English 
Views: 222 Author: Loretta Publish Time: 2025-09-19 Origin: Site
Content Menu
● Understanding Studless Chains
>> Applications of Studless Chains
● Manufacturing Process of Studless Chains
● Leading Studless Chain Manufacturers and Suppliers in Australia
>> Franklin Offshore Australia
>> Ozzi Marine
● Product Range and Customization
● Quality Control and Certification
● Advances in Studless Chain Technology
● Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
>> 1. What distinguishes studless chains from stud link chains?
>> 2. What are the common grades of studless chains supplied in Australia?
>> 3. Are studless chains customizable?
>> 4. How are studless chains tested for safety and quality?
>> 5. Besides marine shipping, where else are studless chains used?
Studless chains are a vital component in marine mooring and anchoring, renowned for their strength, flexibility, and durability. Australia's expansive maritime sector relies heavily on quality studless chains, supplied by leading manufacturers committed to innovation and stringent quality standards. This article explores the topStudless Chain Manufacturers and Suppliers in Australia, with an emphasis on their manufacturing processes, product features, customization options, certifications, and OEM services.
Studless chains are a type of marine anchor and mooring chain without the internal crosspiece, or stud, found in stud link chains. The absence of this stud makes studless chains lighter and more flexible, which reduces fatigue stress and improves the bending performance critical in offshore and mooring applications. Produced from high-strength alloy steel, these chains are treated to withstand corrosion and mechanical stresses, ensuring long service life in harsh marine environments.
Studless chains serve crucial roles in:
- Mooring of floating platforms, tankers, and buoys.
- Offshore oil and gas facilities including FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) units.
- CALM (Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring) buoy systems.
- Renewable energy projects such as floating wind turbines.
- General anchoring applications for commercial and recreational vessels.
The production of studless chains is a rigorous process combining high technology and stringent quality control to meet international classification society standards. The typical manufacturing process includes:
- Raw Material Selection: Bars of high-quality alloy steel are sourced from approved suppliers, ensuring compliance with chemical and mechanical properties.
- Cutting and Heating: Bars are cut into link lengths and heated using induction or resistance heating to achieve optimal forging temperatures.
- Bending and Welding: Each link is bent over custom mandrels, then flash butt welded for maximum strength and weld penetration.
- Trimming and Sizing: Weld flash is removed, and the links are pressed to a uniform size and shape to ensure smooth operation without snags.
- Heat Treatment: Computer-controlled heat treatments such as quenching and tempering refine the metallurgical structure to achieve required tensile strengths and toughness.
- Testing and Inspection: Each link undergoes proof load testing, non-destructive magnetic particle and ultrasonic inspections to ensure structural integrity.
- Surface Treatment: Chains may be hot-dip galvanized, black tarred, or painted for corrosion resistance.
- Packaging: Chains are packed in certified twist-free bundles to facilitate safe transport and installation.
This advanced manufacturing process yields studless chains that perform reliably in extreme offshore conditions, meeting ISO 9001:2015 and classification society certifications such as LR, ABS, DNV, BV, and more.
Franklin Offshore is a key supplier known for a wide range of high-quality studless and stud link anchor chains. Their chains, available in diameters from 16mm to 83mm, are certified to international marine standards by LR, ABS, and DNV. They supply standard 27.5-meter shot lengths suitable for anchoring large vessels and offshore platforms.
Ozzi Marine supplies premium studless chains such as the OMC G43 galvanized anchor chain. Their products are trusted by leading Australian shipbuilders and boat manufacturers, known for excellent strength, corrosion resistance, and long-term performance under maritime conditions.
Jeyco offers studless chains in Grade U2 with Grade U3 available on request. Their chains are widely used in mooring and anchoring applications, with options for OEM customization to meet specific client requirements regarding size, grade, and coating.
