SUS301).
Complementing the two corrosion resistant chain variants, and providing users with more choice to tailor chain type to specific applications, are BS Neptune™ and BS Nickel Plated corrosion protected chains.
BS Neptune chain is suitable for use in applications that are subject to alkaline cleaning and wet environments. Environmentally compliant, Neptune chain offers the advantage of not containing any chemically hazardous substances such as Hexavalent Chromium, Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, or Arsenic. As such, Tsubaki Neptune chain is suitable for use in machines that need to be RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliant.
BS Neptune chain is a standard Tsubaki BS chain that has undergone a special surface treatment process. The link plates, bushes, rollers and pins of the chain have a special coating applied in order to provide the maximum protection from the operating or environmental conditions. Kilowatt ratings for Neptune chain are the same as those for corresponding sizes of Tsubaki standard BS chain.
Completing Tsubaki's range of BS chains for corrosive environments is BS NP (Nickel-Plated) Chain. BS NP Chain offers light corrosion resistance, and an attractive exterior appearance. It is suitable for outdoor conditions where it is exposed to moisture.
Both the Neptune & Nickel Plated products benefit from the technology developed for the BS carbon steel chain range by way of the ring coined connecting links having 100% transmission capacity of the base chain. A unique design feature to Tsubaki.
]]>In addition to infeed machinery and saws, sawmill conveyor systems are an efficient way of transferring wood chippings towards the stage of bulk material handling and on from the plant to the next stage of processing. Screw conveyors are ideal to handle the bulk material, where the mechanism's flights carry the wood chippings onwards to storage.
At a sawmill in central France, the screw conveyor is powered by a 16B-1 drive chain. The conveyor is located outside, exposed to the elements of the varied seasonal conditions, as well as the ingress of wood fibres. As a result of challenging access, frequency of operation and the time and cost of maintenance, the chain goes without lubrication. This means that the chain has a short lifetime and needs replacement every six months due to wear elongation, which impacts operation of the conveyor and leads to breakdowns.
Over the lifetime of the conveyor, the procurement of a new chain every six months was continually increasing the total cost of ownership. This also increased the time and cost of scheduled maintenance while breakdowns reduced the productivity of the sawmill. Upgrading the quality and durability of the chain was a simple, effective way of lowering both cost and downtime.
"The Tsubaki Titan Chain RS16B-1 with special features to provide optimum wear resistance in harsh conditions was the optimum specification for the sawmill environment," explains a Tsubaki engineer.
"The Titan was developed specifically for use in aggressive applications and at this sawmill, after eight months, the chain shows no sign of deterioration or elongation. Our test procedure and previous installations on similar applications means that we expect the Titan to last at least four times longer than the previous chain."
To increase durability and resistance to corrosion, the Tsubaki Titan features nickel plated outer link plates and black oxide inner link plates for extra protection. The plates also include ring coining, a cold deformation process around the pin hole of the connecting link plate, which adds strength and allows the chain to be specified to its full kW rating. The chain's shot peening process also enhances resilience to stress corrosion, especially for heavy duty applications such as the screw conveyor. The precise deformation achieved by the process adds strength by reducing the stress profile.
Connecting the Titan's plates, hard coated pins give a low friction surface that increases wear resistance compared to untreated, economy-level roller chain pins. Connecting the plates and pins, the Tsubaki Titan Chain also features seamless bushes. Precision machined, this ensures smooth operation and minimises play. This increases chain life and, for a tough environment like a sawmill, reduces the potential for ingress.
The bushes also feature lubrication grooves that hold lube at the points where it's needed most. This limits wear between the pin and the bush. For operations like the sawmill where regular lubrication may not be possible, the lube grooves improve chain performance and longevity by retaining the lubrication applied during installation.
Previously, the sawmill operator viewed the conveyor's roller chain as a procurement commodity, with no significant impact on productivity or bottom line income. After going through several standard roller chains and realising the real expense of their replacement and associated costs, they understand the benefit of switching to a durable, highly engineered model.
