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LL40 Series Leaf Chain
High-tensile leaf chain engineered for demanding lifting and load-handling applications across UK industry — forklift masts, hydraulic cylinders, heavy material handling, and more.
Ultimate Tensile: up to 1440 kN
Custom Length & Lacing Available
What Makes the LL40 Series the Preferred Leaf Chain for UK Engineers?
The LL40 Series leaf chain from Ever Power represents the convergence of precision metallurgy, exacting dimensional tolerances, and deep application knowledge built over nearly two decades of engineering in power transmission. With a 63.50 mm pitch and plate lacing configurations spanning 2×2 through 8×8, the LL40 range addresses a spectrum of lifting capacities from light-duty mast guidance to heavy-duty hydraulic counterbalancing. British and European industrial buyers have long required chains that comply with both DIN 8152 and ISO 4347 — the LL40 is designed to meet both, giving procurement teams and maintenance engineers a single trusted source regardless of OEM specification.
The leaf chain’s flat-link architecture distinguishes it fundamentally from roller chains. Rather than transmitting rotary motion, leaf chains excel at tensile load — guiding forklift mast carriages, actuating hydraulic cylinder rods, and supporting suspended loads in industrial cranes and lifting platforms. The LL40 Series delivers ultimate tensile strengths from 360 kN (LL4022) up to 1440 kN (LL4088), making it a genuinely scalable solution whether you are maintaining a single-mast counterbalanced truck or specifying chain for a multi-stage reach truck operating in a UK distribution warehouse.
Product Gallery
Product Advantages
High Tensile Strength
From 360 kN in the LL4022 up to 1440 kN in the LL4088, every link is engineered to handle sustained tensile loads without fatigue-induced stretch, ensuring long service intervals and reduced downtime costs.
Precision-Ground Pins
Each pin is precision-ground to tight diameter tolerances (d2 max 22.89 mm across the LL40 range), minimising articulation play and ensuring the chain runs straight and true through tight mast guide channels.
Multiple Lacing Options
Lacing configurations — 2×2, 4×4, 6×6, and 8×8 — let engineers select precisely the right chain width and load distribution for their application without over-specifying, keeping total cost of ownership competitive.
DIN 8152 / ISO 4347 Compliance
Compliance with both DIN 8152 and ISO 4347 standards guarantees interchangeability with established OEM components and simplifies regulatory documentation for UK-based machinery directives and PUWER requirements.
Wear-Resistant Surface
Shot-peened side plates and carburised pins give the LL40 Series excellent resistance to surface fatigue and pin-bore elongation — two of the most common failure modes in high-cycle lift applications such as busy logistics and cold-chain warehouses.
Custom Lengths & Assemblies
Ever Power supplies the LL40 Series cut to your exact length requirement and can attach anchor pins, clevis ends, and custom connecting links — saving assembly time and reducing inventory complexity for UK maintenance teams.
Working Principle, Material & Application Scenarios
How It Works
A leaf chain operates as a pure tension member rather than a drive chain. Alternating inner and outer link plates are assembled around hardened, precision-ground pins. When connected between a hydraulic cylinder rod and a fixed anchor — or between a carriage and a counterweight — the assembled chain transmits pulling force with minimal elongation under load. Unlike chains with rollers, there are no sprocket teeth involved; the chain simply wraps around a smooth sheave (chain wheel), distributing bending stress across the full plate width. The LL40’s 63.50 mm pitch means each link engages predictably with standard LL-series sheaves, ensuring smooth travel at the carriage speeds typical of reach trucks and counterbalanced forklifts operating in UK logistics hubs.
Material Construction
Side plates are formed from low-alloy structural steel, hardened and tempered to achieve a balance between tensile strength and ductility that prevents brittle fracture under shock loading. Pins are manufactured from high-carbon alloy steel, case-hardened to resist wear at the pin-bore interface — the highest-stress contact point in any articulating link chain. Pre-load assembly is used to ensure inner and outer plates are uniformly compressed, eliminating initial stretch during the break-in period. Optional surface treatments include zinc phosphate for corrosion resistance in outdoor or wash-down environments, and nickel plating for food-adjacent applications operating under UK food safety guidelines.
