Descrição
The LL16 Series Leaf Chain represents a precision-engineered solution designed to meet the rigorous demands of forklift mast systems, hydraulic lifting equipment, and heavy industrial counterbalance applications across the United Kingdom and Europe. Built on a 25.40 mm pitch with plate lacing configurations ranging from 2×2 through 8×8, this leaf chain delivers consistent performance under both static and dynamic loads. Whether you operate in logistics, manufacturing, or dock handling, the LL16 series provides the mechanical reliability your operations depend on — shift after shift, without compromise.
Manufactured from selected high-carbon alloy steel with surface-hardened pins and precision-ground plates, each chain undergoes strict quality control protocols aligned with ISO 4347 and DIN 8152 standards. Our UK distribution and technical support network ensures rapid delivery to sites across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — making Ever Power the preferred leaf chain supplier for British procurement teams who value both quality and responsiveness.
Technical Specifications
All data per DIN 8152 / ISO 4347 standards. Dimensions in mm, strength in kN/lbf, weight in kg/m.
| 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/m q (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LL1622 | 25.40 | 2×2 | 21.00 | 3.1 | 8.28 | 17.2 | 58.0 / 13182 | 66.7 | 1.52 |
| LL1644 | 4×4 | 29.6 | 116.0 / 26363 | 140.0 | 2.90 | ||||
| LL1666 | 6×6 | 42.4 | 174.0 / 39545 | 208.8 | 4.30 | ||||
| LL1688 | 8×8 | 54.9 | 232.0 / 52726 | 278.0 | 5.71 |
* All specifications per DIN 8152 / ISO 4347. Data subject to manufacturing tolerances. Contact our UK technical team for critical application sizing.
Material, Construction & Working Principle
High-Carbon Alloy Steel Plates
Each link plate is stamped from high-carbon alloy steel, then heat-treated to achieve optimum hardness and ductility balance. The plates are precision-ground to ensure uniform thickness across the entire chain length, which directly translates to even load distribution and extended service life in heavy forklift mast applications common in UK warehouse and logistics facilities.
Surface-Hardened Pins
The connecting pins — manufactured to a maximum diameter of 8.28 mm — undergo through-hardening followed by a surface treatment process that delivers a hard outer shell with a resilient core. This dual-phase metallurgy resists fretting wear and shear fatigue, particularly vital in high-cycle forklift operations at UK distribution centres and automotive assembly plants where chains endure thousands of lift cycles daily.
Working Principle
The LL16 series leaf chain operates as a tension-transmitting flexible link. As the forklift’s hydraulic cylinder extends, the chain wraps around the mast sheave, converting hydraulic force into vertical lifting motion. The articulated pin-and-plate construction allows the chain to flex smoothly under load while maintaining linear tensile integrity. The leaf chain does not engage a sprocket — it is purely a tensile member, making fatigue resistance and break strength the governing design criteria.
Application Environments
Designed for counterbalance forklifts, reach trucks, telescopic handlers, and industrial hoists, the LL16 leaf chain is also deployed in vertical conveyors and overhead crane counterbalance systems. British food and beverage processing facilities, NHS medical logistics, port and dockside operations at sites like Felixstowe and Southampton, as well as construction material handling across England and Scotland all benefit from this chain’s proven tensile performance and dimensional accuracy.
Why the LL16 Series Outperforms
Tensile Strength up to 232 kN
The 8×8 lacing configuration achieves an ultimate tensile strength of 232.0 kN (52,726 lbf), making it suitable for the most demanding heavy-lift operations in British industrial settings.
DIN/ISO Dimensional Compliance
Full compliance with DIN 8152 and ISO 4347 ensures straightforward interchangeability with OEM forklift mast assemblies. No adaptation or modification required — direct drop-in replacement for UK market equipment.
Anti-Fatigue Heat Treatment
Proprietary heat treatment sequences produce a hardness gradient ideal for resisting both fatigue crack initiation at the plate surface and ductile fracture propagation through the pin core — delivering longer inspection intervals and lower maintenance costs.