1 https://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/France-FORESTRY.html
2 https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/french-forest-industry-not-taking-advantage-of-ever-growing-forests/
3 https://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/France-FORESTRY.html
Barendrecht as the clear underdog managed to withstand Ajax well until the tenth minute of the match. Just before half-time, Barendrecht had a few good shots that barely missed the goal. In the second half Vorthoren even managed to score, but Barendrecht was flagged for being offside unfortunately. Ajax won with 4-0 in their home stadium.
Most seem to agree that even though the game was decided in favour of Ajax, the amateur club from Barendrecht was the one showing their best.
Please have a look at the 2-minute impression of the day from BVV Barendrecht's Youtube channel:
To read Barendrecht's own prideful account (in Dutch), please visit their website:Please have a look at the 5-minute (Dutch) summary of yesterday's match for free from the official ESPN Youtube channel:
]]>Since then, the renewable energy contribution to Spain's national energy mix has strongly increased, reaching 38% in 2019 according to the International Energy Agency[1] and at latest count achieved nearly 44% of its total from renewables in 2020[2]. As a result of much of Spain's year-round sunlight exposure, a significant proportion of the country's renewable energy mix comes from solar energy.
One of the country's leading manufacturers of solar panels produces large-sized photovoltaic panels for commercial solar farms. Arrays of these panels are installed in fields and on hillsides that are unsuitable for development or cultivation (although sheep and cattle may graze between the panels). To maximise their generating capacity, each panel is mounted on a pedestal and has a drive system that slowly turns throughout the day so that the panel is always facing directly into the sun.
The drive motor works through a chain mechanism, but it was found that the originally-specified chain quickly corroded due to the effects of rain, dew and atmospheric moisture. This led to costly servicing and a short service life, meaning that chain frequently had to be replaced due to corrosion. Not only was this expensive, but it also tied up the valuable time of mechanics and engineers, preventing them from completing other duties.
Tsubaki provided a solution to this dilemma by suggesting that the existing chains were replaced with ones from its Neptune™ range. These chains are designed for harsh environments and demanding duties, so have a high tensile strength plus a special coating that is corrosion resistant.
The coating is a two-layer surface treatment that seals the chain components from corrosive environments. The outer or top coat resin protects the chain from physical impact and forms the first line of defence against corrosive substances. Below this a second layer prevents oxidisation from reaching the chain. The coatings are applied prior to chain assembly (to ensure that each component is completely coated) in an ambient temperature process so that the metal is not weakened by heat. As a result Tsubaki Neptune chains are ideal for outdoor use, wet environments and even on washdown equipment.
An initial trial proved successful, with the Tsubaki Neptune chains lasting far longer than the OE solution due to their corrosion resistance - reducing the frequency with which they had to be replaced. Furthermore, as the Tsubaki chains were stronger they were less prone to stretching with use, so there was also a reduction in the need to send engineers out to do adjustments in the field. The net result of these two gains was a significant reduction in the Total Cost of Ownership of the solar panels.
With Spain committed to being a leading developer and user of clean solar power, steady improvements in the underlying technology are essential. Tsubaki is always working to increase the performance of its chains and so expects to be able to help with the long-term effort to maximise the uptake of green energy solutions.
]]>This backlash was found to disrupt small amounts of material and led to pile ups on the conveyor. This in turn resulted in issues such as belt binding that ultimately meant downtime for repairs and maintenance. The mining operators approached Tsubaki's engineers to investigate and suggest a solution. It was quickly decided that Tsubaki's Cam Clutch BS-F backstops would eliminate backlash - offering the additional benefit of reduced maintenance times and long-term cost savings.
The Cam Clutch backstop design holds high backstop torque, as well as excessive torque on its flat area, up to a total of nearly 1,000,000 Nm. This creates near instantaneous stopping for virtually all conveyor applications, preventing any form of run-back and material pile ups. This significantly reduces maintenance time and increases plant productivity. Non-rollover cams prevent runback even if overloaded, providing an additional layer of safety.
"The BS-F backstop has been designed to not only ensure a safer design for operators and the protection of the machinery by preventing runback, but the cams remove any backlash on a conveyor belt stoppage," says Jake Yamamoto, Sales & Marketing Director for Tsubakimoto Europe B.V. "This has resolved the mining operator's challenge of material pile up, which was ultimately causing maintenance challenges and decreasing operational efficiency."
