Professional chain solutions.
KOBO USA is a well-known and respected partner of automotive manufacturers and their suppliers. Our consultative approach and individualized solutions distinguish us from our competition.
Chains convey equipment throughout automotive plants in almost every application such as scrap metal removal in the press shop, overhead conveying, cross transfers, spray booth applications, oven chains in the paint shop, and slat conveyors in the assembly line.
Our engineers develop and manufacture high-performance chains in lubed or lube-free design, in normal or galvanized steel, in powder-coated or stainless steel. Every application is unique and requires adjustments in the chain design. KOBO is your one-stop shop for chains, sprockets, and attachments.
KOBO chains can be low-maintenance or no-maintenance across a wide range of applications. For example:
- Transfer chains
- Dryer chains
- Chains for painting applications
- Chains for car wash systems
- And more
CC5 Chains
Nationwide, almost all automotive plants use CC5 chains. KOBO has a proven record for CC5 chains of many years in the United States and Europe, where we work with all known OEMs. The CC5 design is still in place due to its simplicity and success for several decades. KOBO kept improving the regular CC5 design to a lubrication-free system. Low maintenance and no lubrication are huge cost savers over a chain’s lifetime. With our CC5 modular system you can adjust the sequence of the guide roller from CC5A without rollers, to CC5B with a roller in every inner link in seconds.
Wear blocks are available in different designs: plastic or steel, screwed, welded, or clipped-on.
Scrap Metal Conveying
The first step in manufacturing cars is the deformation of flat sheet metal to complex single automotive parts. These components are stamped in the press shop. Finished pieces move forward whereas scrap metal needs to be removed from the work shop. KOBO manufactures chains, sprockets, and complete assemblies with flights for the scrap metal removal. We are your one-stop shop for conveyor needs.
Overhead Conveying
KOBO is specialized in drop forged chain applications such as 678, 458, etc. Smooth links for longer wear resistance and availability in the US make us a recognizable alternative.
High-strength alloys are used to minimize wear in the joint for a longer chain life. We harden all chain components before assembly. We are a leading supplier for chains and sprockets worldwide.
Paint Shop
Transfer Chains
Transfer chains are used in automotive plants to connect conveyors and work stations for a continuous manufacturing process. KOBO manufactures chains for cross transfer applications using different pitches, from metric to imperial dimensions. Common pitches are 80mm, 100mm, 120mm, 160mm or in imperial dimensions 4 inch or 6 inch. They come with powder coated or galvanized link plates or even with our special sealing technology. In lubrication-free execution, KOBO chains eliminate maintenance throughout the lifecycle of the chain and reduce the usage of natural resources. Lube-free chains are often used in applications like overhead return skid conveyors to eliminate drippings on car bodies.
Buffer Chains
Buffer chains, deep link chains, or accumulation chains are commonly used in metric or imperial dimensions throughout the plant. High rollers can be attached to the chains according to the requested sequence. Guide blocks on the link plates can be made of forged metal, cast metal, or plastic. All chains can be manufactured in various executions such as coatings for normal lubrication, galvanized, or made of stainless steel with sealings to protect the joint and ensure longer life.
Dip Chains
Cleaning cars after the body shop is of major importance before they enter the paint shop. The most common conveyor systems are rotating the bodies in several tanks to clean the surface with liquid chemicals from dirt and grease. KOBO has manufactured these chains for OEMs and end customers. Special knowledge is required for pendulum chains with fixed and loose sides. KOBO also provides sprockets for these applications.
Spray Booth Chains
Spray booth chains are exposed to enamel and paint throughout the lifetime of the chain. Keeping these liquids from entering the chain joint is the most critical challenge. Therefore, spray booth chains are running in tight channels and are often covered with welded plates. These chains are in general equipped with guide blocks to avoid snaking of the chain. Guide blocks are made of metal or plastic and can be clipped or bolted on. KOBO provides these chains in metric or imperial dimensions. Mounted attachments are an option in addition to the welded plates. We manufacture spray booth chains with a special sealing technology.
Oven Chains
After the coating process, the car bodies go into ovens with temperatures up to 460°-500°F. Materials for the chain and clearances need to be chosen carefully. For decades, KOBO has manufactured oven-type chains for various industries, acquiring special knowledge in the manufacturing of these chains. Oven chains are manufactured in metric or imperial dimensions.
Final Assembly
KOBO is your partner for slat conveyor lines in the automotive industry. Multiple projects all over the globe have been realized for many different car and truck brands.
KOBO slat conveyor chains are running in the following areas of automotive plants:
- Assembly Line
- Filling Line
- Water Testing Line
- Conservation Line
As a one-stop shop, we supply complete chain systems including chains, slats, and shafts with sprockets for drive and conveyor chains. All designs are custom-made and can be manufactured lubrication-free or in standard lubricated versions according to your design preferences and specifications.
Chains in the filling line or in the water testing line are manufactured with stainless steel or galvanized components.
Drive Chains
KOBO’s roller chains and drive chains are used in almost every application in an automotive plant. KOBO’s portfolio goes from high-strength roller chains to galvanized, nickel-plated, dacromet-plated chains, and lubrication-free chains.
Sprockets
Chains and sprockets belong together. The performance of a chain is dependent on the quality of the sprocket. KOBO manufactures sprockets in-house. Our sprockets are custom-made and can be manufactured as split sprockets, tooth rims with hubs, with or without noise reduction feature. Teeth and tooth gaps are induction hardened to match the hardness of the interacting chain bushing or roller. We manufacture simplex, duplex, and triplex sprockets up to a diameter of 5.5ft.
Lube-free Chains
KOBO takes care of the environment by manufacturing lubrication-free chains. Using lube-free chains does not only protect the environment by saving natural resources, they also eliminate maintenance work and create additional savings throughout the lifetime of the chain. Almost every chain can be designed as lubrication-free.
Chain technology from Germany since 1894. Quality Progress is our tradition.
