Tsubaki's environmental chain range includes two products designed to
reduce transmission losses: the Bearing Roller Conveyor (BRC) and Double
Plus chains; a new low-noise drive chain that achieves noise reductions
of up to 8dBA, and a new plastic antibacterial/anti-mould MWS series
chain. The BRC chain is claimed to have around a third the friction of
conventionally constructed conveyor chain, allowing a reduction in the
driving power.
The Double Plus product, however, is designed to move conveyed objects at
2.5 times the actual speed of the chain. This is achieved by combining a
large centre roller with a smaller outer roller, which supports the chain
on a guide rail. Thus chain speeds can be up to 60% slower without
affecting the speed of conveying, requiring lower motor speeds and
reducing noise levels to around 15dBA below that of plastic side roller
chain.