1 Global Industrial Roller Chain Drives Market Outlook
The global Industrial Roller Chain Drives market is projected to exhibit substantial growth in the coming years, with a CAGR of 4.63% from 2024 to 2033, reaching a total market size of $2230.87 million USD in 2024. Industrial Roller Chain Drives is a mechanical element that transmits power from a motor or other source of power as tension to a driven shaft via a gear-like rotating element called a sprocket.
Figure Global Industrial Roller Chain Drives Market Size and Growth Rate (2024-2033)

2 Industrial Roller Chain Drives Market Growth Drivers and Challenges
The market for industrial roller chain drives is influenced by various drivers and challenges. Drivers include the advantages of these chains, such as high efficiency, long service life, wide power and speed range, and cost-effectiveness. These benefits contribute to their broad application in various industries, thereby boosting market growth. Challenges, on the other hand, stem from the potential underutilization of industrial roller chain drives if not correctly applied. Misspecification or failure to follow manufacturers’ instructions can lead to premature failure and reduced service life. Excessive wear due to overload is a primary reason for reduced service life, while incorrect or insufficient lubrication is also a significant cause of excessive wear. The type and amount of lubrication are crucial and should be related to the size of the drive and the operating environment. Dust, rust, or exposure to corrosive environments can prevent lubricants from penetrating the system, accelerating wear. Additionally, uneven loading can lead to excessive wear, making it essential for users to ensure proper alignment of shafts and sprockets and to use alignment tools if necessary. Raw material price fluctuations, primarily of steel, also impact the industry as these metals are key to product production, and their prices are subject to supply and demand dynamics, as well as global economic and trade conditions.
3 Industrial Roller Chain Drives Market M&A Activities
SKF, a prominent multinational company known for its bearings and seals, has made a strategic move to bolster its magnetic bearings offering by acquiring 2C Composites, a German-based high-performance fiber composite supplier. This acquisition is significant as it enables SKF to secure a leading technology in composite layers, which is anticipated to enhance the performance and reliability of their magnetic bearings. These bearings are valued for their ability to levitate a rotating shaft through magnetic force, thereby eliminating physical contact and offering benefits such as reduced friction, increased efficiency, higher speeds, and lower vibration levels. 2C Composites specializes in producing tubes, rotors, rolls, and braided sleeves through a unique process involving the braiding, cutting, and melting of carbon and ceramic fibers. This strategic acquisition is expected to strengthen SKF’s position in the market and contribute to the advancement of their product portfolio, particularly in the realm of magnetic bearings used in turbomachinery like compressors, turbines, and pumps.
4 Global Industrial Roller Chain Drives Market Analysis by Type
In 2024, the global industrial roller chain drives market revenue by type demonstrated a clear dominance by the single strand chain, which generated a revenue of $1393.24 million, accounting for 62.45% of the total market share. The double strand chain followed with a revenue of $460.70 million, capturing a 20.65% market share. The multiple strand chain contributed $376.93 million in revenue, securing 16.90% of the market share. These figures underscore the significant role of single strand chains in the industrial roller chain drives market, while also highlighting the substantial presence of double and multiple strand chains, indicating a diversified revenue stream across different chain types.
Table Global Industrial Roller Chain Drives Market Size and Share by Type in 2024
Type | Market Size in 2024 (M USD) | Market Share in 2024 (%) |
---|---|---|
Single Strand | 1393.24 | 62.45% |
Double Strand | 460.70 | 20.65% |
Multiple Strand | 376.93 | 16.90% |
5 Global Industrial Roller Chain Drives Market Analysis by Application
In 2024, the global industrial roller chain drives market revenue by application was led by the manufacturing sector, which generated a revenue of $651.68 million USD, representing a 27.60% share of the total market revenue. The food processing sector followed with a revenue of $424.79 million USD, holding a 19.04% market share. The agricultural machine sector contributed $371.70 million USD in revenue, constituting 16.66% of the market share. The mining sector’s revenue was $350.20 million USD, accounting for 15.70% of the market share. Lastly, the ‘Others’ category, which includes various other applications, had a revenue of $468.49 million USD, representing 21.00% of the total market revenue. These figures indicate the widespread use of industrial roller chain drives across different industries, with manufacturing being the most significant contributor to the market’s revenue.
