Engineering for Industrial Applications
iwis drive systems

In the field of drive systems, our development team is continuously working to improve our existing product range while also developing innovative solutions — both for and in collaboration with our customers.

In doing so, iwis looks beyond conventional chain applications and actively explores new areas of use for innovative chain drive systems.

iwis stands for technical excellence, creative solutions, and lived partnership.

In close coordination with our customers and suppliers, we develop, test, and implement holistic drive solutions that are precisely tailored to individual requirements.

Together, we create sustainable innovations – contact us, we look forward to your challenge!

Core Requirements of Steel Link Chains

Steel link chains consist of an arrangement of individual chain links. Each link, in turn, is made up of design elements that serve to transmit tensile forces, as well as elements that enable the relative rotation of two links with respect to each other. Particular emphasis is placed on the precise design of the joints. As a rule, these are only movable within a single plane.

Steel link chains are used throughout general mechanical engineering. They are employed, among others, in machine tool construction, printing machinery, the textile and packaging industries, materials handling and conveying technology, agricultural and construction machinery, hydraulic engineering, mining and steel production, as well as in automotive and engine manufacturing.

The properties and applications of steel link chains result in various key requirements, which form the basis for the structure of the Research & Development department and, in particular, its dedicated test facilities.

Main Development Areas

On the technical side, our development efforts concentrate on a wide variety of points, but the main focus is always on improving step by step.

Our main development topics are:

Increasing the wear resistance and fatigue strength of our products
Optimising chain link tribology to improve efficiency and minimise wear
Corrosion resistance
Reducing noise levels
Implementing new materials, coatings and production technologies
Weight reduction through optimised design and the use of alternative materials
System optimisation by considering the chain drive system as a whole, including sprockets, guides and tensioners

Practical Test Fields as Innovation Drivers

We support our customers through targeted testing procedures.

Our test fields are a central part of product development at iwis. They enable us to test and optimize drive solutions under realistic conditions — whether regarding wear, tensile strength, corrosion resistance, or temperature behavior. By continuously simulating a wide variety of application scenarios, we ensure that our chains and drive systems meet the highest quality and performance standards. This forms the basis for durable and reliable products.

Close collaboration with our customers is directly incorporated into the design of our testing processes. Practical requirements — for example, from the food, packaging, or automotive industries — form the basis for tailored tests. Together, we identify specific stresses and operating conditions that are precisely simulated in our test fields. The result: individual solutions perfectly tailored to our customers’ needs and distinguished by technical excellence. Learn more about Testing as a Service!