Jake adds: "Combined with reducing pile-up induced downtime, from our site inspection, it was apparent that the mining operator would also be able to benefit productivity by decreasing downtime for lubrication and general maintenance, as well as extending replacement intervals and lowering long term cost."
During overrunning conditions on the conveyor, the BS-F's integrated rollers operate alongside the cams within the same cage. This design, combined with lower speed of rotation and constant flow of lubrication, reduces wear on both the cams and the race. Lower speed operation also means decreased operating temperatures, which also contributes to longer life, providing reduced capital cost and less time required in maintenance and replacement.
A mining environment is tough, and ingress of dust and grit can clog up mechanisms and cause rapid deterioration of mechanical devices. With this in mind, the backstops lubrication port incorporates a labyrinth seal that prevents the ingress of dust or water. At the same time, constant lubrication flow is generated by a self-lubrication system that includes temperature adapted grease. While helping to maintain efficient operation, the system cuts down maintenance requirements with re-lubrification only required once a year.
The high torque capacity of the BS-F Cam Clutch, even against similar trapped roller designs, also enables a smaller overall backstop design. This design aspect was advantageous for retrofit on the mining operator's existing conveyor systems where installation was quickly achieved with no modifications required. The narrow width i-beam will fit virtually any existing conveyor structure with no modifications required, and the compact size also means faster, easier installation. Compact dimensions are also joined by quiet operation compared to other backstop devices.
Following installation, the mining operator was satisfied with the improved safety and operational benefits afforded by the Tsubaki BS-F backstop. Long term, the investment has also provided capital spend efficiencies.
Explore the workings of the Tsubaki BS-F backstop Cam Clutch in below video:
]]>]]> As early as the 16th century, Leonardo Da Vinci's drawings depicted his design of a chain comprising plates, pins and a roller bearing, in much the same way as modern chains are constructed today. By the late 1800s, the height of the Industrial Revolution had arrived, with the economical production of steel combined with the development in processing techniques. These advances helped the introduction of the first roller chain in 1880.
The roller chain also features inner links held together by a pair of bushes. However, now roller were placed over each bush that can rotate freely. This design significantly increased chain performance by reducing friction between chain and sprockets, improving strength and longevity.
The use of roller chains continued to expand into wider applications, including chain-driven bicycles from the mid-1880s to the Wright Flyer in 1903, the world's first powered flight aircraft.
Founded in 1917 in Osaka, Japan, Tsubaki arrived early on the scene, initially manufacturing bicycle chains. By 1928, Tsubaki too had moved on with advancing industry, now making chains for machinery. While the company's expansion included global export in the 1950s, followed by global manufacture, the original design remained relatively stable throughout most of the roller chain's history.
The development of lubrication-free roller chains
A significant technological advance in design was introduced by Tsubaki in 1988 with its first lube-free roller chain. The Lambda lubrication-free chain was designed for applications that were difficult to lubricate regularly, or those that were inaccessible. Another critical application for the Lambda would include those where lubrication could contaminate the manufactured product or environment. The food and beverage sector would benefit greatly, as would wider hygienic applications.
Today's Lambda chain, though far longer lasting than the original, is based on the same design. The lube-free technology includes bushes that are sintered, meaning the material is formed into a solid mass through heating without liquification. As a result, lubrication is stored inside the bushing, which is formed as a semi-porous material. When the chain heats through friction, the material expands, and the lubricant is dispersed. When the chain slows and isn't in use, it cools and the lubricant returns.
Now in its sixth generation, the Lambda Lube Free chain is supplied impregnated with NSF-H1 food grade lubricant, meaning the chain can be used across applications in the food industry. H3 grade oil is also available on request. While the chains can operate in temperatures from -10 to 150°C, a heat resistant version is available that pushes this figure to 230°C.
Anti-corrosion technology
For as long as chains have been used to drive applications in wet, saline and chemical environments, rust has been an issue. Corrosion reduces chain performance and efficiency, creates contamination and leads to premature failure. For marine and outdoor applications, as well as those involving regular washdowns, in 1989 Tsubaki launched its first surface-treated chain, which underwent 300 hours of salt spray testing without developing rust.