Table Global Industrial Roller Chain Drives Market Size and Share by Application in 2024
Application | Market Size in 2024 (M USD) | Market Share in 2024 (%) |
---|---|---|
Food Processing | 424.79 | 19.04% |
Manufacturing | 615.68 | 27.60% |
Agricultural Machine | 371.70 | 16.66% |
Mining | 350.20 | 15.70% |
Others | 468.49 | 21.00% |
6 Global Industrial Roller Chain Drives Market Analysis by Region
In 2024, the United States continued to be the largest revenue contributor to the global industrial roller chain drives market, generating $689.45 million USD and holding a market share of 30.91%. Europe followed with a revenue of $563.65 million USD, capturing a 25.27% share of the market. China also played a significant role, with a revenue of $355.87 million USD, representing 15.95% of the total market revenue. Together, these three regions accounted for over 70% of the global market share, underscoring their pivotal roles in the industrial roller chain drives industry.
Figure Global Industrial Roller Chain Drives Market Share by Region in 2024

7 Top 3 Companies of Global Industrial Roller Chain Drives Market
7.1 Tsubakimoto Chain
Company Introduction and Business Overview:
Tsubakimoto Chain Co. manufactures power transmission equipment and material handling systems. The Company’s power transmission product line features transmission chains and gears, conveyer chains, and timing belts for automobiles.
Products Offered:
Tsubakimoto Chain’s industrial roller chain drives, which are used for power transmission in various low-speed, high-load applications. These chains consist of inner and outer plates, pins, bushes, and rollers, and are known for their durability and ability to transmit power efficiently over long distances. The chains are compatible with sprockets when their basic dimensions match and can be fitted with either slip or press fits. Tsubakimoto Chain’s products are appreciated for their strength, corrosion resistance, and versatility in different industrial settings.
Sales Revenue in 2024:
In 2024, Tsubakimoto Chain achieved a revenue of $502.33 million USD in the industrial roller chain drives market, showcasing a continued growth in their market performance and demonstrating their strong position within the industry.
7.2 Iwis
Company Introduction and Business Overview:
Iwis company offers chain drive systems for camshafts, injection pumps, differential shafts, oil pumps, and auxiliary units, replacement parts for timing drives in internal combustion engines, and precision chain systems for industry and agriculture applications.
Products Offered:
Iwis’s extensive range of roller chains designed for industrial applications. These chains are manufactured to exceed the minimum requirements of DIN/ISO standards in terms of wear and fatigue limit values. Iwis ensures the quality of their chains through strict adherence to ISO 9001 quality control and continuous monitoring standards. The company’s roller chains are known for their superior performance and reliability, making them a preferred choice in various industrial settings where durability and compliance with international standards are crucial.
Sales Revenue in 2024:
For the year 2024, Iwis achieved a revenue of $216.93 million USD in the industrial roller chain drives market, marking a significant performance in their financial outcomes for the year.
7.3 Timken
Company Introduction and Business Overview:
The Timken Co (Timken) is a developer, manufacturer and distributor of mechanical components. The company offers engineered bearings and power transmission products and services. Timken’s engineered bearings portfolio offers tapered roller bearings, spherical and cylindrical roller bearings, ball bearings, housed bearings and plain bearings. Its power transmission products include linear motion products, lubrication systems, gear drives, belts, chain, couplings, industrial clutches and brakes, aerospace drive systems and other products, including seals and augers. Timken’s services components in the industrial customer’s drive train include electric motors and generators, gearboxes, switch gears, bearings, couplings, central panels and assemblies, and maintenance services.
Products Offered:
The company’s roller chains are characterized by their wide-waisted link plates that are shot peened and manufactured from special alloy steels, offering increased strength for chain sizes 60H and above. These link plates enhance stress distribution, leading to improved fatigue resistance and overall performance. Timken’s Drives® chain is pre-loaded to 50 percent of the minimum ultimate tensile strength (MUTS), which is beneficial for applications with fixed center-to-center sprockets without takeups, allowing them to withstand shock loads without premature elongation. The chains also feature a special hook cotter for sizes 80-180, providing greater link plate support and double the shear strength of conventional short split cotters, suitable for high vibration applications. Each chain undergoes a hot dip lubrication process, which extends the working life of the chain compared to cold-dip methods, with proprietary lubricants designed to penetrate and fully coat the bearing surface between the pin and bushing.
Sales Revenue in 2024:
Timken’s industrial roller chain drives achieved a revenue of $194.08 million USD in 2024, reflecting their market performance for that year.