Hollow-pin chain
Pins bored through to take rods, spindles and fixings, so the chain itself becomes the mounting. From UK stock in roller and double-pitch sizes, steel and stainless steel.
The chain that carries its own fixings
On most attachment builds, something has to be welded or bolted to a plate. Hollow-pin chain skips that step: the pin is bored through its full length, so a cross rod, spindle or fixing passes through the chain and is retained on the outside. Attachments go exactly where you want them, at any pitch spacing, on either side, and they can be moved or replaced without touching the chain itself.
That is why it is the backbone of wire-belt edges, modular conveyor builds and machine designs that index product on rods. The number that matters is the minimum pin bore: what will actually pass through. Both tables below publish it per size.
Roller-pitch sizes
ANSI 40HP to 80HP plus 08BHP. Rollerless as standard: the bush outside diameter matches the equivalent roller Ø, so sprockets are unaffected.
| Chain | Pitch | Pitch (mm) | Inner width (mm) | Bush Ø (mm) | Min pin bore (mm) | Min strength (kgf) | Weight (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40HP | 1/2" | 12.70 | 7.85 | 7.92 | 4.00 | 794 | 0.50 |
| 50HP | 5/8" | 15.875 | 9.40 | 10.16 | 5.12 | 1,135 | 0.80 |
| 60HP | 3/4" | 19.05 | 12.57 | 11.91 | 5.98 | 2,315 | 1.18 |
| 80HP | 1" | 25.40 | 15.75 | 15.88 | 7.96 | 4,176 | 2.10 |
| 08BHP | 1/2" | 12.70 | 7.75 | 8.51 | 4.50 | 1,000 | 0.63 |
Double-pitch sizes
C20x0HP standard and C20x2HP large-roller construction, for long centres and supported conveying.
| Chain | Pitch (mm) | Inner width (mm) | Roller / bush Ø (mm) | Min pin bore (mm) | Min strength (kgf) | Weight (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C2040HP | 25.40 | 7.95 | 7.92 | 4.00 | 794 | 0.45 |
| C2050HP | 31.75 | 9.53 | 10.16 | 5.12 | 1,135 | 0.74 |
| C2060HP | 38.10 | 12.70 | 11.91 | 5.98 | 2,315 | 1.10 |
| C2080HP | 50.80 | 15.88 | 15.88 | 7.96 | 4,176 | 1.95 |
| C2042HP | 25.40 | 7.95 | 15.88 | 4.00 | 794 | 0.78 |
| C2052HP | 31.75 | 9.53 | 19.05 | 5.12 | 1,135 | 1.23 |
| C2062HP | 38.10 | 12.70 | 22.23 | 5.98 | 2,315 | 1.76 |
| C2082HP | 50.80 | 15.88 | 28.58 | 7.96 | 4,176 | 3.14 |
Strengths are the catalogue minimums. Popular sizes held in UK stock, including stainless steel; availability per size on the BS, ANSI and double-pitch matrices. Other sizes available to order — contact us for current lead time.
Rods, spindles and modular builds
- Wire-belt conveyor edges, supplied as matched pairs
- Cross-rod conveyors indexing product between machines
- Modular attachment builds that change with the product
- Fixings through the chain at any spacing, assembled in-house to your pitch pattern
Hollow-stud chain is the larger BS 4116 / ISO 1977 conveyor family. If your drawing quotes those standards, you want the BS, ISO & FV conveyor range. Unsure? Send the drawing and we will read it.
Straight answers
What is hollow-pin chain?
Roller or conveyor chain whose pins are bored through their full length, so a rod, spindle, bolt or fixing can pass through the chain itself. Attachments mount through the pins at any pitch spacing without welding, which is why it is the basis of wire-belt edges and modular conveyor builds.
What can I fit through the hollow pins?
Anything up to the minimum pin bore: 4.00 mm on the 1/2 inch sizes (4.50 mm on 08BHP), 5.12 mm on 5/8 inch, 5.98 mm on 3/4 inch and 7.96 mm on 1 inch and the equivalent double-pitch sizes. Cross rods, spindles, bolts and clip-fit fixings are the usual candidates.
Is hollow-pin chain the same as hollow-stud conveyor chain?
No, and the names cause real confusion. Hollow-pin chain is precision roller chain (ANSI, BS or double-pitch) with bored pins. Hollow-stud chain is the BS 4116 / ISO 1977 solid-bearing-pin conveyor family with a bored stud, a much larger, longer-pitch chain. If your drawing says BS 4116 or ISO 1977, you want our BS and ISO conveyor chain page.
Does hollow-pin chain run on standard sprockets?
Yes. Pitch and the bush or roller diameter match the equivalent standard chain, so it runs on the same sprockets. The short-pitch HP sizes are rollerless as standard: the bush outside diameter takes the place of the roller and matches its diameter.
Do you stock stainless steel hollow-pin chain?
Yes. Hollow-pin versions are held in UK stock in the popular sizes, including stainless steel, across the roller and double-pitch ranges. The availability matrices on the BS, ANSI and conveyor pages show status per size.
Building on the chain?
Tell us the rod size, the spacing and the duty, and we will quote the chain made up, with the bore checked against your fixings.