Read through the timeline to learn more about Renold's rich heritage over the last 140 years!
Industrial Chain History
1864
The Chain Making Company James Slater (later to become Hans Renold Co.) introduced the roller into chain. Prior to this time transmission chain consisted of only pins and plates.
1873
At the age of 21 Hans Renold, son of a burgher family in Aarau, Switzerland, came to England and found work in Manchester with a firm of machinery exporters.
1879
His independent and inventive spirit soon found expression in the purchase of a small textile-chain making business in Salford.
The Hans Renold Co. was established following the purchase of the James Slater business. This makes Renold the oldest established transmission chain company still in existence in the world.
1880
Hans Renold Co. introduced the patented feature of the solid bush. This was the origin of the bush roller chain, the design of which is still used today throughout the world.
Thus began the enterprise of which The Institution of Mechanical Engineers was to say in a memoir: "Few realise how extensive is the influence of Renold's inventiveness on both civil and industrial life throughout the world.
Hans Renold's vision was not restricted to the prospects in UK industry and over the following years he began the international expansion of his company.
1885
A patent for the block chain was applied for by Hans Renold but he decided to openly give his idea to the cycle trade for all to freely manufacture. Undoubtedly he gained many friends by this charitable action.
Brampton Brothers Co., who later became part of the Coventry Chain Company (and ultimately Renold Chains Ltd.), experimented with self-lubricating bicycle chain.
1888
Hans Renold Co. were riveting the bearing pins in the assembled chain.
1889
Hans Renold Co. designed and manufactured a purpose built plate hole-punching machine.
Hans Renold Co. designed and manufactured a machine for the Dry Tumbling (Jingling) of chain components.
1893
As early as 1893 Hans Renold Co. were using hardened components.
1895
Hans Renold Co. designed and manufactured a machine for producing the Rotary Rivet on the ends of the chain bearing pins.
The need for an Inverted tooth (silent chain) was apparent to Hans Renold and this resulted in his patent of 1895. Although his design of chain was superseded in later years by the silent chain with rocker joints, he made an impact in the introduction of such a chain.
Hans Renold Co. designed and manufactured a machine for the Wet Tumbling (Jingling) of chain components.
1896
Hans Renold Co. designed and manufactured a machine for the proof loading of their chain.
Hans Renold Co. introduced the 48 hour week when the general practice in engineering was 52 or more.
1899
Hans Renold Co. introduced their patented feature of the end recess in the bearing pin.
Brampton Brothers Ltd. patented the integral bush/inner plate chain upon which so many cycle chains have been based.
Hans Renold Co. introduced a Works Canteen.
Hans Renold Co. introduced the round-ended necked (i.e. shouldered) bearing pin in their 1899 patent.
1900
Hans Renold Co. designed and manufactured a Coning Machine.
1903
Hans Renold Ltd. formed.
1905
Hans Renold Ltd. introduced percussion testing on chain components.
Hans Renold Ltd. designed and manufactured a Semi Automatic Drifting Machine for use on assembled inner links.
1906
Hans Renold Ltd. began supplying mortise block chains (and associated equipment) which were a notable part of the business for about 60 years.
During the construction of a new factory, rather than use belt drives from overhead lineshafts Hans Renold Ltd. designed, and installed, overhead chain drives.
Hans Renold Ltd. began designing and manufacturing special - purpose machines for the assembly of chains.
Hans Renold Ltd. began the manufacture of chain wheels.
Hans Renold Ltd. developed a machine for centreless grinding of bearing pins. This was long before centreless grinders became the factor in machine shop practice that they are now.
The Coventry Chain Company Ltd. (who later became part of the Renold group) patented the helical (spiral) roller formed by wire strip.
1907
Hans Renold Ltd. developed a new tooth form for roller chain wheels.
1909
Hans Renold Ltd. introduced Torsion Testing on chain components.
Hans Renold Ltd. (and its forerunners) began supplying transmission chain for Aircraft.
Hans Renold founded the Hans Renold Social Union.
1910
Hans Renold Ltd. designed and manufactured a Tumbler (Jingler) for the blueing of chain plates. The blue plates being a feature of the Hans Renold chain for many years.
1912
Hans Renold Ltd. began the process of end softening of bearing pins and only now are many of Renold Competitors beginning to incorporate this feature.
Hans Renold Ltd. supplied the chain for The Great Clock at the Palace of Westminster known more affectionately as Big Ben (which was incidentally built in 1856).
1913
Hans Renold gave the world his improved sprocket tooth profile which, with slight modification, was adopted by the United States as their Standard profile.
Hans Renold Ltd. designed and manufactured a Fatigue Test Machine for the evaluation of chain fatigue strength.
1914
Hans Renold Ltd. designed and patented their flexible chain coupling. A product that is still used today worldwide.
1915
Around 1915 Hans Renold Ltd. were manufacturing high waisted chain plates. and chains with straight sided plates.
Hans Renold Ltd. designed and manufactured Running-in machine for their chain.
Hans Renold Ltd. introduced Stock Drives, something of which is taken for granted today.
1916
Hans Renold Ltd. were supplying chain with Case Hardened pins.
Hans Renold Ltd. patented the segmental bush design of inverted tooth (silent) chain.
Around 1916 The Coventry Chain Company Ltd. developed and manufactured track chains for use on tank vehicles.
1917
Hans Renold Ltd. were still leading the world by having coned (i.e. tapered) bush bores in 1917. The first coning machine being designed and manufactured in May 1900 (see above).
