Stainless Steel Chains

Stainless-steel-chains

SUS304 and SUS316L stainless steel roller chains for food processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, chemical handling, and washdown environments. Short pitch, double pitch, hollow pin, and specialty series available. ISO 606 and ANSI B29.1 pitch dimensions.

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SUS304

Standard Grade

SUS316L

Marine / Chemical Grade

-200 to +800C

Temperature Range

ISO 606

and ANSI B29.1

Stainless Steel Chain - Product Overview

Korea Ever-Power stainless steel chains cover the full range of corrosion-resistant power transmission and conveying chains used in industries where a standard carbon steel chain would be attacked by cleaning agents, process chemicals, moisture, or direct food contact. The range reproduces the same pitch geometries as the standard A and B series driving chains, which means any existing sprocket that was designed for a carbon steel chain of the same model number can also run the stainless steel version without modification.

Two principal material grades are available. SUS304 (18% chromium, 8% nickel, austenitic) is the standard choice for food contact applications, pharmaceutical equipment, and general-purpose wet environments. It resists most organic acids and alkaline cleaning agents at ambient temperature. SUS316L (16% chromium, 10% nickel, 2% molybdenum, low carbon) adds the molybdenum content needed to resist chloride pitting, making it the correct grade for marine environments, chlorinated water washdown, saline brine conveying, and any application where the chain contacts process chemicals containing chlorine or halides.

The EP stainless steel range spans short pitch roller chains (A and B series pitch dimensions), straight side plate roller chains, roller chain attachments in K1/K2/A1/A2 configurations, double pitch roller chains (C2050/C2060/C2080 series), hollow pin chains (HP series), and a range of specialty conveyor chains for cold drink production lines, sausage production, side-bow applications for curved conveyor tracks, sharp top chains for flat conveying, and anti-sidebow push chains for casement window drives. Custom material combinations using SUS316L pins in SUS304 plates are available for applications requiring maximum corrosion resistance at the articulation joint.

Korea Ever-Power stainless steel chains SUS304 SUS316L product

SUS304 vs SUS316L - Material Selection Guide

Criterion SUS304 (18-8) SUS316L (Molybdenum)
Composition 18% Cr, 8% Ni 16% Cr, 10% Ni, 2% Mo, low C
Chloride resistance Moderate; avoid >200ppm Cl environments High; suitable for brine, seawater, chlorinated washdown
Acid resistance Good against organic acids and mild inorganic acids Better performance against dilute sulfuric and phosphoric acid
Food contact (FDA/EU) Fully compliant for food contact Fully compliant; preferred for dairy and meat processing
Temperature range -200C to +800C continuous -200C to +800C continuous
Tensile strength Approximately 70-80% of equivalent carbon steel chain Similar to SUS304; slightly lower yield strength
Typical applications Bakery, fruit and vegetable processing, pharmaceutical tablet lines, bottling Meat and fish processing, seafood conveying, chemical dosing, offshore
Price premium Baseline for stainless steel chains Approximately 20-35% above SUS304 equivalent

SS Short Pitch Roller Chains - A Series (ANSI)

Standard: ANSI B29.1. Pitch and dimensional geometry identical to carbon steel A series. Tensile strength values are for SUS304; SUS316L values are approximately 5-10% lower. Model prefix EP-SS denotes stainless steel grade.

Stainless-steel-short-pitch-roller-chains-dimension-1

EP Model ANSI No. Pitch (mm) Roller Width (mm) Roller Dia. (mm) Pin Dia. (mm) Min. Tensile (kN) Wt. (kg/m)
EP-SS08A SS40 12.700 7.92 7.92 3.96 8.9 0.70
EP-SS10A SS50 15.875 9.53 10.16 5.08 13.8 1.04
EP-SS12A SS60 19.050 12.70 11.91 5.94 20.0 1.51
EP-SS16A SS80 25.400 15.88 15.88 7.92 35.6 2.64
EP-SS20A SS100 31.750 19.05 19.05 9.53 55.6 3.87
EP-SS24A SS120 38.100 25.40 22.23 11.10 80.1 5.73
EP-SS32A SS160 50.800 31.75 28.58 14.27 142.3 10.36

SS Short Pitch Roller Chains - B Series (ISO)

Standard: ISO 606. Pitch and dimensional geometry identical to carbon steel B series. Sprocket compatibility: ISO 606 tooth form only. SUS304 standard; SUS316L on request with 2-week lead time premium.