The fourth and current generation of the anti-corrosion chain, Tsubaki's Neptune, includes a special coating as well as a resin applied over the carbon-steel base chain. Unlike some other chains subjected to anti-corrosion treatments, the Neptune retains the same strength as a standard carbon steel chain. Tested to withstand 700 hours of salt water spray, Neptune is also tested against 2,000 hours of sodium hypochlorite and 5% sodium hydroxide exposure, remaining corrosion-free.
Advances in roller chain durability
Tsubaki chains are treated with shot peening, a process that increases resistance to fatigue failure, stress corrosion cracking and corrosion fatigue, as well as cavitation erosion. Impacting a surface with shot, using round metallic or ceramic particles, and with force sufficient to cause deformation, the process adds strength and reduces the stress profile.
Traditionally, the connecting link is the proverbial weakest link of a chain with a fatigue strength ca. 20% lower than that of the rest. Tsubaki developed a special process to eliminate this loss of fatigue strength: the patented ring coining process. Using a cold deformation process around the pin hole of the connecting link plate results in the Ring Coin feature. This adds strength, reinforcing the area surrounding the connection between the pin and link plate that allows the chain to be specified to its full kW rating.
Applications that are subject to high levels of dust and grit, like saw mills, stone sawyers or mines, need a higher level of durability. One of the latest advances is a roller chain with nickel-plated outer chain plates and hardened pins. These features are included on Tsubaki's Titan chain, which also has bushes with specially designed lubrication grooves to hold lube at the point where friction reaches its peak.
Trends in specifying chains for today's applications
Where chains are directly connected to human safety, such as driving a roller coaster, the need to specify the most durable and safe chain is clear. Similarly, with applications that face particularly high load, the need for premium quality chains is a given, such as a Tsubaki manufactured chain for an apron conveyor at a steel mill. With individual links around a metre in length, the customer required a chain with a tensile strength of up to 3,530 kN (360 tons).
However, the trend for improved chain durability across all types of applications is increasing in the face of growing challenges to improve operational efficiency. While the benefit of low cost chains used to be reflected purely in the initial procurement budget, the consequences of increased maintenance and downtime in chain replacement is now becoming clearer as an added cost. With premium chains potentially lasting three to four times longer than low cost versions, more frequent chain replacement increases expenditure over the long term, as well as impacting operational productivity.
While roller chain design has remained relatively stable since 1880, the biggest change in technology has come from the advances that extend durability and lifespan. As efficient operations look increasingly at total cost of ownership, this coincides with a shifting perception that the chain is no longer a basic commodity but is today an integral component of a mechanical operation.
]]>With the high-cost implications of chain failure, and the impact that a chain can have on the quality of the process its driving, a chain is integral to operational success in most industrial processes. The demands of each application vary according to its environment, so working with a supplier who can help identify the challenges and offer engineered solutions is key to specifying chain that will offer long-life and reduced operating costs.
Abrasive environments
In harsh industrial environments such as metal working, sawmills or cement processing, dust and abrasive particles are unavoidable. Dust infiltrates moving parts that can accelerate wear and reduce a chain's lifespan. Even before that stage, grit and abrasive elements will reduce the efficiency and control of power transmission.
Tsubaki Titan was specially developed to operate in these conditions. The chain's pins have a hard coated, low friction surface for increased wear and corrosion resistance.
Its seamless bushes are perfectly cylindrical, ensuring smooth operation and increasing wear resistance in areas where tight tolerances are crucial. These seamless bushes also include Lube Grooves that hold the oil between the pin and the bush, the point of greatest contact, maintaining lubrication.
Corrosive environments
With a presence of water there's the potential of corrosion that will rapidly deteriorate the chain. Corrosion is particularly prevalent if the area undergoes chemical cleaning or where the water contains high levels of salt such as in marine environments.
Resistance to corrosion requires a chain with adequate coating to repel the effects while maintaining strength. Tsubaki's Neptune chain is designed for use in corrosive environments and includes a two-stage coating including an outer resin that provides high corrosion and chemical resistance.
