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Peerless Chains

When a job calls for chain, the grade designation is the first conversation, Grade 80 for general overhead lifting, Grade 100 where the capacity or weight budget demands more from a smaller chain body. Peerless Chain Company has been making welded steel chain in Winona, Minnesota since 1917, and the lineup covers both grades in the sizes riggers and procurement teams actually order.

About Peerless Chain Company

Peerless Chain Company was founded in Winona, Minnesota in 1917 and has been manufacturing welded steel chain in the United States for over a century. In 2019, Peerless became part of the pewag Group, an Austrian chain manufacturer with operations across Europe and North America. The Peerless manufacturing facility remains in Winona.

Peerless is a member of the National Association of Chain Manufacturers (NACM), whose Welded Chain Specifications define the dimensional and mechanical property requirements for welded steel chain used in rigging and material handling. Peerless alloy chain for overhead lifting is manufactured to meet these specifications and the requirements of ASME B30.9-2018 (Slings) for chain sling applications.

Holloway Houston stocks Peerless chain in Houston and ships to customers across the Gulf Coast and the rest of the country.

Peerless Chain by Grade

Grade 100 Alloy Chain

Grade 100 is the high-capacity lifting chain in the Peerless lineup. The higher strength rating means a Grade 100 chain body is smaller and lighter than a Grade 80 chain with the same working load limit, an advantage on jobs where weight in the rigging assembly matters, or where chain size is constrained by the hardware it passes through. Grade 100 alloy chain is quenched and tempered, heat-treated to meet the mechanical properties in the NACM Welded Chain Specifications.

Grade 100 chain is widely used for chain sling assemblies where maximum capacity in a compact chain profile is the deciding factor. Every Peerless Grade 100 chain carries the grade designation marked on the links.

Grade 80 Alloy Chain

Grade 80 alloy chain is the standard specification for overhead lifting chain in North America. The grade is recognized by ASME B30.9-2018 as suitable for chain sling fabrication for overhead lifting, and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.184 references alloy steel chain as the appropriate chain type for sling service. Grade 80 chain from Peerless is heat-treated alloy steel, quenched and tempered, with the grade marking on the links.

This is the go-to chain for chain sling assemblies in fabrication shops, steel mills, petrochemical turnarounds, and general industrial lifting across North America.

Grade 70 Transport Chain

Grade 70 is a carbon steel chain rated for load securement in transportation applications, flatbed tie-down, load binders, and cargo control. Grade 70 transport chain is not for overhead lifting. The gold chromate finish is the field identification mark. Peerless Grade 70 transport chain is manufactured to the applicable NACM transport chain specifications.

Holloway Houston stocks Grade 70 transport chain for customers who need both lifting chain and load securement chain from a single source.

Peerless Chain Sizes and Capacities

Peerless alloy chain for overhead lifting is available in standard link sizes. The following size ranges are representative of the Peerless product line, call Holloway Houston at 1-888-496-4700 for current stock and availability on specific sizes.

Grade 80 Alloy Chain - Representative Sizes:

  • 7/32 inch through 1-3/8 inch link diameter
  • WLL range: approximately 1.3 tons (7/32 inch) to 42.7 tons (1-3/8 inch) per NACM specifications
  • Marking: grade designation and manufacturer mark on links per ASME B30.9-2018

Grade 100 Alloy Chain - Representative Sizes:

  • 7/32 inch through 1-3/8 inch link diameter
  • WLL range: approximately 1.7 tons (7/32 inch) to 54.7 tons (1-3/8 inch) per NACM specifications
  • Marking: grade designation and manufacturer mark on links per ASME B30.9-2018

Grade 70 Transport Chain - Representative Sizes:

  • 1/4 inch through 5/16 inch link diameter in standard stock
  • Load securement ratings per applicable transport chain standards
  • Not rated for overhead lifting

Chain is available in cut lengths and bulk reels. Contact Holloway Houston for pricing on custom cut lengths and volume orders.

Peerless Chain - Over 100 Years of US Manufacturing

Peerless has been making chain in Winona, Minnesota for more than a century. The facility has produced alloy lifting chain, transport chain, and general purpose chain under the Peerless name through multiple ownership structures, and the manufacturing process and the NACM membership have stayed consistent.

As part of the pewag Group since 2019, Peerless has access to pewag's European engineering and testing resources while maintaining US production for North American markets. The combination matters to customers who need chain made to NACM and ASME B30.9-2018 specifications from a domestic manufacturer with a traceable production history.

Holloway Houston is an authorized Peerless distributor. Our rigging specialists can help with grade selection questions, size availability, and documentation requirements for your specific application.

Shop by Chain Grade

Peerless Chain Applications by Industry

  • Steel Mill and Metal Processing: Chain sling assemblies for coil, plate, and structural steel lifts where Grade 80 and Grade 100 chain slings are the standard rigging choice.
  • Petrochemical and Refining: Chain slings for turnaround and maintenance lifts in high-temperature adjacent environments where alloy chain handles the load conditions.
  • Heavy Fabrication: Single-leg and multi-leg chain sling assemblies in fabrication shops where chain slings get daily use across varied load profiles.
  • Construction Industry: Structural steel erection and equipment lifts where Grade 80 chain sling assemblies are specified by lift planners.
  • Mining: Surface and underground lifting where chain slings are selected for abrasion resistance compared to synthetic alternatives.
  • Load Securement: Grade 70 transport chain for flatbed cargo control and load binder applications in trucking and logistics.