1918
Hans Renold Ltd. manufactured extra strong chains for use on motor cycles
1922
Hans Renold Ltd. designed and manufactured a Bush Curling Machine.
1925
The first acquisition of a major competitor came in 1925, when Brampton Brothers Limited, with its French manufacturing subsidiary at Calais, was purchased and the operation merged with the manufacturing facility previously established in Coventry.
1927
To improve bush inner/plate security Hans Renold Ltd. patented the 'keyed' bush in 1927. This feature is still used today.
Hans Renold Ltd. were approved under the A.I.D. regulations to issue Inspection Certificates and were likewise an approved A.R.B inspection authority.
1930
Merger created Renold and Coventry Chain Co. Ltd.
1932
Chain supplied by Renold and Coventry Chain Co. Ltd had chamfered plates some being doubled chamfered (i.e. both sides).
Renold and Coventry Chain Co. Ltd patented the early design of bi-planar chain, (The patent being applied for in 1928).
1933
Renold and Coventry Chain Co. Ltd supplied chain with a notched bush.
1945
The Whitney Chain & Mfg. Co. (who later became part of the Renold group) obtained the patent for the tin-printer chain which is still used today throughout the world.
Perry Chain Co. Ltd. formed.
1947
In 1947 Renold established its first green-field manufacturing operation overseas in Melbourne, Australia and this was followed by the establishment of other owned sales and sometimes manufacturing operations in Austria, Denmark, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden and Switzerland.
1950
Renold and Coventry Chain Co. Ltd chain plates had reamed holes.
1954
Company becomes Renold Chains Ltd.
Renold Chains Ltd. introduced their improved design of bi-planar chain with their patent of 1954
1955
Renold acquired Anchor Chain, Oldham 1956 - with the introduction of nuclear power at Calder Hall UK. Renold Chains Ltd. entered the Nuclear Age with the supply of control rod lifting chains.
1959
Renold Chains Ltd. were innovators in the chain industry of progressive die tooling (i.e. follow-on tooling) in the manufacture of chain plates. In 1959 chain plates for pitches between 1.0" and 1.5" were being produced by this method. Smaller pitch chain plates had begun being produced by this process many years earlier.
1963
In 1963 Renold acquired Arnold and Stolzenberg GmbH of Einbeck, one of the largest and oldest-established chain manufacturers in Germany.
1964
A significant strategic development of the Renold Group was the acquisition of John Holroyd and Co Ltd in 1964, and this marked the start of the transition from purely chain manufacture to manufacture and supply of a complete range of power transmission products and precision machine tools. Further acquisitions brought more gearing, couplings, clutches, brakes, variable speed drives and various hydraulic products into the Group.
1967
Company now called Renold Ltd.
Renold develops a range of Non Lube chains with sintered bushes.
1970
Renold begins the cold extrusion of rollers for transmission chain using multi-station extruders.
1975
Renold introduces GP Motor Cycle Chains.
1977
Renold designs and manufactures a machine for hard ball drifting of plates.
Renold supplies the chain for the famous Gastown Steam Clock in Vancouver, Canada.
1981
Renold chain fitted to the Dartford Creek Barrier, a flood prevention application on the Thames.
1987
Renold becomes the first chain Company to obtain BS:5750 (later becoming ISO:9002).
Renold introduces the staked bush.
1989
Renold introduces the coning feature in their bush cold extrusion process.
1996
Renold acquires the Holset couplings business in Halifax and renames the company Renold Hi-Tec Couplings.
Renold introduces the Smartlink data logging concept for chain.
1998
In December 1998 Renold acquired Jones & Shipman plc in the UK and with it a range of precision production and tool room grinding machine tools, "superabrasive" machine tools from Edgetek in the USA and electronic control systems from Goodwin in the UK.
Renold manufactures the replacement replica chain for Big Ben.
Renold begins the cold extrusion of large pitch bushes and rollers.
Renold launches Syno low maintenance chain.
2000
In March 2000 Renold acquired Jeffrey Chain Corp., a leading manufacturer of industrial chain in the USA. Jeffrey Chain has strong US brands and established relationships with major US distributors, of power transmission equipment, and original equipment manufacturers.
In April 2000, Renold launched its brand new range of high performance transmission chain, Renold Synergy. This unique design significantly outperforms standard transmission chains with its unbeatable wear resistance.
2001
Chain factories obtained ISO 14001 certification
Renold patents the chain wear monitoring device.
2003
Renold Synergy range includes new and improved features.
2004
Range of polymer bush transmission chains launched as part of Renold Syno maintenance free chain.
2005
Smartlink fitted to the Dartford Creek Barrier, a flood prevention application on the Thames.
2007
Renold plc buys Hangzhou Shanshui Chain Co. in China to establish a manufacturing base in low cost economy.
2008
Renold plc acquires controlling interest in L.G.Balakrishnan chain manufacturing company in India, further establishing the Group's commitment to having manufacturing capabilities in low cost countries.
2010
Renold Synergy evolves again, with a new specially formulated lubricant improving initial wear performance even further.
2014
Renold launches its 72 hour rapid response service for standard attachment chain.
2015
Renold Head Office relocates to new, modern offices in Manchester.
STEP 2020 strategic plan announced with ambitious growth plans over the next 5 years.
2016
Renold completes acquisition of Tooth Chain business from Aventics.
2017
As part of its commitment to improving manufacturing efficiency, Renold consolidates its UK Couplings manufacturing facilities into the existing facility in Cardiff.
Renold Couplings achieves certification to ISO 14001:2015 standards.
Today, Renold employs around 2,500 people in more than 23 countries around the world.