Other notable Australian suppliers include LHR Marine and Dawson Group. These suppliers offer studless chains in offshore grades R3, R3S, R4, R4S, and R5, produced using ISO-accredited processes that ensure compliance with stringent marine safety standards. Partnerships with international manufacturers, especially from China's Jiangsu Province, allow for cost-effective OEM services while maintaining high product quality.
Australian studless chain manufacturers provide a diverse range of products, such as:
- Chain diameters rated from 12.5mm to 162mm or more.
- Offshore grades from U2/U3 for anchor chains to R4 and R5 for mooring chains.
- Various surface treatments including hot-dip galvanizing, black tar coating, and specialized paints.
- Custom OEM capabilities for chain length, marking, and packaging.
- Specialized chains for use with CALM buoy systems, offshore oil platforms (FPSO/FSO), and heavy-duty mooring applications.
Customization is critical for meeting project-specific requirements, making Australian suppliers flexible partners for international marine and offshore clients.
Quality assurance is paramount in studless chain manufacturing. Australian suppliers typically hold ISO 9001:2015 certifications and collaborate with manufacturers certified under ISO 14001 environmental standards. Chains comply with classification societies such as LR, ABS, DNV, BV, IRS, RS, KR, NK, and CCS.
Testing protocols include:
- Ultrasonic Testing (UT)
- Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI)
- Tensile and Proof Load Testing
- Metallurgical and Grain Size Analysis
Such comprehensive inspections ensure that chains maintain mechanical integrity, corrosion resistance, and safety under severe marine conditions.
Marine chain manufacturers in Australia and their global partners utilize cutting-edge technologies:
- Computer-controlled welding and heat treatment for consistent quality.
- High-precision trimming and sizing techniques to optimize operational performance.
- Digital traceability systems that provide batch-specific quality data to clients.
- Environmental-friendly coatings to extend service life in corrosive seawater.
- Collaborative R&D for developing chains that support renewable energy structures like offshore wind farms.
These advances enhance the reliability and lifespan of studless chains used in demanding offshore environments.
Australia's studless chain manufacturers and suppliers stand at the forefront of marine and offshore mooring technology, combining advanced manufacturing processes, rigorous quality assurance, and expansive customization options. Their ability to provide internationally certified studless chains tailored for diverse applications ensures that clients can trust these products to perform safely and efficiently in harsh marine environments. Whether for FPSO moorings, CALM buoy systems, or general marine anchoring, these Australian suppliers offer robust, high-quality studless chains with excellent OEM service support.
Studless chains lack the crosspiece or stud inside each link, making them lighter and more flexible, which enhances bending and reduces fatigue. Stud link chains include the stud for added strength and resistance to deformation.
Typical grades include U2 and U3 for anchor chains and offshore grades like R3, R3S, R4, R4S, and R5 for mooring chains.
Yes, manufacturers provide OEM services to customize chain diameter, length, grade, marking, and coating according to client specifications.
Chains undergo proof load testing, ultrasonic and magnetic particle inspections, tensile tests, and metallurgical analysis to meet international standards and classification society requirements.
Studless chains are used in offshore oil and gas platforms, renewable energy installations such as floating wind farms, and heavy-duty mooring applications requiring flexible, durable chains.
[1](http://www.sci-chain.com/?page_id=11)
[2](https://oceanforce.com.au/products/chain-and-chain-fittings/studless-chain/)
[3](https://www.offspringinternational.com/offshore-grade-mooring-chains/)
[4](https://www.matchaumarine.com/introduction-of-anchor-chain-id6257606.html)
[5](http://www.lhrmarine.com/product/studless-anchor-chain)
[6](https://www.anchorchainjn.com/news/Studless-Chain-Exporters-Australia.html)
[7](http://www.lhrmarine.com/product/stud-link-anchor-chain)
[8](https://www.anchorchainjn.com/top-studless-anchor-chain-manufacturers-and-suppliers-in-australia.html)
[9](https://easysea.org/blogs/utility/mooring-chain-weight-guide)
