Description
Product Overview
Plastic drive chains transmit mechanical power between sprockets in conveyor and machine drive systems — performing the same function as steel roller chains but with the corrosion resistance, low noise, and self-lubricating properties of engineering plastic. The NH45, NH78, NM720S, and NM720S with F-22-6 attachment series from EverPower are the primary plastic drive chains specified in food and beverage conveyor systems, packaging machinery, and industrial automation where the operating environment makes steel chain unsuitable. They are supplied as direct replacements for System Plast NH and NM-series equivalents.
Where standard steel roller chains generate metallic wear debris that contaminates food products, plastic drive chains operate without generating this contamination risk. They run dry or with minimal food-grade lubrication, eliminating the mineral oil contamination pathway that is a primary concern in open food manufacturing zones. Learn more about our product capabilities at the About Us page.
Drive Chain Model Overview
| Model | Pitch (mm) | Type | Attachment | Primary Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NH45 | 45.0 | Drive chain | None | Clean-zone drive, conveyor systems |
| NH78 | 78.0 | Drive chain | None | Medium-load drive, packaging machinery |
| NM720S | 72.0 | Drive + conveyor | None | Dual-function: drive and light conveying |
| NM720S + F-22-6 | 72.0 | Drive + attachment | F-22-6 pusher | Product pushing, indexing, positioning |
NH45: Compact Pitch Drive Chain for Clean Zones
The NH45 operates at a 45 mm pitch — compact enough to wrap around small-diameter drive sprockets without excessive polygon effect, while providing sufficient link body strength for conveyor drive applications in the 500–2,000 N tension range. The primary material is POM-C with SUS304 hinge pins, making the NH45 fully wash-down compatible and suitable for deployment in food manufacturing clean zones where a steel roller chain would require enclosure or frequent cleaning to prevent corrosion-derived contamination.
NH45 is frequently used as the return-loop drive chain on accumulation tables — the chain that drives the table’s transport surface while the table itself carries product above it. In this configuration the drive chain operates in the lower part of the conveyor frame, often in direct contact with wash-down water, making its corrosion resistance the primary selection criterion. POM’s water absorption below 0.2% means the chain maintains its dimensional stability even after repeated full immersion in CIP wash cycles.
NH78: Medium-Load Drive for Packaging Machinery
The NH78 operates at 78 mm pitch and is the standard specification for the primary drive chains of packaging machines, form-fill-seal equipment, and cartoning lines in food and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The increased pitch compared to NH45 allows a deeper and wider link body, increasing the tensile strength and providing greater resistance to the cyclic shock loading that occurs when a packaging machine accelerates and decelerates product batches at high cycle rates.
In a typical form-fill-seal machine running 120 cycles per minute, the drive chain experiences approximately 200 load pulses per minute from the jaw mechanism actuation. Steel roller chains in this application typically develop pitch elongation requiring adjustment at 6-monthly intervals. NH78 POM drive chains extend this interval to 12–18 months by virtue of their lower elastic modulus — the chain deflects slightly under peak pulse loads rather than transmitting them rigidly to the sprocket teeth, reducing the instantaneous contact stress that drives wear at the pin-bushing interface.
NM720S: Dual-Function Drive and Conveyor Chain
The NM720S is designed to perform two functions simultaneously: it serves as a mechanical drive chain transmitting torque between sprockets, and its top surface provides a conveying platform for lightweight products. This dual function eliminates the need for a separate conveyor chain above the drive chain — reducing conveyor assembly complexity and cutting the total number of chains that require maintenance. The NM720S is specified in the drive sections of small-format conveyor systems, label printing machines, and pharmaceutical dispensing lines where space constraints make separate drive and conveyor chain assemblies impractical.
NM720S with F-22-6 Attachment: Adding Active Product Control
The F-22-6 attachment is a precision-moulded pusher or flight element that mounts onto the NM720S chain body at defined pitch intervals. The attachment stands perpendicular to the chain surface, creating a positive mechanical stop for product indexing, pitch-accurate spacing between product units, or product positioning at a downstream station. Compared to friction-feed conveying — where product position accuracy depends on surface friction and is affected by product weight variation — the F-22-6 attachment system provides repeatable positioning accuracy of ±1–2 mm over a 5-metre conveyor length. This level of accuracy is required for label application, inkjet coding, and robotic pick operations where product position uncertainty degrades system performance.
Noise and Lubrication Advantages Over Steel Chains
Steel roller chains operating in food manufacturing environments require food-grade (H1) lubrication at frequent intervals, generate metallic wear debris, and produce noise levels of 75–85 dB(A) at typical conveyor drive speeds. Plastic NH and NM-series chains operating in the same speed range produce approximately 60–68 dB(A) — a reduction of 10–20 dB that is perceptible as a qualitative ‘quieter line’ and measurable against occupational noise exposure limits under Safe Work Australia Code of Practice. They require no lubrication in dry-zone applications and only minimal food-grade lubrication in applications where maximum speed or load requires it.
Matched Components EverPower Supplies
| Component | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| NH45 / NH78 / NM720S Sprockets | Machined POM and SUS304, all tooth counts | ✓ On request |
| F-22-6 Attachment Elements | Moulded POM, for NM720S chain body | ✓ On request |
| Connecting / Master Links | All NH and NM pitch sizes, stainless | ✓ In stock |
| NP-Series Industrial Chains | NP40 / NP50 / NP60 complementary range | ✓ In stock |
What Our Customers Say
“Replaced steel roller chain with NH45 on our accumulation table drive. The noise reduction was immediate and measurable — from 81 dB to 66 dB on our sound survey. More importantly, the corrosion we were managing every quarter on the steel chain is gone entirely. NH45 looks the same after 14 months as it did on day one.”
— Maintenance Engineer, Beverage Filling Hall, Perth WA
“NH78 drive chain on our cartoning machine at 120 cycles per minute. We have extended our chain adjustment interval from 6 months to 14 months. The chain has lower measured elongation than the steel chain it replaced — the POM compliance under shock load clearly reduces wear at the pin-bushing interface, exactly as described.”
— Mechanical Engineer, Pharmaceutical Packaging, Sydney NSW
“NM720S with F-22-6 attachments on our label application conveyor. Product positioning accuracy improved from ±8 mm (friction feed) to ±1.5 mm (indexed). Our label misapplication rate dropped from 0.8% to below 0.1%. The indexing chain paid for itself in label waste reduction within 6 weeks.”
— Production Manager, Consumer Goods Packaging, Melbourne VIC