EP Model ISO No. Pitch (mm) Roller Width (mm) Roller Dia. (mm) Pin Dia. (mm) Min. Tensile (kN) Wt. (kg/m)
EP-SS06B SS06B-1 9.525 5.72 6.35 3.28 5.6 0.42
EP-SS08B SS08B-1 12.700 7.75 8.51 4.45 11.0 0.72
EP-SS10B SS10B-1 15.875 9.65 10.16 5.08 13.8 0.95
EP-SS12B SS12B-1 19.050 11.68 12.07 5.72 17.8 1.18
EP-SS16B SS16B-1 25.400 17.02 15.88 8.28 36.5 2.80
EP-SS20B SS20B-1 31.750 19.56 19.05 10.19 58.0 3.73
EP-SS24B SS24B-1 38.100 25.40 25.40 14.63 98.0 7.27
EP-SS32B SS32B-1 50.800 30.99 29.21 17.81 152.0 10.50

SS Double Pitch Conveyor Chains

Double pitch stainless steel chains use the same roller diameter and pin diameter as the standard pitch equivalent, but with pitch doubled. This reduces the chain cost per metre and is suitable for slower conveying speeds where the longer pitch does not cause excessive chordal action. C-series prefix denotes double pitch conveyor geometry.

EP Model ANSI No. Pitch (mm) Roller Dia. (mm) Roller Width (mm) Min. Tensile (kN) Wt. (kg/m)
EP-SS2040 C2040 25.40 7.92 7.92 8.9 0.48
EP-SS2050 C2050 31.75 10.16 9.53 13.8 0.74
EP-SS2060 C2060 38.10 11.91 12.70 20.0 1.09
EP-SS2080 C2080 50.80 15.88 15.88 35.6 1.90
EP-SS2100 C2100 63.50 19.05 19.05 55.6 2.83

Specialty Stainless Steel Chain Series

EP-SS-HP Hollow Pin Chains

The pin is hollow through its full length, allowing a rod, bolt, or attachment bar to pass through the pin bore. Used on bottle filling lines, packaging lines, and medical device assembly equipment where cross pins must mount fixtures or guides to the chain without interrupting the chain profile.

Pitch range: 9.525 mm to 50.8 mm. SUS304 standard, SUS316L on request. Hollow bore diameter 3.0 mm to 12.0 mm depending on chain size.

SS Straight Side Plate Chains

Side plates with straight top and bottom edges (no waist cutout) for increased fatigue strength in shock-loaded applications. The straight plate provides approximately 15-20% higher plate fatigue life than the standard curved profile at the same pitch. Used in bottling machine drives, printing plate conveyors, and washdown environment drive applications.

Available in ANSI 40 through ANSI 100 pitch sizes. SUS304 as standard.

SS Side-Bow Roller Chains

Designed to negotiate curved horizontal track sections as well as straight runs. The pin-bush clearance is enlarged and the plate holes are profiled to allow the chain to deflect sideways to a defined minimum radius. Used in bottling plant conveying systems, food plant horizontal curve conveyors, and packaging line transfer curves. SUS304 is standard for food plant environments.

Pitch 12.7 mm to 25.4 mm. Minimum bend radius specification available on enquiry.

SS Attachment Chains (K and A Types)

Standard K1, K2, A1, and A2 bent attachment plates in SUS304 or SUS316L for mounting guides, fixtures, pusher bars, or product supports to the chain. Attachments are welded or cold-formed as part of the chain link plate - no separate attachment hardware to loosen or corrode. Available at any link pitch (every link, every two links, every N links).