Scalable Lacing Options
With four plate lacing configurations — 2×2, 4×4, 6×6, and 8×8 — engineers can select precisely the strength-to-weight ratio needed for each application, avoiding over-engineering and unnecessary cost in lighter-duty lifting scenarios.
Fast UK Delivery
Standard stock configurations ship to UK mainland addresses within 3–5 working days via our European logistics hub. Emergency replacement orders can be expedited for clients operating critical production lines in England, Scotland, and Wales.
Full Material Traceability
Every production batch carries mill certificates, heat treatment records, and dimensional inspection reports. Fully traceable documentation packages are available for clients operating under ISO 9001 quality management or LOLER 1998 inspection regimes across the UK.
Customer Success
Real-world outcomes from industrial clients across Europe who rely on LL16 series leaf chains.
Midlands-Based 3PL Operator Reduces Chain Replacement Cost by 34%
A third-party logistics company operating a 180,000 sq ft distribution facility in Coventry, England — running a fleet of 42 counterbalance forklifts across three shifts — was experiencing premature leaf chain wear on their Toyota 7FBMF heavy-duty forklifts. Average chain service intervals had dropped to 1,800 hours due to fatigue cracking at the pin-plate interface, resulting in unplanned downtime averaging 14 hours per month across the fleet.
After switching to Ever Power LL1666 (6×6 lacing) leaf chains with enhanced pin heat treatment, the facility’s maintenance team recorded average chain service intervals of 3,100 hours — a 72% improvement. Annual chain replacement costs dropped from £38,400 to approximately £25,300, a saving of £13,100 per year. Unplanned downtime attributable to chain failure was reduced to zero incidents over a 14-month follow-up period.
Outcome: 34% cost reduction · 72% longer service life · Zero chain-related downtime incidents over 14 months
“We’ve been sourcing LL16 series chains from Ever Power for three years now. The dimensional consistency is excellent — every chain drops straight into our mast assemblies without adjustment. The technical data sheets are detailed and the team responds quickly to any UK-specific queries.”
Fleet Maintenance Manager · Birmingham-based Materials Handling Company
“Our cold-store warehouse in Glasgow operates forklifts in environments down to -25°C. The LL1688 chains we sourced from Ever Power have shown no brittleness or elongation issues across two full winters. Impressive low-temperature performance that we haven’t seen from other suppliers at this price point.”
Operations Director · Scottish Food Cold Chain Logistics
“We specify Ever Power leaf chains across our aftermarket service division covering Linde and Jungheinrich forklifts in the Southeast. The LOLER-compliant documentation that comes with each batch saves our engineers significant paperwork time during statutory inspections. Reliable supply and competitive pricing.”
Procurement Lead · Forklift Service & Repair Company, London
Manufacturing Capability & Custom Chain Solutions
Ever Power operates a fully integrated manufacturing facility equipped with CNC precision stamping lines, automatic heat treatment furnaces, and coordinate measuring machines (CMM) capable of inspecting plate dimensions to ±0.01 mm tolerances. Our production capacity exceeds 2 million metres of leaf chain per year, with dedicated quality assurance personnel conducting 100% visual inspection and statistical mechanical testing on every production lot.
For British OEMs, aftermarket service companies, and industrial procurement teams requiring non-standard specifications, our engineering team offers a comprehensive custom leaf chain development service. Custom options include: modified pin lengths for non-standard mast configurations, alternative surface finishes including nickel-plate and zinc-phosphate for corrosive environments, special lacing patterns beyond the standard DIN range, and fully bespoke chain lengths cut and assembled to your exact requirements. We also produce white-label chains for UK distributors who wish to supply under their own brand identity. Minimum order quantities for custom runs are negotiable depending on specification complexity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from UK procurement engineers and maintenance managers.
Ready to Source LL16 Series Leaf Chain for Your UK Operation?
Contact our technical sales team for pricing, custom specifications, or application engineering support. UK B2B enquiries answered within one working day.
Get a Quote — [email protected]
edit by gzl
