Hollow pin chain built around the attachment

Hollow pin conveyor chain gives machine builders a direct way to mount cross rods, spacers, carriers, guides, pushers and purpose-designed fixtures through the chain pin. That simple feature makes the chain especially useful in packaging equipment, food and beverage machinery, assembly automation, light material handling and other conveyors where the chain also has to position or carry something.

Ever Power Transmission Chain offers MC, FVC, ZC, short-pitch and stainless hollow-pin options for new equipment and replacement projects. The product range spans compact short-pitch sizes through larger conveyor-chain formats, with different pitch choices and roller arrangements. Start with the machine geometry, then use the model pages to compare the pin bore, inner width, pin length, plate size and tensile reference values that matter to your design.

Choose the series that matches your machine

MC Series is a versatile hollow-pin conveyor family with multiple pitch choices and roller arrangements. FVC Series covers larger conveyor proportions and higher-capacity attachment interfaces. ZC Series provides a broad pitch range for conveyor layouts that need a through-pin attachment point. Short-pitch hollow pin chain is aimed at compact machinery where small pitch and repeatable carrier spacing matter. Stainless hollow pin chain adds corrosion resistance for wet or frequently cleaned environments.

Applications where hollow pins make the difference

In packaging lines, cross rods and fixtures can position cartons, trays, pouches or components through a filling, sealing, labeling or transfer sequence. In food machinery, removable carriers and product supports can make service access easier when the overall machine is designed for cleanability. In assembly systems, hollow pins can support indexed nests, pushers and tooling. In logistics equipment, the same concept can support guides or modular carrier elements on light conveyors.

The key is to treat the attachment as part of the load path. A long cross rod, an offset fixture or a wide two-strand carrier can introduce bending and side forces that are not described by chain tensile strength alone. Good selection therefore combines chain geometry with sprocket condition, guide alignment, product load, speed, shock, environment and maintenance practice.

What to confirm before ordering

A hollow-pin chain works as both a conveyor chain and an attachment interface. The chain pitch must match the sprocket, while the hollow bore, inner width, pin projection and roller arrangement must fit the carrier, cross rod, fixture or slat system. For replacement work, measure several pitches under light tension, record the chain width and bore, and check the condition of the sprockets and guides. For new equipment, include the attachment drawing early so the chain and the carried component can be reviewed as one assembly.

• Chain family or existing model/marking, required pitch and total length or pitch count.
• Hollow-pin bore, inner width, roller style and overall pin/plate envelope.
• Cross-rod, slat, flight, pusher or fixture drawing, including fastening method.
• Sprocket tooth count, shaft centers, guide arrangement and any critical side clearances.
• Conveyor speed, operating pull, starting or indexing duty, shock events and daily operating hours.
• Temperature, moisture, cleaning chemicals, dust, product residue and lubrication restrictions.
• Material or corrosion-resistance requirement, quantity and whether matched parallel strands are needed.

Replacement chain? Send the machine details, not only the model

For an existing conveyor, a model number is a useful starting point but the fastest way to confirm a workable replacement is to include clear photos, measured pitch, bore and width dimensions, sprocket details, attachment geometry and the operating environment. Worn components can distort measurements, so compare several links and photograph the chain while it is engaged with the sprocket and guides.

Why machine builders use hollow pins

A hollow pin is useful when the conveyor must do more than pull a load. The bore can become a repeatable mechanical interface for cross rods, flights, pushers, nests, guides or removable product supports. This gives equipment designers freedom to change the carried component without redesigning every chain link. It can also simplify replacement when the attachment can be separated from the chain instead of being permanently welded or riveted to a special plate.

For buyers, that flexibility makes dimensional control important. Two chains with the same pitch can still differ in hollow bore, inner width, pin projection, roller diameter and plate envelope. Those differences affect sprocket fit, side-frame clearance, guide height and the attachment itself. A useful quotation therefore starts with the chain and machine together.