Where the LL40 is Used
The LL40 Series serves a broad range of lifting and tensioning applications across UK industry. Forklift trucks — the most common application — use leaf chains in both mast-guidance and free-lift cylinder configurations across logistics centres in the Midlands, the North West, and major port facilities. Industrial hoists and cranes in steel fabrication and automotive assembly plants specify LL40 chains for their long fatigue life under repeated dynamic loading. The series is also selected for hydraulic platform lifts used in vehicle servicing, stage engineering, and accessibility installations. Wherever a reliable, traceable, standard-compliant tensile chain is needed in Britain, the LL40 Series delivers.
Technical Specifications
All dimensions per DIN 8152 / ISO 4347. Values are nominal unless stated as max or min.
| DIN/ISO Chain No. | Pitch P (mm) | Plate Lacing | Plate Depth h2 max (mm) | Plate Thickness T max (mm) | Pin Diameter d2 max (mm) | Pin Length L max (mm) | Ultimate Tensile Strength Q min (kN / lbf) | Average Tensile Strength Q0 (kN) | Weight per Metre q (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LL4022 | 63.50 | 2×2 | 52.76 | 8.0 | 22.89 | 42.2 | 360.0 / 81,818 | 403.2 | 10.30 |
| LL4044 | 63.50 | 4×4 | 52.76 | 8.0 | 22.89 | 74.4 | 780.0 / 177,273 | 873.6 | 20.00 |
| LL4066 | 63.50 | 6×6 | 52.76 | 8.0 | 22.89 | 106.5 | 1080.0 / 245,454 | 1209.6 | 30.00 |
| LL4088 | 63.50 | 8×8 | 52.76 | 8.0 | 22.89 | 140.0 | 1440.0 / 323,959 | 1747.2 | 39.10 |
* All four chain numbers share the same pitch (63.50 mm), plate depth (52.76 mm max), plate thickness (8.0 mm max), and pin diameter (22.89 mm max). Lacing and pin length increase with model number, directly scaling tensile strength and weight.
Customer Success Stories
Real-world outcomes from industrial buyers across the UK and Europe.
Reducing Fleet Downtime by 34% Across 80 Reach Trucks
A third-party logistics operator running a 24/7 multi-shift operation across two large distribution centres in the East Midlands had been experiencing chronic leaf chain failures at 14–18 months of service, well below the OEM-projected change intervals. Investigation by the Ever Power technical team identified that the previous supplier’s chain lacked sufficient surface hardness on the pin diameter, allowing accelerated wear in their high-cycle, low-lubrication operating environment. The decision was made to trial LL4044 chains on 20 Toyota reach trucks. After 22 months of continuous operation — through three lubrication intervals — none of the trial chains had reached the 3% elongation replacement threshold. Based on these results, the operator converted all 80 units in their fleet to LL4044 and LL4066 variants, reducing unplanned downtime incidents related to chain failure by 34% and cutting annual chain replacement costs by approximately 28%.
“We’ve been sourcing LL4044 leaf chain from Ever Power for three years now. The dimensional consistency batch-to-batch is exactly what our assembly line needs. No surprises, no rejects. Their technical team responded within two hours when we had a specification query — that’s the kind of support you need.”
Agricultural Machinery Manufacturer, Yorkshire, UK
“When we were designing a new hydraulic lift for our auto body shop, the engineer recommended LL4066 for the free-lift cylinder. Ever Power cut the chains to our exact net length and supplied them with the connecting links already fitted. Saved us a full day of fitter time on site. The quality was spot on.”
Vehicle Lift Manufacturer, West Midlands, UK
“We needed LL4088 chains at short notice for a crane refurbishment project at a steel stockholder in Sheffield. Ever Power had stock available and dispatched the same week. Competitive price, good documentation for our LOLER records, and the chains arrived well-protected. We’ll be using them as our primary leaf chain supplier going forward.”
Crane Service Contractor, Sheffield, UK
Our Manufacturing Capability & Custom Chain Services
Ever Power’s manufacturing facility operates dedicated leaf chain production lines equipped with CNC plate-blanking presses, automated pin-grinding machines, and tensile-test rigs capable of proof-testing up to 2000 kN. Our in-house heat treatment department runs controlled-atmosphere furnaces for both case-hardening and tempering, ensuring consistent metallurgical properties from the first link to the last. Every production batch undergoes dimensional inspection against DIN 8152 and ISO 4347 drawings before despatch, with full traceability records retained for quality audit purposes.