Attachment plate dimensions to ISO 606 standard. Custom attachment geometry produced to drawing.

SS Conveyor Chains for Cold Drink Lines

Specialised conveying chains for PET bottle and can conveyors in beverage production plants. These chains run in direct contact with bottles and cans in wet cold environments where carbon steel would corrode rapidly and contaminate the line. The chain profile is engineered to provide stable bottle support without tipping. Pitch 25.4 mm to 50.8 mm.

SUS304 standard for this series. SUS316L available for chlorinated water washdown environments.

SS Anti-Sidebow Push Chains

Rigid push chains that resist lateral deflection when loaded in compression, allowing the chain to push a sliding mechanism through a guide tube or channel without buckling. Used for operating casement windows, actuating sliding doors in clean-room pharmaceutical facilities, and pushing product into packaging machines. A unique column-strength stainless steel chain category.

SUS304 standard. Pitch 9.525 mm to 19.05 mm. Available in coil or pre-cut lengths.

Korea Ever-Power stainless steel chain manufacturing facility and quality control

Five Manufacturing Advantages of EP Stainless Steel Chains

Certified Material Origin

All SUS304 and SUS316L stainless steel strip used in EP chain production carries a mill certificate verifying chemical composition and mechanical properties to JIS G4305 or EN 10088 standard. Material certificates are included with every shipment and available on the buyer portal for audit purposes.

Passivation Treatment

Each finished chain undergoes a nitric acid passivation bath to remove free iron surface contamination introduced during machining and assembly. Passivation restores the full chromium oxide passive layer at all cut and worked surfaces. Without passivation, machined stainless steel surfaces can show surface rust within days of exposure to moisture, even though the bulk metal is stainless.

Dedicated SS Production Lines

Stainless steel chains are assembled on production equipment that does not handle carbon steel. Cross-contamination of carbon steel particles into stainless assemblies causes galvanic corrosion pitting at contamination points. Separate tooling, assembly tables, press heads, and storage racks are maintained for stainless production.

Food-Grade Lubrication Option

For food contact applications, EP stainless chains can be factory-assembled with an NSF H1-registered white mineral oil at the pin-plate interface instead of the standard mineral gear oil. This removes the requirement for the user to re-lubricate with a food-grade lubricant before commissioning and reduces the risk of non-compliant lubricant contact in the first hours of operation.

Dimensional Interchangeability

EP-SS stainless steel chains in the A and B series short pitch range are dimensionally interchangeable with the equivalent carbon steel chains of the same pitch and series. If you already run EP-12A carbon steel chains and need to move to stainless for a washdown zone upgrade, the EP-SS12A stainless chain fits the existing sprockets with no modification.

Applications

Food and Beverage Processing

Bakery oven conveyors, fruit washing lines, juice pasteurisation equipment, canning plant conveyors, and cold drink bottle conveyors. EP-SS12A and EP-SS08B are the most common choices for food drive chains. Double pitch EP-SS2060 and EP-SS2080 chains are used for product transport at low conveying speeds where chain cost per metre is a factor. NSF H1 factory lubricant option is available for all food contact chain grades.

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Tablet press drives, blister packaging machine conveyors, vial filling line transport, and lyophiliser (freeze-dryer) tray loading systems. Stainless steel chains in cleanroom pharmaceutical applications must be capable of steam sterilisation at 121 degrees C for autoclave-compatible versions. EP-SS10B and EP-SS12B are commonly specified. Anti-sidebow push chains are used in automated vial handling systems.

Chemical and Petrochemical

Pump drives in chemical metering systems, conveying chains in acid storage areas, and elevated-temperature drives in chemical plant where the ambient temperature degrades carbon steel at rates that require frequent replacement. EP-SS16A and EP-SS20A in SUS316L are typical in chlorine and fluorine compound handling environments. High-temperature stainless chains for up to 800 degrees C are available on request.

