Industry
How Sustainable is Steel?
Steel is everywhere. Cities are built with it; industries rely on it and the future is forged in it. Steel is in nearly every aspect of modern living because of its strength, toughness, durability, and resistance to corrosion and extreme temperatures. Whether it’s used as the skeleton of a skyscraper, as tire chains to keep…
3D Printing: The Past, Present and Future of Prototyping
3D printing has traveled an interesting path. Developed in the 80’s as a tool for rapid prototyping, it gained a new popularity within the last decade from home use to prosthetics—and everything in-between. While the evolution of 3D printing has seen a rapid growth in the number of companies adopting the technology, nearly four decades…
Tech Spotlight: A Safer and More Sustainable Alternative to Hot Dip Galvanizing—Galv360®
Hot dip galvanizing (HDG) offers a virtually unmatched protective zinc coating for steel products. It provides a tough and somewhat durable finish that resists damage from wear and abrasion as well as corrosion, and is typically less expensive compared to other corrosion protective coatings. But hot dip galvanizing has its limitations. It’s a thick…
Beyond Speed: Technology in Chain Manufacturing | Laclede Chain
Beyond Speed: Technology in Chain Manufacturing Manufacturers everywhere understand the benefits of technology like automation in improving speed, accuracy, and efficiency. The OEM and tiered suppliers we serve are always improving operations with robotics and equipment enhancements. And while any technology that increases efficiency will benefit our business, Laclede Chain has also been leveraging innovations…
Heavy-Duty Industrial Chain: How It’s Made
Since Leonardo da Vinci famously made sketches of what appeared to be the first steel chains in the 16th century, people have been innovating new ways to make industrial chain safer, stronger, and more wear and weather resistant. At Laclede Chain, we’re constantly refining our processes to achieve this same thing. Why does high quality…
Does ISO Certification Matter When Choosing a Supplier?
Why Choose an ISO-Certified Contract Manufacturer? We work with many types of customers at Laclede Chain who incorporate chain into their businesses in different ways. We serve OEMs that incorporate our chain into agriculture equipment, commercial fisheries that use marine chain to lift nets from the ocean, construction companies performing overhead lifting operations, and…
Powder Coating Capabilites
Advantages of Powder Coated Chain Our team has invested nearly a decade of research and testing (and over a million dollars) building our powder coating line. Powder coating is an ideal method for finishing your chain as it can withstand the elements and wear and tear. It can be applied in almost any color you…
3D Printing Innovation at Laclede Chain
While we’re still a ways away from actually 3D printing chain in mass quantities, we’ve been using this increasingly prevalent technology in our business since 2017. Here’s how we’re using it to innovate and help our customers grow. Vetting New Designs and Configurations Any engineer knows that what seems like a viable solution in a…
International Chain Grades: What You Need to Know
International Chain Grades: What You Need to Know While Laclede Chain is known as one of America’s oldest domestic chain manufacturers, we also distribute imported chain through our international division. In our many years of experience working with imports, we’ve become familiar with the common practices of international manufacturers that can have an impact on…