Testing the Break Strength of Our Transport Chain
At US Cargo Control, we understand the customers' needs for quality, durable cargo control supplies to secure their loads and get the job done. That's why our team of expert manufacturers assemble and test our products to ensure they meet the necessary industry standards.
Recently, we tested the break strengths on our grade 70 transport chain and on a low-priced competitor's assembly using our in-house test bed to see how well it performed against each other. The goal was to demonstrate the strength and effectiveness of our chain assemblies versus others, ensuring that ours exceed industry tie down standards, and providing enough evidence to support our promise of delivering high-quality chain assemblies to our customers.
We were stunned at the results--you'll want to know what happened. Watch the video below and read on to see how we conducted our chain break test, as well as how well our assembly held up against theirs.
About Transport Chain
Transport chain, also known as tie down chain or trucker's chain, is a heavy-duty tie down for many truckers and haulers. Made of low-alloy carbon steel and finished with signature yellow chromate, standard transport chain works to keep your heavy or irregular-shaped cargo secure during transit. Each assembly is generally fitted with durable tie down hooks made to withstand harsh elements like wind, rain, and debris similar to the chain itself. It also works for towing, logging, and oil rigging applications; however it is not designed for overhead lifting. For optimal tightening, many truckers use chain binders to ensure their cargo stays in place.
- Browse our selection of quality chain binders today!
Chain Break Strength Testing
Our manufacturing experts at our Urbana facility utilizes our in-house testing bed to proof test our equipment, like chain, ensuring that they meet or exceed necessary standards for safe usage. The horizontal bed from Chant Engineering allows us to proof test our equipment at any time (and upon customer request!) to prove they meet the necessary working load limits, break strengths, and other critical metrics.
How the Test Bed Works
The testing bed uses tension to pull products like chain, straps, slings, and more to the desired breaking strengths. The arm of the test bed is able to pull up to 150,000 lbs. on our equipment. For certain products with fitted hardware, an additional chain assembly is used to connect to the arm of the machine. Before actual testing starts, our team members plug in the working load limit and break strength we want the product pulled to. Once this is done, we close the cage over the bed to prevent pieces of the product from scattering about once it breaks.
During testing, the bed applies steady tension similar to conditions typical chain assemblies face in real-world applications. Our experts monitor the performance as the testing bed continues pulling on the equipment until it reaches its breaking point. This information helps our team determine the maximum strengths of our products to ensure they meet their rated capacities.
Testing Against Other Chain Assemblies
We decided on testing the break strength of our most popular tie down chain option, the 5/16" grade 70 transport chain assembly. Our experts used an additional chain assembly to wrap around the arm of the testing bed in order to connect it to the transport chain adequately.
For the sake of competitive research, we opted to test a lower-priced competitor's assembly of the same chain diameter, length, and grade to see how much of a difference there was in strength. The same setup was used for the competitor's chain with our testing bed.
Our goal was to see if both assemblies met the standard minimum breaking force of 18.8 kips (18,800 lbs.) for a 5/16" transport chain assembly set by the National Association of Chain Manufacturers (NACM). For testing purposes, we set the testing bed to continue pulling beyond this standard to see if either chain assembly would maintain its integrity past the standard minimum breaking force.
Chain Break Strength Test Results
The testing yielded excellent results for the break strength of our 5/16" grade 70 transport chain assembly. During the pull, the US Cargo Control chain broke at the hook, reaching a minimum breaking force of 19.35 kips, or 19,350 lbs. This was well above the NACM standard for this particular chain. As for the lower-priced competitor assembly, it broke at the chain link at 16.23 kips, or 16,230 lbs. This was not only significantly less than US Cargo Control's assembly, but the competitor's chain didn't even reach the standard minimum breaking force.
Below shows photos of each chain assembly after break testing.
Trust In US Cargo Control Chain Assemblies
Our break strength testing for our grade 70 transport chain confirms our assemblies not only meet the rated capacities, but exceed them to provide extra assurance of safe and reliable usage. Additionally, this test proved that higher quality chain plays a significant role in safety compared to cheaper competitor assemblies.
US Cargo Control provides exceptional, high-quality tie down equipment so you can feel safe and your cargo secure. Besides chain, we carry a wide variety of tie down essentials, including:
For more information on our trucking and transportation equipment, or if you're looking for proof testing certificates on select products, talk with our product experts today to get what you want, when you need it.
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