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Views: 222 Author: Loretta Publish Time: 2025-09-22 Origin: Site
Content Menu
● Leading Joining Shackle Manufacturers and Suppliers in the UK
>> Lifting & Marine Services Ltd
● Manufacturing Process of Joining Shackles
● Applications of Joining Shackles
● OEM Services and Customization
● Maintenance and Inspection Tips
● FAQs
>> 1. What materials are commonly used in joining shackles?
>> 2. How do I choose the right joining shackle size?
>> 3. What certifications should joining shackles have?
>> 4. Can joining shackles be reused after disassembly?
>> 5. Do UK manufacturers offer OEM customization?
Joining shackles, also known as Kenter shackles, are vital components used extensively in marine, offshore, industrial, and lifting applications. These forged steel connectors join segments of stud link anchor chains, providing strong, reliable connections essential for safe anchoring, mooring, and heavy lifting operations. The UK hosts some of the leading joining shackle manufacturers and suppliers, who stand out for their rigorous quality controls, compliance with international standards, and ability to offer customized OEM services tailored to global marine and industrial clients.
This article explores the top UKjoining shackle manufacturers and suppliers, their products, manufacturing processes, certifications, applications, and maintenance tips. It also discusses their OEM capabilities for international brands, helping buyers understand why sourcing joining shackles from UK producers guarantees durability and performance.
A joining shackle is a two-part forged steel device designed to connect two stud link chain ends into a single articulated chain. It typically consists of two interlocking halves, each shaped like a "U," locked together by a center chock and a taper pin. This design ensures easy assembly and disassembly while maintaining strength and fatigue resistance.
Joining shackles are essential in marine anchor chains and mooring systems that sustain dynamic loads. Their disassemblable nature allows for easy maintenance and replacement of chain segments without compromising chain integrity.
William Hackett is a recognized industry leader manufacturing heavy-duty Grade U2 and U3 Kenter joining shackles. Using high-quality forged steel, each shackle undergoes precise heat treatment to match the mechanical properties of the connected stud link chains. Their shackles, ranging from 14mm to 60mm diameter, are available with protective coatings like black bitumen or hot-dip galvanizing for enhanced corrosion resistance. Stringent certification to Lloyd's Register and other classification societies ensures traceability and compliance with global marine safety standards.
With decades of experience, Brooks Forgings offers both standard and bespoke shackles manufactured to exact client requirements. Their shackles, including large D shackles and small bow shackles, are formed through combined upset forging, bending, and machining processes in fully closed dies. Brooks handles body sizes from 6mm up to 100mm, providing tailored solutions for industries ranging from marine to power line rigging. Their in-house tooling and engineering capabilities allow flexibility in design and manufacturing.
Specializing in stainless steel shackles, Petersen Stainless manufactures marine-grade 316 stainless steel shackles widely used in harsh offshore environments such as the North Sea oilfields. Using upset forging to maintain grain structure and optimize strength, Petersen offers CE-certified shackles with complete proof load and traceability documentation. Their product line caters to marine, parachute rigging, and nuclear industry applications requiring corrosion resistance and reliability.
Focused on Kenter shackles specific for marine anchor and mooring chains, Lifting & Marine Services supplies forged steel joining shackles designed for quick disassembly and reuse. Their product range covers standard sizes catering to most offshore and commercial shipping demands, supported by regular stock availability ensuring prompt delivery. They emphasize quality assurance and product certification aligned with international safety norms.
Other notable suppliers active in the UK market include S3I, Proboat, Jimmy Green Marine, and Saxton Marine, offering a wide variety of stainless steel shackles—bow, dee, long, wide, and twist types—used in mooring, lifting, and rigging tasks. These companies emphasize corrosion resistance, product certification, and customer-specific configurations for multiple marine and industrial applications.
The manufacturing of joining shackles in the UK involves several critical steps that ensure structural integrity, durability, and compliance with safety standards:
- Raw Material Selection: High-quality low carbon alloy steels or stainless steel bars are sourced from reputable European suppliers for consistent quality.
- Cutting and Heating: Steel billets are cut to length and heated to precise temperatures in induction furnaces before forging.
- Forging: Using closed die drop forging or upset forging, the shackle body and pin shapes are formed. Closed die forging promotes superior grain flow and consistent dimensions, enhancing toughness and fatigue resistance.
