A US company manufacturing studio equipment for use in TV and film production has specified Renold Synergy high performance chain for use on the steering mechanisms of its movie camera dollies. Chapman Leonard Studio Equipment produce camera cranes, arms, bases, dollies, pedestals and remote camera systems for motion picture and television production. The dollies are used to maneuvre the heavy cameras into position with sophisticated chain-driven steering and transmission systems that ensure they can move and turn smoothly with precision.

Exposed to the huge forces involved in turning and maneuvring the heavy cameras the initial chain used in the steering mechanism was elongating rapidly in field tests due to premature wear. The company’s design team needed to find an alternative chain that would last significantly longer to reduce the unacceptable levels of maintenance that would otherwise be required. As chain wears it elongates and maintenance is required to adjust the chain on its sprockets to compensate for this elongation. Accessing the dolly’s steering and transmission chain is a time consuming process and it was therefore essential to reduce this to the minimum.

In the hunt for a longer-lasting chain Renold Synergy was tested against other leading chain brands. Not only did it outperform them all, by a significant degree, but the company’s engineers found that, with Synergy fitted, the need to adjust the steering chain was virtually eliminated. This close to zero maintenance is now a key selling feature of this innovative new model and Chapman Leonard has implemented a plan to change all the chain on its dollies to Renold Synergy.

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