The unit handling industry plays a critical role in streamlining operations across logistics, distribution, manufacturing, and more, demanding precision, reliability, and durability from every component involved.
With a history dating back to 1917, Tsubaki has built a reputation for delivering premium power transmission and motion control solutions that meet the evolving needs of a wide range of industries. From automotive and food processing to the unit handling sector, our expertise and innovation have helped customers improve efficiency, reduce downtime, and extend equipment life. Let’s find out how Tsubaki products can help optimize your unit handling operations.
Here are a few examples of operational excellence you can achieve with Tsubaki:
- Minimize downtime with a reduced number of bottlenecks
- Streamline your operation and enhance its performance
- Extend the lifespan of your equipment with Tsubaki’s premium products
- Cut down unnecessary maintenance time and cost
In recent years, there has been a constant demand for advanced technologies within the unit handling industry worldwide. Alongside the persistent development of technologies in the market, various applications have also evolved significantly, adapting to new demands and unlocking innovative ways to enhance user experience and operational efficiency. Here are some of the equipment types and applications Tsubaki serves:
- Accumulation Conveyor Systems: Commonly used to gather, hold or buffer a wide range of products into areas such as sortation, palletizers, and many more
- Advanced Sortation Systems: High-speed carton and case sortation systems designed to sort a variety of product types, shapes, and sizes for distribution centers and fulfillment facilities
- Spiral Conveyor Systems: Built to transfer products vertically in limited spaces
- Pallet Handling Systems: Intended to load, unload, transport, and store pallets directly on chain in different applications such as distribution centers, automotive, drywall, and others
- Other various applications in warehousing & distribution, e-commerce, logistics, food & beverage packaging, and many more
Accumulation Conveyor Equipment for Smooth Workflow
In picking and packing operations, accumulation conveyor systems help maintain smooth product flow by accumulating and releasing items as needed while eliminating bottlenecks and damage from collisions or pileups. Tsubaki’s accumulation roller chains are designed to effectively operate in accumulation conveyors which manage and transport products downstream, ensuring smooth workflow.
- Double Plus® Chains: Unique accumulation roller chains with large center roller and two small outer rollers designed to move the conveyed objects about 2.5 times faster than the speed of chains while maintaining effective accumulation features
- Driver Pad Accumulation Chains: ANSI size 50 chains with extended D-1 pins and driver pads that offer a direct replacement of the OEM chain employed on prominent equipment associated with large distribution centers
- Outboard Roller Chains: Designed for maximum flexibility in building various accumulation conveyors where outboard rollers support flat surfaces, or known as runners, when conveying and accumulating
- Top Roller Chains: Featured with freely rotating top rollers positioned between elevated chain side plates for increased design flexibility in accumulating conveyors where reducing an overall chain width for a narrow space is in focus. Wide range of chain designs, materials, and size options make top roller chain suitable for light-duty systems all the way to the rugged conveyors handling heavy objects
- Top Plate Chains: Chains with top plates available in stainless steel top plates and base chains available in lube-free Lambda®, allowing designers to adapt a flat top conveying concept for an extensive array of applications
Sortation Systems Built for Efficiency
Reliability is non-negotiable when it comes to automated distribution and fulfillment for retailers, manufacturers, and logistics providers worldwide. With decades of expertise, Tsubaki delivers premium, engineered solutions you can confidently choose for your advanced sortation conveyor systems, which are also known as sortation sliding shoe sorters.
- Sortation Chains: ANSI size 100 chains highly engineered with unique features only available from Tsubaki as well as special extended D-1 pins that are offered with or without special bearings for a drop-in replacement of the OEM chains in sliding shoe sorter systems. Tsubaki’s sortation chains are built with a focus on improving chain wear characteristics (reducing “stretch”) while its unique pre-stressing and matching procedure assures almost equal length of strands
Shoe Sorter Chain
Sortation Chain with D1 Pins
Unmatched Performance Across Spiral Conveyor and Freezer Systems
Tsubaki’s spiral conveyor chains are engineered for compact, vertical transport, making them ideal for facilities with limited operating footprints. Designed for use in spiral conveyors and spiral freezers, these components are tailored for enhanced flexibility and durability. Tsubaki’s premium chains help reduce downtime and maintenance costs, ensuring maximized operation.
