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Views: 222 Author: Loretta Publish Time: 2025-09-16 Origin: Site
Content Menu
● Top European Studless Chain Manufacturers and Suppliers
>> Kettenfabrik Mester (Germany)
>> Ketten Wälder GmbH (Germany)
>> Sotra Anchor & Chain (Norway)
● Manufacturing Process of Studless Anchor Chains
● Certifications and Quality Control
● Applications of Studless Chains
● OEM Services and Customization
● FAQ
>> 1. What is the difference between studless chains and stud link chains?
>> 2. Are European studless chains certified?
>> 3. Can studless chains be customized for specific applications?
>> 4. What materials are used for studless chains?
>> 5. Where are studless chains commonly used?
Studless chains play a pivotal role in marine mooring, anchoring, and offshore applications due to their distinctive design and performance advantages. Unlike stud link anchor chains, studless chains do not have the central stud, which reduces weight and increases flexibility, making them especially favorable for permanent mooring systems. Europe stands as a global hub for some of the finest studless chain manufacturers and suppliers, known for their cutting-edge technology, high-quality standards, and OEM services catering to international marine brands, wholesalers, and manufacturers.
This article provides an in-depth overview of the leading European Studless Chain Manufacturers and Suppliers, highlighting their manufacturing processes, certifications, product features, applications, and customer service excellence.
Studless chains are marine chains manufactured without the transverse stud bar found in traditional stud link chains. This lack of stud results in several benefits:
- Greater flexibility: This facilitates smoother operation on winches and windlasses and helps avoid jamming.
- Reduced weight: At equivalent strength levels, studless chains weigh less, contributing to easier handling.
- Lower stress concentrations: Without studs, stress points are minimized, enhancing fatigue resistance.
- Improved reliability: The absence of studs reduces the risk of stud loosening or breakage under load.
Studless chains are widely used in offshore oil and gas platforms, floating production systems, renewable energy installations, and commercial marine vessels where operational reliability and durability are critical.
Operating out of Dortmund, Kettenfabrik Mester is one of the premier manufacturers of studless anchor chains and marine fittings in Europe. The company boasts sophisticated production facilities capable of forging chains tested up to 600 tons.
- Their studless chains meet certifications such as DNV, ABS, Lloyd's Register, and Bureau Veritas.
- They offer customized manufacturing and OEM services, supplying chains in various steel grades and sizes.
- Quality assurance includes ultrasonic and magnetic particle testing alongside load certification.
With an extensive history spanning over 75 years, Ketten Wälder GmbH focuses on stainless steel studless chains, leveraging proprietary cromox® stainless steel for enhanced corrosion resistance.
- Their chains find preference in harsh marine environments due to superior material quality.
- An in-house research and test lab facilitates continuous product improvement.
- Products come with certifications from globally accepted bodies ensuring quality compliance.
Sotra Anchor & Chain is a major supplier with a strong European footprint, offering vast inventories and prompt delivery services.
- Their portfolio includes studless chains, mooring chains, shackles, and anchors.
- The company holds certified stock of approximately 9,000 tons, ensuring availability for immediate orders.
- With facilities in Norway, Scotland, and the Netherlands, they serve Europe and beyond.
Boomarine specializes in offshore mooring studless chains made from hot-rolled steel.
- They provide U2 and U3 grade studless chains certified by ABS, BV, DNV, and other bodies.
- Surface treatments include hot-dip galvanizing and black paint for corrosion resistance.
- Chains are used extensively for lifting, permanent mooring, and holding applications.
MARIT is a key player in the European market with chains produced to high technical standards.
- They offer studless and stud link chains in multiple grades with ISO and IACS certifications.
- Their OEM service includes custom coatings tailored for enhanced corrosion protection.
- The company provides extensive testing and certification for all chain products.
Producing studless chains requires precision and advanced technological processes to ensure strength and safety compliance. The European manufacturers adhere to internationally recognized standards, ensuring each chain meets stringent marine operational requirements.
The typical manufacturing process includes:
1. Material Selection: High-quality carbon or alloy steel rods are chosen based on mechanical and corrosion resistance requirements.
