Description
Product Overview
Sideflexing flat top chains combine the wide, stable conveying surface of a flat top chain with the lateral flexibility needed to navigate horizontal curves without additional mechanical curve units. This combination enables conveyor layouts that would otherwise require separate straight and curve chain systems — a simplification that reduces total conveyor component count, shortens installation time, and eliminates the chain transition joints at the boundary between straight and curved sections that are a frequent source of product tip and jam events. EverPower plastic chain Australia supplies the full sideflexing flat top range — 880, 880TAB, 880BS, 878TAB, 882, 882TAB, and 810TAB series — as direct replacements for System Plast equivalents.
The sideflexing capability is achieved through one of two link plate edge geometries: the bevel edge (used in 880 and 882 series) and the flat edge with tab link (used in 880TAB and 882TAB variants). Each geometry has different minimum curve radius performance and different top-surface characteristics. Selecting the correct variant for a given curve radius and product type is the primary engineering decision in sideflexing flat top chain specification.
Sideflexing Flat Top Series Overview
| Series | Edge Type | Min. Bend Radius (typ.) | Width Range | Special Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LF880 | Bevel edge | ~600 mm | K325 to K1200 | Standard bevel sideflexing |
| LF880TAB | Tab link | ~400 mm | K325 to K1200 | Tighter curves than bevel |
| LF880TAB-G | Tab link + rubber top | ~400 mm | K325 to K1200 | Incline grip on curves |
| LF880M | Magnetic + bevel | ~600 mm | K325 to K750 | Magnetic ferrous retention on curves |
| LF880BS | Bevel + stainless pins | ~600 mm | K325 to K1200 | Higher load, premium washdown |
| LF878TAB | Tab link (narrow) | ~350 mm | K325 to K750 | Compact curve footprint |
| LF882 | Bevel edge | ~600 mm | K600 to K1200 | Wide-format bevel sideflexing |
| LF882TAB | Tab link | ~450 mm | K600 to K1200 | Wide format, tighter curves |
Bevel Edge vs Tab Link: Choosing the Right Curve Geometry
The bevel edge design cuts a chamfered profile onto the outside corner of each link plate. As the chain enters a curve, the bevel faces on adjacent links close against each other, limiting the degree of lateral flex per link. This geometry provides a smooth, gap-free top surface on curves up to the bevel contact limit — typically a minimum inner radius of approximately 600 mm for the standard 880 series. Below this radius, the bevel faces jam and the chain cannot flex further without damaging the link plate corners.
The tab link design uses a separate tab-profile link inserted at regular intervals in the chain. The tab link’s narrower profile allows a greater lateral flex angle per link before the tab geometry contacts adjacent links. This extends the minimum achievable curve radius inward to approximately 400 mm for 880TAB — a 33% tighter curve than the bevel equivalent. For conveyor layouts constrained by floor space or structural obstacles, the additional curve capability of the TAB variant can be the deciding factor in whether a single-chain sideflexing solution is feasible.
LF880M: Magnetic Retention Through Curves
The LF880M integrates rare-earth magnets into the bevel-edge sideflexing chain body, providing magnetic holding force on the chain’s top surface through both straight runs and horizontal curves. This is used in can manufacturing and metal lid conveying where the conveyor path includes curves and the cans or lids must be retained without side guide rails that would require format-specific adjustment. The holding force of approximately 10–14 N per magnet-equipped link at a 2 mm working gap is sufficient to maintain container position on curves at speeds up to 40 m/min without lateral slip.
LF880TAB-G: Grip Surface for Inclined Curves
Curved inclined conveyor sections present the most demanding combination of sideflexing and product grip requirements. The product must be retained laterally against the centrifugal force of the curve while simultaneously being prevented from sliding back down the incline by gravity. Standard flat top surfaces achieve neither without mechanical containment. The LF880TAB-G adds rubber grip strips to the tab link sideflexing chain, raising the coefficient of friction from approximately 0.20 to 0.55–0.65. For inclined curved sections up to approximately 15° inclination and 400 mm minimum inner radius, this variant provides the combined lateral retention and incline grip needed without supplementary containment hardware.
Wide-Format Variants: LF882 and LF882TAB
The LF882 and LF882TAB series extend sideflexing flat top capability to wider conveyor formats — typically 600 mm to 1200 mm chain width — for applications such as wide-format case conveying through curved sections, multi-lane product merging zones, and wide beverage case handling. The engineering challenge at wider chain widths is maintaining the chain’s lateral stiffness on curves without the chain folding or buckling inward. LF882’s link plate geometry is specifically designed to provide higher lateral stiffness per unit width compared to the 880 series, allowing reliable operation at K1200 width through curves that would cause a standard-width chain used in a double-strand configuration to track unevenly.
Matched Components EverPower Supplies
| Component | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Sideflexing Curve Sprockets | Matched to each 880/882/878 series and width | ✓ On request |
| Aluminium Curve Guide Rails | Inner and outer radius profiles for all series | ✓ On request |
| Connecting Links — all sideflexing series | POM body, SUS304 pin | ✓ In stock |
| LF820 / LF821 Straight-Run Chain | For the straight sections of the same conveyor | ✓ In stock |
What Our Customers Say
“LF880TAB on a 420 mm inner radius curve on our PET bottle line. Previously this curve required a dedicated curve unit with its own drive motor. The sideflexing chain runs the curve on standard guide rails — one less drive motor, one less maintenance item. Eighteen months in, zero curve-related failures.”
— Conveyor Engineer, Beverage Production, Melbourne VIC
“LF880M magnetic chain on our aluminium can decorator line. We eliminated format-specific guide rail adjusters at two curve sections. The magnetic retention holds the cans securely through the curve regardless of diameter, so format changeover time for this section dropped from 25 minutes to under 5.”
— Production Manager, Can Manufacturing, Sydney NSW
“LF882TAB at 1000 mm width on our case merge curve. Wide chain sideflexing is always a challenge — the chain tends to track toward the inner radius under load. The LF882TAB held its lateral position consistently throughout our 6-month trial, even at the rated load. We have now converted all three merge curves on this line.”
— Project Conveyor Engineer, FMCG Distribution Centre, Brisbane QLD
