Agricultural chains
The agricultural machinery range from iwis agrisystems includes not only feeder and elevator chains for a wide variety of applications, but also the associated attachments for the respective chain types. The iwis roller chain series HBC (Heavy Baler Chain) was developed especially for use in balers. iwis agrisystems also offers a wide range of accessories such as sprockets, V-belt pulleys, roller chains, plus complete application kits for agricultural machinery production.
All agricultural chains from iwis agrisystems are subjected to rigorous testing in the laboratories, test rigs and simulators at our production plants, so consistently high reliability and quality are guaranteed, even in the harshest working environment. We work together with machine manufacturers to create tailor-made drive solutions in our agricultural centre in Sontra, which are put into serial production after extensive testing.
Versatile and practical
We can supply all chains by the metre or, on request, in installable kits. iwis agrisystems manufactures chains and systems for nearly all agricultural machines of all makes. iwis provides a wide range of services to agricultural machinery manufacturers and users worldwide either by the company’s own locations, or by service and consultancy partners, representatives or agencies.
Do you know where to find our global consultancy partners? Use our location finder!
iwis manufactures a wide range of chains for all kinds of harvester applications.
Agricultural machines are in constant use outdoors and in all weathers, so their components and systems are permanently subjected to the effects of dust, soil, cold and moisture. Their operational capability is also severely tested when they have been out of action for longer periods of time e.g. during the winter season. At times like these, the built-in increased wear resistance of ELITE agricultural chains really comes into its own.
Our product range can supply a chain to meet all your needs.
The programme for combine harvester applications includes feeder chains, corn and tailing elevators chains and drive chains. Specialist solutions for self-propelled potato and beet harvesters round off the iwis product range.
iwis also supplies gathering chains for use in harvester headers for corn, sunflowers and other specialist crops.
ELITE baler chain Series HBC
The new ELITE roller chain Series HBC (Heavy Baler Chain) was developed by iwis especially for the demanding conditions of baler applications.
HBC roller chains are characterised by their outstanding fatigue strength and extremely high wear resistance, yet only require the same space as standard roller chains with the same pitch.
Highlights
- The higher proportion of link plates with clean-cut edges offers longer chain service life and higher retention forces for greater stability.
- Special steel grades and heat treatment processes reduce wear without changing chain dimensions.
- Optimised plate contours and special materials offer higher fatigue strength without the need for increased chain installation space requirements.
- Premium quality initial lubricant tailored to the operating requirements of balers.
- Longer maintenance / chain replacement intervals resulting from the best ratio of fatigue strength and wear resistance currently available in the market.
Versatile, practical drive chains for harvesters: ELITE baler chains
Agricultural machines are in constant use outdoors and in all weathers, so their components and systems are permanently subjected to the effects of dust, soil, cold and moisture. Their operational capability is also severely tested when they have been out of action for longer periods of time e.g. during the winter season. iwis specifically developed the new ELITE brand roller chains as drive chains for harvester round balers. The chains are available in a wide range of configurations.
So they are versatile, practical, and can be used in many makes of machine. An outstanding feature of these roller chains is their improved plate contour which increases fatigue strength. The pin is subjected to a special heat treatment process to reduce wear, and the material pairing of pin and bush has been optimised. As always, the chains are treated with a high-performance lubricant before they leave the factory.
Specialised chains for specialist machinery
Highlights
iwis offers a wide range of agricultural machinery chain products for other applications:
- Elevator chains
- Scraper chains
- Gathering chains
- Corn harvester chains
- Bucket elevator chains
- Rough conveyor chains
- Leaf chains
Selection of iwis special chains for agricultural machinery
Elevator chains
iwis elevator chains boast top reliability in a wide variety of applications, from combine harvesters to stationary corn elevators. We can supply ELITE elevator chains in your required configuration i.e. paddles in all sizes and materials as fully assembled unit, with or without metal support, or simply as base chain in a wide variety of pitches.
Scraper chains
Scraper chains from iwis – 100% reliability, even in difficult applications. These chains are available in a wide, diverse range of versions and sizes. Of course, we can also design chains to your specification for use in existing machinery or newly designed plant.
Gathering chains
Gathering chains in combine harvesters must fulfil the highest standards to guarantee efficient, successful crop harvesting. iwis gathering chains, which are available in many different versions, have met these requirements for years with great success. We can supply everything from a ready-to-fit complete gathering system for your combine harvester to a single chain or even a replacement slat.