Heavy impact use
Chain durability and performance is significantly challenged in applications that involve shock loads, or where high power transmission or heavier loads are required. Compact applications, for example where larger double stranded chains cannot be used, also face similar challenges.
Tsubaki's Heavy Duty chain range is designed for increased load capabilities and includes higher tensile strength. As well as providing the performance for these demanding applications, the Heavy-Duty range gives longer life with features such as increased plate thickness and through-hardened pins for greater fatigue strength.
Clean environments and lube-free chains
In clean environments, such as food and beverage or pharmaceutical production, it's essential that the chain does not cause contamination. In these situations, lubrication can't be used for the potential of dispersal. For other applications, lubrication might not be easy or possible because of where the chain is located.
Tsubaki's Lambda lube-free chain ensures long-term use with sintered bushes, impregnated with food-grade lubricant, combined with a special coated pin enhancing internal lubrication.
The right chain saves cost
Matching a chain to its environment not only optimises the performance and efficiency of the chain for long term use, it maximises its lifetime. The danger of treating all applications and environments the same, and of considering the chain as a replaceable commodity, ultimately increases cost.
The right chain for the conditions will not only make the life of an MRO engineer easier, it will save costs in maintenance and most critically, it will reduce the cost of downtime - planned or otherwise.
]]>The chain's position is difficult to reach from a maintenance perspective and also, as a result of the wet environment, relubrication is difficult. With an irregular lubrication regime combined with the corrosive conditions, the conveyor's chain required replacement every two years. Frequent chain replacement increased procurement costs and, because of the chain's difficult to access location, it also increased downtime, reducing the wine producer's productivity.
The wine producer replaced the spiral conveyor's chain with Tsubaki Neptune, designed for use in corrosive environments. The Neptune has significantly outlasted the two-year service life of the previous chain and has already reduced the total cost of ownership. Crucially, the chain's extended service life has minimised downtime with less frequent replacement and servicing, which has also reduced the time and cost of maintenance.
The Tsubaki Neptune's durability is a result of its coating that is applied to provide resistance to corrosion and chemicals. With a two-layer coating including resin covering the links, plates, bushes and pins, the Neptune is tested to withstand 700 hours of salt water spray. The chain is also tested for 2,000 hours' resistance against sodium hypochlorite and sodium hydroxide, which are frequently used as cleaning agents in the food and beverage industry.
Other anti-corrosion type chains such as stainless steel variants have to make concessions in the strength department. However, the Neptune is a carbon steel chain with the same tensile strength and allowable load as Tsubaki's standard, hard-wearing roller chains. The special coating also protects against friction, which speeds-up chain wear, by minimising severe dynamic contact between the roller and sprocket.
The treatment to reduce corrosion can create harmful environmental consequences and for the wine producer, it was crucial to avoid these effects. Tsubaki's Neptune chain is free from harmful hexavalent chromium and other potentially dangerous elements such as arsenic, lead, mercury or cadmium.
Because of the anti-corrosion properties, the Neptune chain is frequently used in applications that are subject to frequent and rigorous alkaline cleaning and wet environments. Typically, this includes applications in the food & beverage industry, waste treatment, packaging and PET bottle sterilisation. The German wine producer is satisfied with their investment in a premium grade component, which is key to the performance and productivity of their manufacturing process.
]]>However, this capability doesn't translate to greatly increased cost, as Pin Gear Drives, especially in larger sizes, provide similar performance to gear sets at a more competitive cost point. The speed ratio can also be increased for a lower cost compared to sprocket and roller chain drives, both of which do not provide such impressive load or torque capacity. Unlike roller chains, Pin Gear Drives do not require tension adjustment, improving uptime and cost-effectiveness.
Another area where Tsubaki Pin Gear Drives excel is the increased design versatility they can provide to machine builders. The optimised engagement of pin and gear means that wheel diameter or rack length can be specified with complete freedom. A segmented, modular design allows for designers to increase the size or complexity of Pin Gear Drives seamlessly. Furthermore, this ensures increased ease of installation, as segments can be fitted with minimal fuss, even for large, complex systems. The same is true of disassembly, which consequently streamlines any maintenance work. By fitting the gear within a wheel or rack, machine builders can also achieve a more compact design. Units are available in steel, stainless steel and surface coated variants, further enhancing versatility.