- Machining: Pin holes are CNC machined for precise fitting, avoiding stress concentrations, and improving load distribution. Threads are rolled or tapped in the ears for screw pin shackles.
- Heat Treatment: Shackles undergo quenching and tempering processes to produce tempered martensite structure, balancing hardness and ductility to prevent brittle failure while maximizing strength.
- Finishing: Surface treatment options include shot blasting, powder coating, hot-dip galvanizing, or bitumen coating to protect against corrosion in harsh marine environments.
- Quality Inspection: Each shackle is rigorously tested including proof load testing, magnetic particle crack detection, ultrasonic flaw detection, and dimensional inspection to guarantee safe performance.
- Packaging: Completed shackles are packaged securely with product identification codes for traceability.
This controlled manufacturing sequence, conducted by experienced engineers with in-house tooling and quality control labs, ensures that UK joining shackles meet or exceed industry standards.
Joining shackles are indispensable in various sectors including:
- Marine & Offshore: Connect stud link anchor chains for commercial ships, oil rigs, and offshore platforms, where strong, fatigue-resistant connections are required.
- Mooring Systems: Secure floating docks, buoys, and marine platforms, enabling disassemblable chain assemblies resistant to marine corrosion and load variations.
- Construction & Heavy Lifting: Used in rigging and lifting gear chains, safely joining lifting components for cranes, hoists, and structural assembly.
- Rescue & Safety Equipment: Employed in evacuation rigs, parachute harnesses, and load securing applications requiring dependable strength and easy assembly.
Top UK Joining Shackle Manufacturers and Suppliers provide comprehensive OEM services, catering to the unique needs of marine equipment brands, offshore product wholesalers, and industrial manufacturers worldwide. These services include:
- Custom sizing beyond standard diameters to suit specific chain dimensions or load requirements
- Selection of material grades such as specialized alloys or stainless steel variants for particular environments
- Tailored surface coatings for enhanced corrosion resistance or aesthetic preferences
- Adherence to client-mandated certification standards and testing protocols
- Private labeling and traceability marking to align with branding and regulatory needs
This flexibility enables buyers globally to source joining shackles that precisely match their operational and regulatory demands while benefiting from UK manufacturing quality.
To ensure safe operation and extend the lifespan of joining shackles, regular maintenance and inspection are essential. Key tips include:
- Visual Inspection: Look for signs of wear, elongation, deformation, cracks, or corrosion around the pinholes and taper pin areas.
- Pin Security: Verify that the taper pin and chock are correctly secured and undamaged, as these components maintain the shackle's integrity.
- Cleaning & Lubrication: Remove marine debris, salt residues, and lubricate moving parts to prevent corrosion and seizing.
- Load Monitoring: Avoid exceeding the Working Load Limit (WLL) and replace shackles showing signs of fatigue.
- Professional Testing: Periodically conduct non-destructive testing like magnetic particle inspection to detect hidden cracks.
Proper maintenance ensures the joining shackles continue to provide reliable, safe connections in critical applications.
The UK is home to some of the most reputable joining shackle manufacturers and suppliers in the world. Companies like William Hackett, Brooks Forgings, Petersen Stainless, and Lifting & Marine Services are distinguished by their high-quality forged steel products, adherence to rigorous international standards, and comprehensive OEM customization options. Their joining shackles are engineered for maximum strength, fatigue resistance, and corrosion protection in demanding marine and industrial environments.
Partnering with these UK manufacturers guarantees access to safely certified, durable joining shackles essential for secure anchor chains, mooring lines, heavy lifting, and rescue operations worldwide. Their dedication to quality, traceability, and tailored service makes them ideal for international brands seeking trusted OEM suppliers.
Joining shackles are mainly made of forged carbon steel or marine-grade stainless steel (such as 316 grade) to provide strength and resistance to corrosion in harsh operating environments.
Shackle size is selected based on the diameter of the stud link anchor chains they join, with common UK sizes ranging from 14mm to 60mm. Custom sizes may be requested for specific needs.
Look for ISO 9001 quality assurance, Lloyd's Register, DNV certification, CE marking, and proof load testing to ensure compliance, safety, and traceability.
Yes, the design allows for disassembling the shackle by removing the taper pin and chock without damaging the parts, enabling reuse and maintenance.
Most UK joining shackle manufacturers provide extensive OEM services, including custom sizing, coatings, certifications, and private labeling to meet client specifications.
