Description
Product Overview
The NP-series plastic chains — NP40, NP40S, NP50, NP60, and the coupling variants NP40-2, NP50-2, NP60-2 — are medium-to-large pitch conveyor and drive chains designed for industrial applications where standard fine-pitch flat-top chains are too narrow or too lightly built. Unlike the N-series flexible chains used primarily in food and beverage lines, the NP series is specified in mechanical conveying, agricultural processing, industrial washing systems, and assembly line drive applications. The coupling chains (NP40-2 through NP60-2) connect two parallel NP chain strands into a single wide conveyor belt unit — enabling coverage of conveyor widths from 80 mm up to several hundred millimetres without requiring a purpose-engineered wide-pitch chain. EverPower plastic chain Australia Pty Ltd supplies the full NP range as direct replacements for System Plast equivalents.
The NP2040 is an additional series with a 2 × 40 mm double-pitch configuration, providing higher load capacity per unit width than a single NP40 strand. All NP-series chains are available in natural POM (white/translucent) as standard, with black POM and PA66 options available for applications requiring higher temperature rating or UV resistance. Contact the EverPower Sydney team for material option confirmation.
NP-Series Model Specifications
| Model | Pitch (mm) | Chain Width (mm) | Top Surface | Primary Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NP40 | 40.0 | 40 | Flat solid | Assembly conveying, light industrial |
| NP40S | 40.0 | 40 | Slotted flat | Drainage, parts washing |
| NP50 | 50.0 | 50 | Flat solid | Medium-load conveying, food machinery |
| NP60 | 60.0 | 60 | Flat solid | Heavier industrial, agricultural |
| NP40-2 | 40.0 | 80 (coupled) | Flat solid | Wide conveyor from two NP40 strands |
| NP50-2 | 50.0 | 100 (coupled) | Flat solid | Wide conveyor from two NP50 strands |
| NP60-2 | 60.0 | 120 (coupled) | Flat solid | Wide conveyor from two NP60 strands |
| NP2040 | 40.0 | 80 (double) | Flat solid | Double-pitch high-load configuration |
NP40S: The Slotted Variant for Wash-Through Applications
The NP40S adds longitudinal slots to the top plate of the standard NP40 body. These slots serve two functions simultaneously. First, they allow water, cleaning solution, and fine debris to drain through the chain surface in parts washing and aqueous cleaning conveyor applications — a requirement that the solid NP40 cannot meet. Second, the slots reduce the effective contact surface between chain and product by approximately 35–40%, which lowers the frictional resistance that products experience when accumulating against a stop or dead-plate on the chain. For applications where back-pressure accumulation damage to delicate industrial components is a concern, the NP40S provides measurable back-pressure reduction compared to a solid-surface chain of the same width.
Parts washing conveyors represent the most common application for the NP40S in the Australian industrial market. Automotive components, machined housings, and stamped metal parts are loaded onto the NP40S chain and conveyed through spray wash tunnels at 3–8 m/min. The slot geometry is sized to allow wash nozzle spray to penetrate the chain surface and reach the underside of parts, while the solid lateral edges of the slots support even irregularly shaped components without allowing them to tip into the slots.
Coupling Chains (NP40-2, NP50-2, NP60-2): Building Width from Two Strands
The coupling chain concept solves a common industrial conveyor problem: the need for a wide conveying surface that exceeds the available width of a single chain strand, without the cost and lead time of a custom-width chain. NP40-2 joins two NP40 strands through a shared central link, creating a single assembled chain with an effective top-surface width of 80 mm. The coupled unit articulates as a single chain around the drive and tail sprockets, meaning the existing sprocket and frame geometry requires no modification — only the sprocket engagement face width changes to accommodate the double strand.
NP50-2 and NP60-2 follow the same principle for their respective pitch families. The coupling is achieved through a precision-moulded connector link that maintains the chain pitch geometry across the join without creating a step or gap at the coupling point. On high-speed lines, the absence of a surface discontinuity at the coupling is important — a step of as little as 0.5 mm at this point can cause product tip events when small containers pass over the join at speeds above 30 m/min.
NP60 in Agricultural and Heavy Industrial Applications
The NP60 is the largest pitch chain in the standard NP series and finds application in agricultural machinery conveyors, seed processing, and heavy industrial parts handling where the 60 mm pitch provides sufficient link body depth for high transverse beam stiffness. In seed cleaning and grading machines, the chain carries seed mass across vibratory and air separation zones — an application that demands resistance to abrasion from seed husks and dusty material that would rapidly destroy a fine-pitch chain with narrower hinge clearances. POM-C resists abrasive wear from dry granular material significantly better than nylon (PA6 or PA66) in this application, with wear rates approximately 30–40% lower under equivalent abrasive loading conditions.
Material and Operating Limits
| Parameter | POM-C (standard) | PA66 (optional) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Temp (continuous) | -40 °C to +90 °C | −40 °C to +120 °C |
| CoF vs stainless rail (dry) | 0.20–0.35 | 0.25–0.40 |
| Water absorption | < 0.2% | 2.5–3.5% |
| Chemical resistance | Excellent vs dilute acids/alkalis | Good; avoid strong acids |
| Abrasion resistance | High | Moderate |
| UV resistance | Low (black POM: moderate) | Low (black PA66: moderate) |
Matched Components EverPower Also Supplies
| Component | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| NP-series Drive Sprockets | Machined, all pitches and tooth counts | ✓ On request |
| NP Connecting / Master Links | All pitch sizes, SUS304 and carbon steel | ✓ In stock |
| NP40-2 / NP50-2 / NP60-2 Couplers | Precision-moulded coupling links | ✓ On request |
| Flat Top and Flexible Chain Range | Full EverPower standard chain catalogue | ✓ In stock |
What Our Customers Say
“NP40S on our engine component wash line — the slotted surface gives our wash nozzles the coverage we need to reach the underside of the housings. Previous solid chain left shadow zones that failed our cleanliness spec. Problem solved with one chain change.”
— Process Engineer, Engine Component Manufacturing, Melbourne VIC
“NP50 coupling chain (NP50-2) to get 100 mm width for our seed grading conveyor. The coupling link is perfectly flush — no step that could catch seeds or cause bridging across the join. Running at 6 m/min for 10 months without any link fatigue.”
— Mechanical Engineer, Grain Processing, Toowoomba QLD
“We needed NP60 for a heavy stamped-part conveyor that runs outdoor in dust-heavy conditions. Eighteen months in — the POM chain shows some surface wear from the steel swarf contamination but has not cracked or distorted. Better durability than the nylon chain we previously used.”
— Plant Supervisor, Metal Stamping Facility, Adelaide SA
