Application of Fully Automatic Chain Linking Equipment
Nov 22,2025
# Applications of Fully Automatic Chain Linking Equipment
In the industrial manufacturing sector, chains serve as core components in transmission, conveying, and lifting systems, and their production quality directly impacts the stability and safety of equipment operation. Traditionally, chain production relied on manual linking combined with semi-automatic machinery, leading to inefficiencies, poor precision, and challenges in ensuring consistent quality. However, with the advancement of Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing technologies, fully automated chain-linking equipment—thanks to its high efficiency, exceptional accuracy, and intelligent capabilities—has emerged as a critical breakthrough for the chain manufacturing industry.
### I. Technological Innovation: From Manual to Full Automation Upgrade
Traditionally, chain-link assembly relied on manual labor, requiring workers to individually bend and align each link before welding—a process that was not only inefficient but also prone to human error, leading to uneven gaps between links and inconsistent weld strength. In contrast, the fully automated chain-link assembly equipment integrates robotic arms, CNC systems, and intelligent sensors, enabling seamless automation across the entire production process—from raw material feeding and link assembly to welding and final quality inspection. For instance, the chain-link machine developed by Northern Welding Machine Group supports the assembly of 5–10mm diameter round chains, achieving an assembly speed of 45–55 links per minute—more than three times faster than manual operations. Additionally, the machine is equipped with an Omron PLC control system that continuously monitors key parameters such as welding pressure, temperature, and positional accuracy, ensuring that the tolerance for each link remains tightly controlled within ±0.05mm.
At the heart of technological upgrades lies innovation in mechanical design and intelligent electrical control. Take, for instance, the BJ7 fully automatic chain-linking machine—this advanced equipment incorporates cutting-edge Italian technology, featuring a variable-frequency drive that enables stepless adjustment of the linking speed. Paired with a synchronized dual-robot arm gripping system, it can simultaneously handle the linking process for two chains. The robotic arms are equipped with rotating connectors and an elastic-body design, allowing for more flexible finger movements that easily adapt to the bending requirements of chain links with varying specifications—achieving a high-quality linking success rate of up to 99.8%. Additionally, the machine includes a built-in automatic lubrication system and a fault-warning module, significantly reducing downtime for maintenance and extending the equipment's operational lifespan.
### II. Multi-Scenario Applications: Covering the Entire Industrial Chain's Needs
The fully automatic chain-linking equipment boasts a wide range of applications, spanning industries such as mining, marine, lifting, and material handling. In the mining machinery sector, high-strength round-link chains must endure impact loads and harsh environmental conditions, making impeccable linking quality absolutely critical. The SKBL40 fully automatic chain-linking machine, manufactured by Shandong Mining Machinery Group, is capable of producing large-diameter chains ranging from 16 to 42 mm. Utilizing hydraulic transmission and high-temperature heating technology, this machine ensures that each link retains exceptional strength and toughness throughout the linking process. The chains produced by this equipment have already been successfully integrated into coal mine scraper conveyors and tunnel-boring machines, significantly reducing failure rates by up to 60% compared to traditional manufacturing methods.
The manufacturing of marine anchor chains places even higher demands on corrosion resistance and fatigue strength. Pengyuwei Welding Machine Company has developed the KEB4.1 fully automatic chain-linking machine, which utilizes medium-frequency inverter welding technology. By precisely controlling welding current and time, the machine ensures uniform welds at the joint areas of chain links, achieving a tensile strength 1.5 times higher than the national standard. This advanced equipment has already been put into use for producing anchor chains for 10,000-ton cargo ships, with individual chain lengths reaching up to 2,000 meters—and the linking process itself is now completed in just one-third the time required by conventional methods.
In the field of lifting and rigging, lightweight yet high-precision chains are crucial. The BJ18 fully automatic chain-linking machine is specifically designed for lifting chains with diameters ranging from 13 to 18 mm. Although its linking speed is limited to just 20–30 loops per minute, the machine achieves a 15% reduction in chain weight—while maintaining the same rated load capacity—thanks to optimized mechanical design and advanced welding techniques. This equipment has already earned EU CE certification and is widely integrated into the supply chains of European crane manufacturers.
### 3. Industry Upgrade: Driving the Intelligent Transformation of Chain Manufacturing
The widespread adoption of fully automated chain-link equipment is driving the industry’s transformation from labor-intensive to technology-driven operations. Take Northern Welding Machine Group as an example: at its Zhangjiakou production base, the company has introduced a fully automated production line that enables unmanned operations—from raw material cutting and chain-link assembly to welding and final inspection. As a result, the daily production capacity of a single line has surged from 500 units to 2,000 units, while labor costs have been slashed by 70%. Additionally, the IoT modules integrated into the equipment allow real-time upload of production data to the cloud, enabling the company to analyze data and fine-tune process parameters. This has helped reduce product defect rates from 3% to just 0.5%.
Technological iteration has also given rise to new business models. Some equipment manufacturers have begun offering customized "equipment + service" solutions—for instance, helping chain production companies build smart factories by integrating fully automated linking machines, stretching machines, and inspection equipment into a closed-loop production system. The successful experience with Kunjin’s fully automatic bundling machine for zippers demonstrates that, through modular design and flexible manufacturing, the same equipment can easily adapt to the production needs of chains with varying specifications, enabling small and medium-sized enterprises to swiftly respond to market changes.
### IV. Future Outlook: Dual-Driven Forces of Smartization and Green Development
With the convergence of artificial intelligence and 5G technology, fully automated chain-linking equipment will evolve toward greater intelligence and sustainability. On one hand, the equipment will integrate visual recognition systems, using cameras to monitor chain-link shapes and welding quality in real time, enabling automatic defect detection, marking, and even repair. On the other hand, the adoption of low-energy drive technologies and renewable energy sources will significantly reduce operational costs—for instance, replacing traditional asynchronous motors with servo motors could cut energy consumption by up to 40%.
Against the backdrop of intensifying global competition, fully automated chain-linking equipment has become a microcosm of China's manufacturing industry as it transitions toward "intelligent manufacturing." From the north
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