Spin riveting for
maximum security
The use of spin riveting offers a number of unique advantages when it
comes to certain critical applications.
Although most conveyor
chain these days
is wedge riveted as
standard, the option to specify
spin riveting is an important
one and should be considered
for critical applications both
by designers of original
equipment and maintenance
engineers alike.
It’s an important
consideration and an effective
solution on applications where
attachments have been fitted
to the side plates of conveyor
chain that could be carrying
heavy loads.
In fact, Alec Annand,
the manager of Renold
Chain’s customer service
centre, recommends that all
engineers specifying custom
designed conveyor chain, with
attachments, should consider
the benefits of spin riveting as
an option, due to the extra side
plate security it provides.
The recommendation comes
after one manufacturer using
a large amount of conveyor
chain, at one of its plants, sent
an inspection team to Renold
Chain’s Bredbury Service
Centre to check on the quality
of its spin riveting process.
Conveyor chain operated
by the manufacturer was fitted
with attachments that had to
carry very heavy loads through
underground chambers that
were inherently dirty and
foul smelling. The load on the
chain’s side plates was causing
them to work loose over time
and eventually come off. An
engineer would then have
to descend into these dark,
unpleasant, chambers to carry
out repairs.
The maintenance team at
the manufacturer took the
decision to specify replacement
conveyor chain with spin
riveted side plates as the
solution. Not only would this
virtually eliminate the need
for engineers to enter the
unpleasant environment to
carry out repairs, but the spin
riveted chain would also cut
maintenance generally and
increase productivity.
Wedge riveting is cheaper
and quicker than spin riveting,
which is why most conveyor
chain manufacturers have
adopted it as a standard. It’s
fine on most applications,
especially where the side
plates are not fitted with load
carrying attachments, but spin
riveted conveyor chain provides
enhanced side plate security,
and Annand recommends that
it should be considered for all
critical applications.
During the spin riveting
process, at Renold’s customer
service centre, the pins are end
softened to prevent cracking
during riveting and to provide
RIVETING
easier on-site installation,
riveting and dismantling for
customers. The spin rivet itself
has a mushroom-like head and
provides much greater surface
area contact with the side plate.
It is this feature that provides
the enhanced security of the
chain’s side plates.
Renold Chain’s Bredbury
Service Centre produces both
transmission and conveyor
chain to customers’ exact
specifications with a wide
range of standard and custom
designed attachments. It serves
a wide range of industries
including industrial equipment
manufacturers, famous theme
park rides, packaging, printing,
food manufacture, bottling
plants and many more.
Renold Chain
www.renold.com
0161 498 4500
www.fastening-solutions.co.uk 29
/www.renold.com
/www.fastening-solutions.co.uk