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What Is the LH32 Series Leaf Chain?
The LH32 Series Leaf Chain — also referenced under the DIN ISO chain number LH3222 through LH3288 and the corresponding ANSI designations BL1622 through BL1688 — is a flat-link, high-tensile chain specifically designed for vertical load applications. Unlike roller chains that are built for rotary power transmission, a leaf chain transmits load through multiple interlaced link plates and precision-ground pins, creating a flexible yet extraordinarily strong structure that resists elongation under sustained working loads. The series is a workhorse in the UK materials-handling and warehousing industry, appearing in everything from counterbalance forklift trucks on busy distribution-centre floors in Birmingham and Coventry to overhead crane rigs in fabrication yards along the Humber.
All LH32 Series chains share a common pitch of 50.8 mm, which makes interchangeability across the range straightforward for maintenance engineers. The series spans seven lacing configurations — from the relatively light 2×2 lacing of the LH3222 to the robust 8×8 lacing of the LH3288 — allowing procurement teams to select the exact tensile strength and weight-per-metre figure that matches their lifting equipment without over-engineering the solution. This breadth of specification, combined with full DIN ISO and ANSI dual-standard compliance, is one reason why UK-based OEM manufacturers and MRO buyers consistently rate the LH32 as their preferred leaf chain series for medium-to-heavy duty applications.
Technical Specifications
All LH32 Series variants | Pitch: 50.8 mm | Plate height h2 max: 48.26 mm | Plate thickness T max: 7.52 mm | Pin diameter d2 max: 17.46 mm
* All values comply with DIN ISO 4347 and ANSI/ASME B29.8. Weight-per-metre figures are nominal; actual values may vary ±3% depending on lacing and surface treatment.
6 Key Advantages of the LH32 Series
Exceptional Tensile Range
From 289.1 kN on the LH3222 all the way to 1156.5 kN on the LH3288, the series covers light to ultra-heavy duty lifting within a single, interchangeable pitch family, simplifying stock management.
Dual Standard Compliance
Full DIN ISO 4347 and ANSI/ASME B29.8 compliance means UK buyers can source LH32 chains and find genuine OEM compatibility with European-built forklifts and North American equipment in the same fleet.
Inspectable Safety Margin
Unlike wire rope, leaf chain degradation — plate cracking, pin corrosion, elongation — is visible to trained maintenance engineers during routine LOLER inspections, enabling proactive replacement before failure occurs.
Low Elongation Under Load
Heat-treated alloy-steel plates and precision-ground pins minimise stretch under sustained working loads, which preserves mast calibration on reach trucks and ensures consistent fork height positioning on warehouse racking systems.
Wide Lacing Choice
Seven lacing options (2×2 through 8×8) within one pitch give design engineers the freedom to specify exactly the right chain without having to jump to a larger pitch family, keeping anchor hardware and sheave dimensions manageable.
Export-Ready Documentation
Ever Power provides full material test certificates, dimensional inspection reports, and conformity declarations to support CE Marking and UKCA marking requirements for lifting equipment deployed within the United Kingdom.
Our Manufacturing Capability & Custom Services
Ever Power operates a vertically integrated manufacturing facility covering over 28,000 square metres. Our in-house cold-forming presses produce link plates to tolerances within ±0.05 mm, while our pin-grinding lines achieve surface finishes below Ra 0.4 µm. Every batch of LH32 Series leaf chain undergoes hardness testing, dimensional verification against DIN ISO 4347 datum values, and a pre-shipment proof-load test before packing. Production capacity exceeds 2,000 tonnes of leaf chain per year, which means UK distributors and OEM customers benefit from consistent lead times even during peak industrial procurement periods.
Custom specification is a core part of what we do. If your application falls outside the standard LH32 range — perhaps you need a non-standard attachment link, an extended pin for a special anchor fitting, a different surface coating such as nickel plating or hard chrome, or a bespoke cut length with pre-fitted chain-end forks — our applications engineering team can turn around a custom proposal within five working days. We have delivered bespoke leaf chain assemblies to clients in the UK food industry requiring FDA-compliant lubricants and stainless inner plates, as well as offshore sector customers needing hot-dip galvanised outer plates for salt-air environments.
Customer Success: UK Cold Storage & Logistics
Case Study: National Cold Storage Operator — West Midlands, UK
The Challenge: A large cold-storage and temperature-controlled logistics operator running a mixed fleet of 68 electric counterbalance forklifts across three sites in Wolverhampton, Redditch, and Telford was experiencing premature leaf chain failures averaging every 14 months. Their existing supplier’s chains showed visible plate-crack propagation and accelerated corrosion attributed to the ammonia-rich atmosphere inside freezer chambers operating at -25°C. Unplanned downtime was costing the operator an estimated £3,200 per incident in lost throughput and emergency maintenance call-outs.
The Solution: Ever Power’s applications engineering team specified LH3244 and LH3266 leaf chains with hot-dip zinc-phosphate base coating and a final application of Ever Power’s low-temperature synthetic chain lubricant rated to -40°C. Plate steel was upgraded to 42CrMo4 with additional post-heat-treatment shot-peening to raise the fatigue limit in the presence of surface corrosion. Stainless-steel outer plates were fitted to the terminal links most exposed to the chamber atmosphere.
The Result: Over a 26-month monitoring period, not a single chain replacement was triggered by failure — all replacements were planned, interval-based preventive replacements aligned with the operator’s LOLER inspection schedule. Chain service life increased from 14 months to beyond 26 months (and still running at time of reporting), representing a direct saving of approximately £86,400 across the three sites from eliminated emergency downtime alone. The operator has since standardised all 68 vehicles in the fleet on Ever Power LH32 Series chains.
What UK Customers Say
★★★★★
“We’ve been sourcing LH3266 chains from Ever Power for our order-picking reach trucks across our Northampton distribution centre for three years now. The dimensional consistency from batch to batch is outstanding — our engineers no longer need to adjust the chain anchor after every replacement, which has cut our planned maintenance time by around 30%.”
— Fleet Maintenance Manager, 3PL Operator, Northamptonshire
★★★★★
“We required non-standard pin-length LH3234 chains for a bespoke material-lift we manufacture for the printing industry. Ever Power turned around a prototype set within 12 working days with full material certs. The price was competitive against European suppliers and the quality was equal. We’ve placed four repeat orders since and will continue to use them as our preferred leaf chain supplier.”
— Procurement Director, Industrial Equipment Manufacturer, Yorkshire
★★★★★
“As an MRO distributor supplying forklift dealers across Scotland, having a reliable source of LH32 chains at sensible pricing with consistent availability makes a real commercial difference. Ever Power has been on our approved supplier list for two years. Response time to quote requests is fast, documentation for LOLER compliance is provided without being asked, and packing is robust enough to survive the onward courier journey to our end customers.”
— Managing Director, MRO Chain Distributor, Glasgow
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Source LH32 Series Leaf Chain for Your UK Operations?
Contact our applications engineering team for pricing, custom specifications, documentation, or technical support. We respond to all UK enquiries within one working day.
edit by gzl