Why Holloway Houston for Peerless Chain

Holloway Houston has been in the rigging and lifting business for over 65 years. We stock Peerless chain alongside the hardware that goes with it, chain sling components, master links, hooks, and shackles, so customers can source a complete chain sling assembly from one distributor.

Our rigging specialists can help with grade and size selection questions, confirm current stock, and get manufacturer documentation in your hands. Holloway Houston also manufactures chain slings in-house, our qualified sling shop assembles chain slings per ASME B30.9-2018 using Peerless chain components.

Holloway Houston also offers rigging inspection services. Our qualified inspectors examine chain slings and lifting hardware per applicable ASME and OSHA standards to keep equipment in service and crews working safely.

Grade 80 vs. Grade 100 - What Separates Them

The grades are not interchangeable. The working load limit for a given chain body size is higher in Grade 100 than Grade 80, which means for a given WLL requirement, Grade 100 chain uses a smaller, lighter link diameter. That matters when rigging weight is a concern or when chain needs to pass through small-diameter components.

Both grades are appropriate for overhead lifting when assembled into chain slings per ASME B30.9-2018. Both carry the grade designation stamped on the links, the marking requirement applies to all overhead lifting chain per ASME B30.9-2018. Chain without legible grade markings is not suitable for overhead lifting service under this standard.

Grade 70 is a separate category, it is a transport chain, not a lifting chain, and is not rated for overhead lifting regardless of its tensile strength. The gold chromate finish is the field identifier.

Chain Safety and Awareness

Alloy chain used in sling assemblies for overhead lifting falls under ASME B30.9-2018 (Slings) and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.184 (Slings). Key awareness points for chain in lifting service:

  • Per ASME B30.9-2018, alloy chain for overhead lifting is marked with the grade designation on the links. Chain without legible grade markings and manufacturer identification is not appropriate for overhead lifting service.
  • Frequent and periodic inspection of chain slings follows the schedules in ASME B30.9-2018. Inspection covers the chain links for cracks, gouges, twists, elongation, and wear at contact points. Master links, hooks, and connecting hardware are included in the sling inspection.
  • Chain should not be knotted or tied to create a shorter assembly. Cuts, repairs, and link replacements are not field operations, chain with damage warrants removal from service.
  • Grade 70 transport chain is not to be used for overhead lifting. The gold finish and grade marking on the links are the field identifiers. Mixing chain grades in a sling assembly is not appropriate.
  • NACM Welded Chain Specifications define the dimensional and mechanical property requirements for the chain grades. Peerless chain is manufactured to meet these specifications.

Complete Your Chain Sling Assembly

  • Holloway Houston Chain Slings : In-house fabricated chain sling assemblies using Peerless alloy chain, per ASME B30.9-2018.
  • Peerless Lifting Beams : Below-the-hook lifting beams for controlled multi-point lifts with chain sling assemblies.
  • Shackles : Connecting hardware for chain sling assemblies and lifting beam attachment points.
  • Master Links : Top connections for multi-leg chain sling assemblies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Grade 100 chain has a higher working load limit at any given link diameter than Grade 80. For a specific WLL requirement, Grade 100 accomplishes it with a smaller, lighter chain body. Grade 80 is the long-standing standard for overhead lifting chain in North America. Both grades are appropriate for chain sling assemblies per ASME B30.9-2018 and carry the grade designation marked on the links.
Grade 70 transport chain is not rated for overhead lifting. It is a load securement chain for tie-down and cargo control applications. The gold chromate finish and grade marking identify Grade 70 in the field. ASME B30.9-2018 specifies alloy steel chain, Grade 80 or Grade 100, for chain sling fabrication in overhead lifting service.
ASME B30.9-2018 (Slings) is the governing standard for chain slings used in overhead lifting, including requirements for chain selection, fabrication, marking, and inspection. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.184 addresses slings in general industry lifting operations and references alloy steel chain as the appropriate chain type. NACM Welded Chain Specifications define the dimensional and mechanical properties the chain itself is manufactured to.
Peerless Chain Company produces Grade 80 and Grade 100 alloy chain for overhead lifting and Grade 70 transport chain for load securement. All three grades are stocked by Holloway Houston in Houston. Grade 80 and Grade 100 chain is available in link sizes from 7/32 inch through 1-3/8 inch - call 1-888-496-4700 for current size availability and pricing.
Yes. Holloway Houston operates an in-house sling shop that assembles chain slings per ASME B30.9-2018 using Peerless Grade 80 and Grade 100 alloy chain. Sling assemblies include master links, hooks, and connecting hardware matched to the chain grade and working load limit of the assembly. Contact Holloway Houston at 1-888-496-4700 for chain sling fabrication inquiries.
Peerless chain is manufactured to NACM Welded Chain Specifications and the applicable alloy chain grade requirements. Mill certifications and documentation are available for Peerless chain orders through Holloway Houston. Contact our rigging specialists at 1-888-496-4700 to confirm documentation requirements for your order.

DISCLAIMER

Alloy chain for overhead lifting is governed by ASME B30.9-2018 (Slings) and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.184. Chain selection, inspection, and use in sling assemblies call for qualified rigging personnel following applicable standards and manufacturer documentation. The information on this page is for general product awareness and does not replace manufacturer data, applicable standards, or site-specific rigging procedures.