Beyond catalogue supply, Ever Power’s product customisation capability sets us apart from distribution-only suppliers. We design and manufacture bespoke leaf chain assemblies to your engineering drawings — including non-standard pitches, special lacing patterns, extended or shortened pin ends, custom surface finishes, and pre-assembled chain sets with anchor brackets, clevises, or locking pins. If your application demands a chain that does not sit neatly within any existing DIN or ANSI catalogue, our engineering team will work with you from specification through prototyping to series production. UK customers benefit from dedicated account management and direct access to our technical engineers — not a call centre, but people who understand chains.
Custom Chain Options Available
[email protected] · Technical response guaranteed within 24 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from UK engineers, maintenance teams, and procurement buyers.
What is the right LL40 Series leaf chain for a reach truck forklift operating in a UK warehouse?
For most standard-capacity reach trucks (1.0–2.5 tonne rated capacity) in UK warehouse environments, the LL4044 (4×4 lacing, 780 kN minimum tensile) is the most widely specified variant. Higher-capacity trucks or triple-mast configurations handling loads above 2.5 tonnes typically step up to the LL4066 (6×6, 1080 kN) or LL4088 (8×8, 1440 kN). Always consult the truck OEM’s service manual for the minimum chain breaking load requirement, then apply a minimum safety factor of 5:1 per BITA guidance. If in doubt, our technical team will size the chain for you at no charge.
How do I get a competitive price for LL40 leaf chain bulk supply in the United Kingdom?
Email us at [email protected] with the chain number (e.g. LL4044), required quantity in metres or sets, any length-cut requirements, and your delivery postcode. We supply ex-works with freight to all UK mainland addresses. Volume pricing tiers start from 50 metres, and framework agreements with scheduled call-offs are available for fleet operators and distributors. We typically respond with a quotation within one working day.
Does the LL40 Series leaf chain comply with DIN 8152 and ISO 4347 standards required by UK machinery directives?
Yes. All four models in the LL40 range — LL4022, LL4044, LL4066, and LL4088 — are manufactured to the dimensional and mechanical property requirements of both DIN 8152 and ISO 4347. These are the standards referenced in UK LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) technical documentation and are accepted by UKAS-accredited inspection bodies. Test certificates confirming ultimate tensile strength can be provided on request for LOLER record files and PUWER risk assessments.
When should I replace the leaf chain on my forklift truck to stay compliant under LOLER regulations in the UK?
Under LOLER, lifting equipment must be examined at regular intervals — typically every 6 or 12 months depending on application risk. For leaf chains specifically, the BITA (British Industrial Truck Association) recommends replacement when elongation exceeds 3% of original pitch length, when visible wear exceeds 5% of pin or plate dimensions, or if cracks, corrosion pitting, or distorted plates are found. Chains should also be replaced following any incident involving overloading or impact. Ever Power can supply replacement chains cut to the original length with documentation suitable for LOLER service records.
Which supplier in the UK can provide custom-length LL40 leaf chain with connecting links and same-week dispatch?
Ever Power stocks the complete LL40 Series range and has in-house cutting and assembly capability to supply cut-to-length chains with fitted anchor pins or connecting links on a short lead time. For urgent maintenance requirements, contact us directly at [email protected] — we will confirm stock and lead time within hours. Expedited dispatch to UK mainland destinations is available through our express freight partners for emergency breakdown situations.
What is the difference between a leaf chain and a roller chain, and why does it matter for hydraulic cylinder applications?
A leaf chain consists solely of link plates and pins — there are no rollers or bushes. This stripped-down construction maximises tensile strength per unit weight and makes the chain highly resistant to bending fatigue when wrapping around a sheave under load. Roller chains, by contrast, are designed for power transmission via sprocket engagement and are not rated for sustained tensile loading. In hydraulic cylinder and forklift mast applications, the load is almost entirely tensile — making the leaf chain the correct component. Using a roller chain in these roles would void any compliance with LOLER or the relevant machinery directive.
Ready to Source LL40 Series Leaf Chain?
Tell us your chain number, quantity, and any custom requirements — we’ll come back with a competitive UK price, technical datasheet, and lead time confirmation.
Ever Power · Leaf Chain Specialists · [email protected] · UK B2B Supply
edit by gzl