2. Heating: Steel rods are heated in controlled furnaces at around 650–750°C to make the material malleable for shaping.
3. Shaping: Heated rods are bent into U-shaped links, which are then closed and aligned to form the chain.
4. Welding: Flash butt welding is commonly used to fuse the link ends together, creating a seamless joint with high tensile strength.
5. Finishing: Welded links are shaped and smoothed, removing any burrs or ridges that could reduce fatigue resistance.
6. Assembly: Links are connected to form shots of chain, assembled into the desired lengths.
7. Testing: Chains undergo proof testing including tension load tests, breaking strength verification, and non-destructive testing like magnetic particle inspection or X-rays.
8. Surface Treatment: Chains receive corrosion protection treatments such as hot-dip galvanizing or paint coatings.
9. Certification: Final products are certified by classification societies including DNV, ABS, LR, Bureau Veritas, and RINA.
This highly controlled process guarantees that the chains perform reliably even in the harshest marine environments.
Studless chain manufacturers in Europe emphasize compliance with major international standards to ensure safety and durability.
- IACS Approval: Adherence to International Association of Classification Societies standards.
- ISO 9001 & ISO 14001: Quality and environmental management certifications.
- Classification Societies: Chains are certified by DNV GL, ABS, Lloyd's Register, Bureau Veritas, RINA, and others.
- Material Testing: Thorough chemical composition and mechanical property testing.
- Fatigue and Stress Testing: Simulating real operational loads to verify longevity.
These certifications make European studless chains highly reliable and accepted in global marine and offshore projects.
Studless chains are widely deployed across marine and offshore sectors:
- Offshore oil and gas platforms: For permanent mooring and anchoring of floating production systems.
- FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading units): Chains handle massive loads and dynamic forces.
- Commercial shipping: Anchor chains on vessels benefit from reduced weight and smoother operation.
- Renewable energy installations: Offshore wind farms and tidal energy systems use studless chains for mooring.
- Floating buoys and navigation aids: Require flexible yet durable chains to withstand environment exposure.
Their fatigue resistance, weight advantages, and smooth handling make studless chains the preferred choice in modern marine applications.
European manufacturers provide extensive OEM services that include:
- Custom chain dimensions with specialized link sizes and pitches.
- Selection of steel grades including high-strength alloy and stainless steel variants.
- Optional coatings such as galvanizing, painting, and anti-corrosion treatments.
- Special orders with non-standard lengths or configurations.
- Technical consultations for matching chains to specific marine equipment and operational environments.
This flexibility helps maritime OEM clients globally meet precise operational needs and regulatory requirements.
Europe remains at the forefront of studless chain manufacturing and supplying, blending decades of expertise with modern technology and stringent quality controls. The region's manufacturers, such as Kettenfabrik Mester, Ketten Wälder GmbH, Sotra Anchor & Chain, Boomerine, and MARIT, consistently deliver certified, high-performance studless chains suited for marine and offshore industries worldwide. With their robust OEM capabilities and commitment to meeting international standards, these European suppliers ensure reliable, durable studless chains that support critical anchoring, mooring, and lifting applications across the globe.
Studless chains do not have the transverse stud found in stud link chains. This absence leads to lighter weight, greater flexibility, and smoother operation, whereas stud link chains offer higher proof loads and enhanced fatigue life due to the stud support but are heavier and can suffer from stud loosening in some cases.
Yes, they typically hold certifications from major classification societies like DNV GL, ABS, Lloyd's Register, Bureau Veritas, and RINA, along with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 quality and environmental certifications, ensuring international compliance.
European studless chain manufacturers offer OEM services allowing custom dimensions, steel grades, finish coatings, and lengths tailored to unique operational requirements.
Common materials include high-strength carbon steel, alloy steel, and stainless steel, with surface treatments like hot-dip galvanizing and protective paints to resist marine corrosion.
They are used extensively in offshore mooring, FPSOs, ship anchoring systems, renewable offshore energy installations, and commercial maritime applications requiring durable, flexible, and lightweight anchor chains.
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