BS, ISO & FV conveyor chain
Solid-bearing-pin conveyor chain to BS4116, ISO 1977 and DIN 8167/8168, plus the FV series from 40 to 630 kN, with attachments, scrapers and sprockets to match.
BS4116, ISO 1977, DIN 8167/8168: the same chain, specified three ways
Machine drawings quote whichever standard the designer grew up with. They all describe the same solid-bearing-pin conveyor chain family, so whatever your drawing says, we can read it, match it and supply it: hollow or solid stud, standard or deep-link plates, with integral scrapers and K-type attachments built to your spacing — how attachment builds work is on the attachment chain page.
- BS standard conveyor chain: Series 0–5, minimum breaking loads 26.7–400 kN, enhanced versions up to 200% of the standard rating on request
- ISO 1977: solid stud (DIN 8167) and hollow stud (DIN 8168), deep-link available
- FV series (DIN 8165): FV40 to FV630; the number is the solid-stud minimum breaking load in kN
Integral or welded K attachments, scrapers and special flights are assembled in our Malvern workshop, every N pitches to suit your conveyor, and held on file for reorder.
What we supply
From our catalogue. Full dimensional tables available on request.
| Range | Coverage | Construction & options |
|---|---|---|
| BS standard conveyor | Series 0–5 · min breaking loads 26.7–400 kN · up to 200% of standard on request | Hollow / solid stud, deep-link, integral scrapers, K attachments, connecting links |
| ISO 1977 (BS4116) | M28–M900 solid stud (DIN 8167) · MC28–MC224 hollow stud (DIN 8168) | Deep-link construction, K attachments, scrapers, matched sprockets |
| FV series (DIN 8165) | FV40 – FV630 · solid and hollow stud | Deep-link, K attachments, integral scrapers, matched sprockets |
| Double-pitch ANSI | C2040–C2122H — see the double-pitch range | Standard & large roller, stainless steel, hollow pin, A/K attachments |
The number on the chain is the number in the table
Across the ISO and FV series the designation is the minimum breaking load in kilonewtons: M112 is a 112 kN chain, FV250 a 250 kN chain. For FV the number belongs to the solid-stud construction, and the hollow-stud version of the same series is rated lower, so read both columns. Breaking load is not working load: a conveyor runs far below these figures, with a service factor set by speed, centres, material and shock. Send us the duty and we will size it.
| BS standard conveyor chain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Series | Hollow stud | Solid stud |
| Series 0 | 26.7 kN | 33 kN |
| Series 1 | 54 kN | 67 kN |
| Series 2 | 107 kN | 134 kN |
| Series 3 | 160 kN | 200 kN |
| Series 4 | — | 267 kN |
| Series 5 | — | 400 kN |
| ISO 1977 conveyor chain (BS4116 · DIN 8167 solid / 8168 hollow) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Series | Hollow stud | Solid stud |
| MC28 / M28 | 28 kN | 28 kN |
| M40 | — | 40 kN |
| MC56 / M56 | 56 kN | 56 kN |
| M80 | — | 80 kN |
| MC112 / M112 | 112 kN | 112 kN |
| M160 | — | 160 kN |
| MC224 / M224 | 224 kN | 224 kN |
| M315 | — | 315 kN |
| M450 | — | 450 kN |
| M630 | — | 630 kN |
| M900 | — | 900 kN |
| FV conveyor chain (DIN 8165) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Series | Hollow stud | Solid stud |
| FV40 | — | 40 kN |
| FV63 | 46 kN | 63 kN |
| FV90 | 73 kN | 90 kN |
| FV112 | 90 kN | 112 kN |
| FV140 | 110 kN | 140 kN |
| FV180 | 145 kN | 180 kN |
| FV250 | 215 kN | 250 kN |
| FV315 | 290 kN | 315 kN |
| FV400 | 333 kN | 400 kN |
| FV500 | 440 kN | 500 kN |
| FV630 | 520 kN | 630 kN |
Minimum breaking loads from the Merley Chains catalogue. Full dimensional tables (pitch, widths, plate heights, stud diameters) are in the catalogue PDF or on request.
Scraper and en-masse conveyor chain
For drag, scraper and en-masse conveyors the BS, ISO and FV ranges take integral scrapers across the popular series, or welded scraper attachments in any size required, with or without drilled fixing holes, sized to suit your trough. Deep-link construction adds plate depth where the chain itself does the carrying. Scraper chains can be supplied dipped in a vegetable-based oil where the product demands it.
To quote a scraper chain we need: pitch (or the marking on the existing chain), centres, the material conveyed, box width and the environment. A photo of the old chain does most of the work.
All of these chains can be supplied zinc plated, with stainless steel pins, bushes, rollers, sidebars or attachments (grade to suit the application), with oilite-bushed, bearing or engineering-plastic rollers, or with semi-permanent lubricant coatings such as graphite. Ask us, the advice is free.
Sprockets to match
Fabricated steel sprockets for the full BS, ISO and FV ranges, machined to our specification with pilot or finished bores. One-piece sprockets are available for ISO chains M28 to M315 and FV chains FV40 to FV250; larger sizes are quoted per application. Order chain and sprockets as one matched drive — sprockets made to suit your chain. For drop-forged link chain and its sprockets, see the forged link conveyor chain range.
Drawing quotes a standard? We speak all three.
Send the drawing, the standard number or the worn chain and we will match it and quote, usually the same day.
Straight answers
What is BS4116 conveyor chain?
The British Standard for solid-bearing-pin conveyor chain, also covered by ISO 1977 and DIN 8167 (solid stud) / DIN 8168 (hollow stud). If your machine drawing quotes any of those numbers, this is the range, and the standards are interchangeable ways of specifying the same chain family.
What do FV chain numbers mean?
The series number is the minimum breaking load of the solid-stud chain in kilonewtons: FV63 is a 63 kN chain, FV250 a 250 kN chain. Hollow-stud versions of the same series carry a lower rating (FV63 hollow stud is 46 kN), so check the construction as well as the number. The range runs FV40 to FV630, with K attachments across the popular sizes.
Is the breaking load the load the chain can run at?
No. The figures in the tables are minimum breaking loads, the load at which a new chain fails in a straight pull. The working load a conveyor should run at is far lower and depends on speed, centres, material carried and shock. Tell us the duty and we will size it, free.
Can you supply attachments and scrapers on these chains?
Yes. Integral and welded K-type attachments, integral scrapers, deep-link construction and connecting links across the BS, ISO and FV ranges, built to your spacing in-house.