Marine and Offshore

Deck equipment drives on commercial vessels, fish processing line conveyors on factory ships, offshore platform utility drives, and tidal zone equipment where continuous saltwater exposure prohibits carbon steel. SUS316L is the mandatory choice for all marine environments. EP-SS16A and EP-SS20A in SUS316L are stock sizes for marine applications. External coatings are not recommended - the base material must provide the corrosion resistance.

Related Products - Chains and Matching Sprockets

Korea Ever-Power sprockets and chain wheels for driving conveyor agricultural and engineering chains

Every chain in the Korea Ever-Power range has a matching sprocket available through our partner site sprocket-chain.net. Sprockets are manufactured in C45 carbon steel, ductile iron, and case-hardened alloy steel to suit the tooth form geometry of each specific chain series. Using a matched EP sprocket alongside an EP chain guarantees correct pitch engagement, consistent tooth load distribution, and maximum chain service life.

The sprocket range covers simplex, duplex, and triplex tooth profiles for standard A and B series roller chains; agricultural tooth forms for CA, CC, and S series chains; ISO 1977 tooth profiles for M series conveyor chains; and custom tooth forms for WH series engineering chains. Bore machining, keyway, set screw, taper lock, and QD bushing hub designs are all available. Standard bore sizes ship within 5 working days; finished-bore and special-hub sprockets ship within 10 working days.

View Matching Sprockets →

Korea Ever-Power driving chains

Driving Chains

Carbon steel A and B series short pitch precision roller chains. Pitch 9.525 mm to 76.2 mm, simplex to triplex.

View Driving Chains

Korea Ever-Power leaf chains for forklifts

Leaf Chains

BL and LH series hoisting chains for forklift masts and industrial hoists. 11.1 kN to 1,600+ kN breaking load.

View Leaf Chains

Korea Ever-Power engineering chains for heavy industry

Engineering Chains

Welded steel, cast, and forged chains for cement, steel, mining, and chemical plant heavy conveying applications.

View Engineering Chains

Korea Ever-Power agricultural chains for combine harvesters

Agricultural Chains

CA, CC, and corn-chain series for combine harvesters, balers, and spreading equipment. ISO 487 / ASME B29.100 standard.

