{"id":2141,"date":"2022-09-27T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-27T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mccchains.com\/2022\/09\/27\/what-is-leaf-chain-2"},"modified":"2025-12-10T14:01:59","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T06:01:59","slug":"what-is-leaf-chain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mccchains.com\/en\/what-is-leaf-chain","title":{"rendered":"What is Leaf Chain? Types & Lacing Combinations Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Leaf chains are heavy-duty lifting chains composed of only link plates and pins\u2014without bushings or rollers. Commonly found in forklifts, telehandlers, and warehouse equipment, they are valued for their strength and simplicity. Also known as balance chains or cable chains, leaf chains resemble roller chains in shape but are optimized for vertical load transmission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaf Chain vs. Roller Chain: What’s the Difference?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Leaf chains and roller chains may look similar at first glance, but they serve very different purposes due to their structural differences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roller chains include pins, bushings, and rollers, allowing them to run smoothly over sprockets\u2014making them ideal for industrial machinery. In contrast, leaf chains are made only of plates and pins, designed to run over sheaves. This simpler construction makes them perfect for forklifts, telehandlers, and other material handling equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Chain<\/strong><\/th>Plate<\/strong><\/th>Pin<\/strong><\/th>Bush<\/strong><\/th>Roller<\/strong><\/th>Runs On<\/th>Applications<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Roller Chain<\/strong><\/td>1. Outer plate
2. Inner plate<\/td>		V<\/td>V<\/td>V<\/td>Sprockets<\/td>Industrial machines<\/td><\/tr>
Leaf Chain<\/strong><\/td>1. Outer plate
2. Inner plate<\/td>		V<\/td>X<\/td>X<\/td>Sheaves<\/td>1. Forklift
2. Telehandler
3. Other material handling<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Extended Reading: What is roller chain?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Applications of Leaf Chain<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Leaf chains are commonly used in material handling systems that require high lifting strength within a compact space. Thanks to their simple yet durable construction\u2014consisting only of link plates and pins\u2014they are perfectly suited for vertical lifting and tension-driven operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of the most common real-world applications where leaf chains play a critical role:<\/p>\n\n\n\n