- Curved Spiral Conveyor Chains: ANSI size 60 curved chains with extended DD-3 pins that are drop-in replacements in OEM equipment, ensuring that the OEM-made slats easily fit onto the Tsubaki chain
- Spiral Freezer Drive Chains: With its flexibility to offer advanced features, Tsubaki offers 4-inch pitch 2032B roller chains in various ways including corrosion protection, special lubricant, heat treatment, and low-temperature materials (a.k.a. KT) to address common problems associated with low temperature environments. In addition, the engineering class version of chain is also available.
Innovative Solutions for Pallet Handling Systems
Pallet handling systems play a critical role in modern logistics, where reliability is essential. As warehouses and distribution centers strive for greater efficiency, these systems face increasing demands to move heavy loads seamlessly while adapting to a wide range of operational challenges. From loading and unloading to storage and transporting, Tsubaki’s premium heavy-duty chain products are designed to enhance and sustain the efficiency of pallet handling conveyor systems across various industries, including automotive, cement, drywall, distribution centers, and more.
- Multi-Strand Chains: Constructed with two or more rows of chains for applications where extra capacity for handling pallets of heavy products is needed. Employing multi-strand chains allows increasing the handling capacity of the system while maintaining its low profile
- Straight Sidebar Chains: Quality chains with straight sidebar plates that are also available in Neptune® and Titan® options, offering enhanced features for heavy load conveyor systems in demanding environments
- Heavy Duty Chains: Various types of heavy duty chains with greatly increased capacity, such as Heavy Series, Super Series, Super-H Series, and more, that are suitable for applications with extreme loads
Other Tsubaki Solutions For Applications in the Unit Handling Industry
Tsubaki Sprockets: Built to Drive Reliability
Sprockets are critical to the performance of your key equipment, including bucket elevators, feeders, pan conveyors, and reclaimers. Tsubaki sprockets help you stay ahead of costly downtime with a designed solution that makes wear easy to identify, so you can plan maintenance before issues arise. Smart Tooth® Sprockets: Designed with wear indicator pins that provide a clear visual reference to monitor wear and determine when replacement is needed before failure occurs. Each sprocket also includes a QR code to streamline the requoting process, making them a reliable choice for a wide range of industries, including unit handling applications.
Tsubaki Motion Control Products: Boost Performance & Maximize Productivity
Durability and low maintenance solutions are essential and Tsubaki offers several motion control products designed for reliability and maximum uptime. ATRA-FLEX® couplings play a critical role in unit handling applications, accurately transmitting torque while protecting critical equipment. The polyurethane insert absorbs shock and vibration and allows for easy installation and maintenance.
Tsubaki clutches are vital for equipment longevity and for maintaining throughput. They prevent rollback on inclined conveyors or bucket elevators and maintain unidirectional motion in unit handling applications. Filled with grease, maintenance time is minimal compared to other oil filed clutch designs.
- ATRA-FLEX® Couplings: Designed with a split insert that’s removable without moving hubs or connected equipment. ATRA-FLEX® couplings help protect the drive train while minimizing wear, maintenance, and downtime.
- Cam Clutches: Tsubaki offers many types of cam clutches for unit handling applications, including the BB series recommended for drum motors in over-running applications, as well as small backstops such as the BSEU series for inclined conveying operations.
- Pin Gear Drive Units (PDUs): Engineered for precision and durability, PDUs deliver smooth rotational or linear movement and are ideal for applications requiring compact power transmission with minimal backlash.
- Gear Motors: Gear motors combine high-efficiency gearing with a robust motor design to ensure consistent performance in demanding material handling environments.
- Power-Locks®: These friction locking devices offer a secure, backlash-free connection between shaft and hub without the need for keyways, enabling easier installation and stronger torque transmission.
- Zip Chain Actuators®/Lifters: Zip Chain Actuators® (ZCA) enable high-speed, high-precision linear motion in a compact footprint, perfect for lifters, positioners, or other vertical or horizontal applications.
Contact Us Today
Ready to upgrade your operations with Tsubaki and minimize unnecessary interruptions? Contact us now to discuss your needs and explore our industry-leading products.