Maize harvester chains
These chains need to be particularly wear resistant, as they are mounted closed to the ground and therefore in direct contact not only with aggressive plant juices, but also soil and stones. The special materials and heat treatment processes used for iwis ELITE maize harvester chains – as well as special surface coatings available on request – ensure that the chains are particularly resistant to these adverse environmental conditions.
Engineering industrial applications
Our Research and Development is not only constantly striving to improve our existing product range, but also works on new solutions for and with our customers. Moreover, iwis looks beyond the familiar chain applications to actively seek out new fields for the use of innovative chain drive systems.
iwis stands for creativity and innovation – and also for cooperation and partnership. We work closely with our suppliers and customers to develop, test and produce all-round solutions. Please contact us if you have a specific problem to solve – we love the challenge of new applications!
Main development areas
On the technical side, our development efforts concentrate on a wide variety of points, but the main focus is always on improving step by step.
Our main development topics are:
- Increasing the wear resistance and fatigue strength of our products
- Optimising chain link tribology to improve efficiency and minimise wear
- Corrosion resistance
- Reducing noise levels
- Implementing new materials, coatings and production technologies
- Weight reduction through optimised design and the use of alternative materials
- System optimisation by considering the chain drive system as a whole, including sprockets, guides and tensioners
Product innovations
Providing solutions is our speciality – and part of our corporate philosophy.
By collaborating with customers on feasibility studies, designing components and performing deformation and stress analyses, we can adapt existing designs to customers’ individual requirements or develop entirely new chain drives.
The physical properties of the chain design are then examined by subjecting the components to vibration and stress tests. Prototypes undergo rigorous testing for durability and service life on test rigs which subject chain drives to far greater loads than they will ever encounter under real-life conditions.
We are committed to fulfilling customer expectations by delivering products of the very highest quality.
Testing and trials
iwis operates the world’s largest testing facilities for conveyor and drive chains at its Munich headquarters.
In addition to fundamental research, we also conduct customer-specific wear, strength or corrosion examinations – both on existing standard test rigs and on custom testing equipment for special applications.
Usefull Engineering Tools
InduKet: the Chain Drive Calculation Program for Engineers
Designing and configuring a chain drive is fast and easy using the iwis chain drive calculation program. First select a chain you think will be suitable, the software will then look browse under the term “Industrial chain drives” and identify the appropriate drive chains:
- for power transmission between parallel shafts
- for handling static or pulsating loads
- for use as transport or conveyor chains
IT intelligence in day-to-day industrial processes
The key element of the program is calculating the drive power required to drive a chain. In order to do so, the type of application is analysed in detail::
- Output torque
- Chain loads for conveying tasks
- Friction on the tensioning and guide rails
- Bearing friction
If you wish to optimise chain service life, you can then improve operating conditions (e.g. lubrication and dynamics) or choose a different type of chain.
We recommend the iwis chain engineering handbook as a useful work of reference. It contains calculation formulae, tables, calculation examples and a description of typical application scenarios.
Downlod InduKet
To use the chain calculation program, registration is required. The program call takes place via a user ID with an individual password. Therefore, a user file must be requested from iwis after installation.
All future program enhancements and corrections are automatically distributed to all registered users. This ensures that the calculations are based on the same status with regard to the program files.
After sending the filled out registration form, you will immediately receive the system database “IS.dta” with the encrypted user data. The data also includes your password for starting InduKet.
Installation notes
- If you are installing the program for the first time, please enter your user details and hard drive serial number in the registration form below.
- Please download the archive with program installation (31 MB)
- Unzip the archive and start installation with the program “Install.exe”.
- To run the program, you need a user file that can only be created by iwis.
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If an older version is already installed on your device, it will take over the old user file.
- Run the program “SerialN.exe” (this program is included in the installation archive you have downloaded) to display the serial number of your hard drive “C:”.
- You will receive in return an user file “is.dta” from iwis.
- Copy this user file “is.dta” to an arbitrary temporary directory.
- At the next start of InduKet you can load is.dta from this temporary directory. ( The program will then save the is.dta into the application directory of your user account: “C:UsersXXXAppDataRoamingiwis” ).
Design form for industrial chains
When designing drive and conveyor chain applications, it is important to consider specific conditions for the drive component “roller chain.”
With the form provided here, you can easily and conveniently send us the necessary data for a design. A good collaboration between you and us is certainly one of the most important criteria for finding the right solution.
The more we know about the project, the better we can advise you. The information you provide helps us choose the right product solution. As part of the chain design process, we will work with you to identify all the missing parameters necessary for chain calculation.
No matter where you are in the development process, we will assist you.