Versatility of specification ensures suitable applications across multiple sectors. Usage in heavy load transfer carriages, industrial furnaces, environmental sanitation equipment, welding roll overs, railway turntables, revolving door mechanisms, casting lines, rotary kilns, large transporters, solar panel tracking systems, handling robots, pallet changers and pallet pools for machine tools is common. Tsubaki can work directly with an end user or machine builder to provide custom solutions to exactly fit an application.
To provide ease of specification and enhance system reliability, Tsubaki offers a wide range of compatible options. Machine builders can select gear motors, gearboxes, drive chains, sprockets, servo motor reducers, locking devices as well as hose and cable carrier systems.
With a global capability, Tsubaki can dispatch expert engineers to customer facilities to assess equipment and select an optimal Pin Gear Drive solution. On-site support is also available post purchase, providing additional assurance to machine builders and operators. By selecting Tsubaki Pin Gear Drives, end users and machine builders not only gain access to a heavy duty, versatile and cost-effective solution - but also all the support required to ensure continued uptime post installation.
]]>]]> Tsubaki Zip Chain Actuators utilise zip chains with an end fitting bracket, which can be housed within a compact chain case. The zip chains engage quietly outside of the housing, with a specially designed Tsubaki sprocket ensuring smooth power transmission. This design enables installation in any direction, allowing for lifting, horizontal movement and suspension - providing versatility for the needs of a wide array of equipment.
Primary benefits include an inherently compact design compared to traditional linear actuators. The height of the chain housing case can be up to 90% less than the stroke, which eliminates the space efficiency issues suffered by pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders. Furthermore, pipes associated with pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders are replaced by cables. This allows for installation within compact spaces, or, offers the opportunity to reduce the footprint of equipment designs. Combined with an integrated drive structure and the ability to install in any direction, Tsubaki Zip Chain Actuators provide plenty of options for equipment manufacturers looking to downsize systems.
Compactness is matched with excellent reliability and speed. Designed to provide exceptional wear protection and high resistance to chain elongation, Tsubaki Zip Chain Actuators have an expected travelling distance of up to 4,000 km. A top speed of up to 1,000 mm/s far outstrips the capabilities of screw type, pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders. Combined with servo motors, Tsubaki Zip Chain Actuators can carry out multi-point stopping with high precision.
For those looking to reduce their carbon footprint, Tsubaki Zip Chain Actuators also offer an advantage in this regard. Inherently energy efficient to produce and operate when compared to pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders, Zip Chain Actuators have a reduced overall CO2 output. The complicated systems associated with pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders naturally result in increased power losses, while the simplicity of Tsubaki Zip Chain Actuators ensures reduced losses and a high system conversion efficiency. As well as reduced environmental impact, high efficiency also enables energy cost savings.
Tsubaki Zip Chains are lubricated by grease, removing problematic oil lines and eliminating any leakage risks. The drive source of Tsubaki Zip Chain Actuators is simply connected by cables, which further eases maintenance work.
Suitable applications include pallet transfer devices, lifting equipment, part tray lifters, furnace doors, container sorting equipment and automated guided vehicles (AGVs).
]]>At Tsubaki our priority is safeguarding the health of our staff, preventing the spread of the virus whilst continuing to help our customers.
Therefore, we have put several actions in place such as reducing the movement of people by working from home, social distancing and several preventative health measures, where we closely follow the health authorities' directions.
]]> Nevertheless, at Tsubaki we stay fully connected and at your service as our offices in the Netherlands, Spain, Germany and in the United Kingdom remain open during the regular business hours.From our (home) offices, workshops and distribution centers in Europe and our fully operational manufacturing facilities in Japan we continue to do our utmost to keep your processes up and running. Our manufacturing plants in Japan are fully operational and replenishing our stocks.
We are confident to overcome this difficult period in time together.
For any queries on the above please contact:
info@tsubaki.eu
+31 (0)78 6204000