View Agricultural Chains

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a stainless steel chain fit the same sprocket as my current carbon steel chain?
Yes, provided you choose the same model number and series. EP-SS12A stainless steel chain has the same pitch (19.05 mm), roller diameter (11.91 mm), and inner width (12.70 mm) as EP-12A carbon steel chain, and fits the same ANSI 60 sprockets. Similarly, EP-SS12B fits the same ISO 12B-1 sprockets as EP-12B. The stainless designation only changes the material; the dimensional geometry is unchanged. When converting a drive from carbon steel to stainless, no sprocket changes are required as long as you use the same chain model number.
How much weaker is stainless steel chain compared to carbon steel?
At the same pitch and plate lacing, a SUS304 stainless steel chain has approximately 70-80% of the minimum breaking load of the equivalent carbon steel chain. This is because stainless steel cannot be case-hardened to the same hardness levels as carbon steel without sensitising the material to intergranular corrosion. If your drive was designed to a 5:1 safety factor on the carbon steel chain, the same chain in stainless at 75% strength gives a 3.75:1 safety factor, which may or may not be adequate depending on your load profile. For drives being converted to stainless where load capacity is marginal, consider moving to the next size up in pitch or to a duplex stainless chain to maintain the original safety factor.
Can stainless steel chains run without lubrication?
No. Stainless steel chains still require lubrication at the pin-bush articulation joint to prevent adhesive wear. A common misconception is that stainless steel chains are self-lubricating or that corrosion resistance replaces the need for oil; neither is true. In food and pharmaceutical environments where petroleum-based lubricants are prohibited, use NSF H1-registered food-grade chain oil. In high-temperature environments, use a high-temperature synthetic chain oil with the appropriate viscosity for the operating temperature. In washdown environments, use a water-resistant adhesive chain oil that resists removal by water jets. EP can supply stainless chains factory-packed with the appropriate food-grade lubricant on request.
What is the maximum temperature for stainless steel chains?
Standard SUS304 and SUS316L stainless steel chains can operate continuously up to approximately 300 degrees C with conventional chain oils, and up to 800 degrees C with high-temperature dry lubricant (molybdenum disulfide or PTFE-based). Above 500 degrees C, however, conventional lubricants carbonise and the chain must be treated as running dry, which significantly accelerates wear. For applications above 300 degrees C, specify high-temperature stainless chains with extended pin clearances to accommodate thermal expansion, and a dry lubricant treatment. At temperatures below -40 degrees C, standard stainless steel retains its toughness while carbon steel chains become brittle; this cryogenic toughness is a key reason for specifying stainless chains in LNG plant and frozen food tunnel environments.
Why is my stainless steel chain showing brown surface staining?
Surface brown staining on a new or recently installed stainless steel chain is almost always caused by free iron contamination rather than bulk metal corrosion. Sources include contact with carbon steel tools, handling by bare hands (oils and skin debris can leave iron traces), contact with carbon steel sprockets or guides, or carbon steel particles from machining operations elsewhere in the plant settling on the chain. The fix is to passivate the stained chain by immersing it in dilute nitric acid (10-20% concentration) for 30-60 minutes at room temperature, then rinsing thoroughly with clean water. After passivation, the staining disappears and the passive layer is restored. If staining recurs, investigate the source of iron contamination - typically the sprockets (which should be stainless or plastic for a stainless chain installation in a food environment), the guide rails, or the handling procedure.
Can you supply stainless steel chains with plastic rollers for food contact?
Yes. EP stainless chains are available with food-grade polymer outer rollers (typically POM, nylon, or UHMWPE) pressed onto the stainless steel bush, combining the structural integrity of the stainless steel chain body with a polymer roller that can contact food surfaces directly. Polymer rollers also reduce noise in product transport applications and can run in dry conditions against stainless or food-grade plastic guide rails without lubrication at the roller-guide interface. Note that the pin-plate articulation joint still requires internal lubrication; only the external roller-to-guide contact is lubrication-free. These mixed-material chains are available in EP-SS08B through EP-SS16B pitch sizes, and in double pitch C2050 through C2080 sizes. Minimum order quantities apply; contact the sales team for current lead times on polymer roller variants.

What Our Customers Say

★★★★★

"We converted 14 drives on our bakery tunnel oven from carbon steel to EP-SS12B stainless chains. After 18 months of daily high-pressure water cleaning with alkaline detergents, there is no visible corrosion on any chain in service. Previous carbon steel chains required replacement every 9 months due to rust and elongation."

D.K., Engineering Manager
Germany - Industrial Bakery

★★★★★

"We specified EP-SS20A in SUS316L for our offshore fish processing vessel. The chains have run for two seasons in direct exposure to seawater spray and salmon brine conveying. No surface pitting, no measurable elongation above 1.5%, and zero maintenance call-outs related to chain failure. Very satisfied."

T.H., Technical Superintendent
Norway - Seafood Processing Vessel

★★★★★

"Our pharmaceutical tablet coating drum drives require chains that can withstand fortnightly steam sterilisation at 121 degrees C plus daily IPA wipe-down. EP-SS10B chains with NSF H1 factory lubricant have passed our validation protocol and have run for 12 months without any non-conformance on residue testing. The material certificates made the supplier qualification process straightforward."

S.M., Process Engineer
UK - Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

★★★★★

"We installed EP-SS2060 double pitch stainless chains on our beverage can handling conveyor. Running costs versus the previous carbon steel installation were reduced by 40% - longer service intervals, no rust contamination on can surfaces, and no emergency replacements due to corrosion failure. The passivation certificates gave our food safety team the assurance they needed."

J.A., Maintenance Coordinator
Australia - Beverage Canning Plant

Request a Quotation for EP Stainless Steel Chains

Specify the chain model (EP-SS series), material grade (SUS304 or SUS316L), quantity, and any attachment or end fitting requirements. Our team responds with pricing and lead time within one business day.

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