LH24 Series Leaf Chain

Superior Tensile Performance

The 8×8 lacing model LH2488 achieves a minimum ultimate tensile strength of 605.0 kN and an average tensile strength of 726.0 kN — figures that far exceed what most UK industrial operations ever encounter, giving operators substantial safety headroom on crane and mast applications.

Dual-Standard Compliance (DIN ISO & ANSI)

Every model in the LH24 range ships with a cross-referenced DIN ISO and ANSI chain number, letting procurement engineers in Birmingham, Manchester, and the East Midlands specify exactly the right chain for existing OEM equipment without costly adaptor hardware or custom bridging pieces.

Scalable Lacing Configurations

Seven lacing options — from compact 2×2 through to heavy-duty 8×8 — mean a single product family covers an extraordinary range of load ratings, from 151.2 kN up to 726 kN average tensile strength. Design engineers can match the lacing exactly to calculated working loads rather than over-specifying an unnecessarily heavy chain.

Precision Pin and Plate Geometry

With a plate height of 36.2 mm max, plate thickness of 5.77 mm max, and pin diameter of 12.71 mm max, the dimensional tolerances built into the LH24 series prevent uneven load distribution across link interfaces — a known cause of accelerated wear in leaf chain installations running long shift cycles in warehousing and logistics hubs across the UK.

Predictable Weight Planning

Weight per metre values ranging from 4.6 kg/m for the lightest 2×2 model up to 18.6 kg/m for the 8×8 model allow structural engineers and MHE designers to calculate dead-load contributions accurately — essential for CE marking compliance and LOLER assessment documentation required throughout England, Scotland, and Wales.

High-Alloy Steel Construction

Plates are press-formed from case-hardened alloy steel and shot-peened to induce a compressive residual stress layer. Pins are centreless-ground to tight cylindricity tolerances, then hardened and tempered before assembly. This manufacturing discipline translates directly into longer service intervals and lower total cost of ownership in demanding British industrial environments.

Fig. 1 — Dimensional Drawing

Fig. 2 — Lacing Configuration

🔭 Material Science

Side plates are manufactured from 20MnCr5 or equivalent alloy steel, carburised to a case depth of 0.5–0.8 mm and hardened to a core hardness of 35–45 HRC. Pins are cold-drawn from 16MnCr5 rod, centreless-ground, and hardened to 58–62 HRC surface hardness. Assembly is performed on calibrated riveting machinery under controlled press-force to guarantee uniform pin interference and consistent tensile behaviour across the entire batch — a level of process control that underpins the chain’s documented fatigue life data.

⚙ How It Works

Unlike drive chains, a leaf chain carries pure tensile load without wrapping around a sprocket. Multiple layers of steel plates are interleaved — the lacing number (e.g., 4×4) describes how many inner and outer plate pairs share each pitch interval — and connected by hardened pins. When tension is applied in a forklift mast cylinder or hoist assembly, the load distributes across all plates simultaneously, keeping individual plate stress well within the material’s endurance limit. This parallel load path is what allows the LH24 to sustain millions of load cycles without fatigue crack initiation at the pin holes.

🏭 Typical Application Scenarios

The LH24 leaf chain finds its home in counterbalanced and reach forklift mast cylinders, scissor-lift platforms, aerial work platforms (AWPs), automotive press-transfer mechanisms, industrial crane balance systems, and overhead storage retrieval units. Across the UK — particularly in Coventry’s automotive supply chain, the logistics corridors of the East Midlands, and Scotland’s offshore support facilities — the LH24 is routinely specified as both OEM-fit and service-replacement chain for demanding continuous-operation environments.

“We’ve been specifying Ever Power LH24 leaf chain for our scissor-lift platforms since 2022. The tensile figures match the datasheet precisely, and we’ve had zero premature failures across 200-plus units in service throughout our Scottish facilities.”

— Procurement Director, Industrial Equipment Hire
Glasgow, Scotland

“The lead time and pricing were competitive, but what really sold us was the quality of the technical documentation. The DIN/ANSI cross-reference table saved our engineering team considerable time during our LOLER re-assessment. We’ll be placing a repeat order for the LH2466 shortly.”

— Senior Mechanical Engineer, Port Operations
Felixstowe, England

“Switching to the Ever Power LH2488 8×8 chain on our hydraulic press transfer line was a straightforward decision once we reviewed the 726 kN average tensile figure against our calculated working loads. Eighteen months in, the chain shows negligible elongation. Excellent product.”

— Works Manager, Tier-1 Automotive Press Shop
Derby, England