Description
Product Overview
Flat top chains with magnetic and sideflexing capability address a specific conveyor engineering problem: how to move ferrous containers — steel cans, aerosol tins, and tinplate packaging — through curved sections, inverted conveyors, or angled transfer zones without mechanical clamping. The 1050, 1060, S4090A, and S4090B series solve this through embedded magnets in the chain top plate, holding steel products by magnetic attraction rather than friction or mechanical grip. The result is a conveyor system that can transport containers upside-down, on side-walls, or through 90° curves with no product carriers, clamps, or guide rail pressure required.
EverPower plastic chain Australia Pty Ltd supplies all four variants as direct replacements for System Plast equivalents, from our Sydney NSW base. These chains are manufactured to the same dimensional standards as System Plast originals, ensuring compatibility with existing conveyor frames, sprockets, and guide rails. For full system integration support, visit our About Us page.
The Four Variants Explained
| Model | Type | Magnetic? | Run Direction | Key Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1050 | Flush Grid | Yes (embedded) | Straight | Inverted can conveying, magnetic accumulation |
| 1060 | Flat Top | Yes (embedded) | Straight | Magnetic straight-run conveying, filled cans |
| S4090A | Flat Top Sideflexing | No | Curved / Straight | High-speed sideflexing for beverage cans, bottles |
| S4090B | Flat Top Sideflexing | No | Curved / Straight | Wide-format sideflexing, carton and can handling |
Magnetic Flat Top Chains: How Embedded Magnets Work
The 1050 and 1060 chains incorporate rare-earth (neodymium) or ferrite magnetic inserts embedded within the chain top plate during moulding. Each magnet is fully encapsulated in the plastic body — no exposed metal contacts the product — maintaining food-contact compliance. The magnetic field penetrates through the chain surface to attract ferrous product bases. Holding force varies with magnet grade and product base thickness; typical values for the 1050/1060 series in steel can applications are 8–15 N per link at 2 mm clearance.
The 1050 Flush Grid variant features an open-grid surface with magnetic elements at each grid intersection. The flush surface allows product drainage and wash-down to occur freely, making it particularly suited to post-filler and post-pasteuriser conveyor sections where condensate accumulation would otherwise create a hygiene risk. The 1060 Flat Top provides a closed surface for applications where drainage is less critical but a fully flat product contact area is required.
S4090A and S4090B Sideflexing Flat Top Chains
The S4090A and S4090B are high-speed sideflexing flat top chains designed for the demanding speed and curve requirements of modern beverage filling lines. Unlike the magnetic 1050/1060 series, these chains rely on precision POM-to-guide-rail friction and lateral chain tension management to navigate curves at speeds up to 90 m/min lubricated — among the highest rated sideflexing flat top chains in the System Plast catalogue.
The S4090A is narrower and suited to single-file bottle and can conveying through tight-radius curves. The S4090B is wider, handling multi-format packaging including cartons and larger PET containers. Both variants use the standard flat top plate geometry, which provides a continuous surface regardless of curve radius — an important consideration when conveying small-base containers through 180° accumulation curves where a standard hinged chain would open a significant gap.
Application Examples in Australian Industry
The beverage industry remains the primary market for all four variants, but the range extends well beyond canned drinks. Steel aerosol can manufacturing uses 1060 magnetic chain for upright and inverted conveying through spray-valve insertion equipment. The food canning sector — particularly preserved vegetables and pet food — uses 1050 flush-grid magnetic chain in post-seamer conveyor layouts where hygiene classification requires open-surface chain. The S4090A and S4090B are increasingly specified on rapid-deployment packaging systems in food-to-go and meal-kit facilities running shift-variable production volumes.
Matched Components and System Integration
| Component | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Sprockets (1050/1060/S4090 series) | Matched tooth profile and pitch, PA66 and SUS304 | ✓ In stock |
| Corner Discs (S4090) | For 90° and 180° sideflexing turns | ✓ On request |
| Guide Rails and Wear Strips | Aluminium extrusions, UHMWPE wear strip inserts | ✓ On request |
| Replacement Chain Links | Single-link replacement, all variants | ✓ In stock |
What Our Customers Say
“1060 magnetic flat top chain on our post-filler inverted conveyor. The magnetic hold is consistent — no can drops in six months of operation. We checked the field strength after six months and the magnets show no degradation. Very reassuring for a production line running 24/7.”
— Production Engineer, Beverage Can Facility, Brisbane QLD
“S4090A on our 90° beverage curve at 75 m/min. The chain runs remarkably quietly for that speed. Surface temperature at the guide rail contact stays within the expected band. No unusual wear after 9 months of continuous operation.”
— Mechanical Engineer, Soft Drink Bottling Plant, Perth WA
“The 1050 flush grid solved our post-pasteuriser hygiene problem completely. The open surface drains condensate between every shift, and our sanitation audit passed first time after the conversion. Chain dimensions matched System Plast perfectly.”
— QA Manager, Ready-to-Drink Coffee Producer, Sydney NSW
