The five variables that move the price
Two carriers can look identical in a photo and differ by a factor of three in cost. These five are the reason.
- Material grade — PA66+GF30 is a category. Recycled content, glass percentage and impact modifier all change cost, and all change life. Ask which grade, not which category.
- Side plate and pin — thicker plate and a larger pin cost more material and a longer cycle. This is where a cheap chain usually saves.
- Inner width step — each step up widens the links, side plates and pins together. Cost is not linear in width — it climbs in steps.
- Order quantity — tooling amortisation and setup dominate small orders; at volume the material and cycle time dominate instead.
- Customisation — custom brackets, colours or non-standard widths add tooling and inspection, which is why they are quoted per drawing.
Why 'price per metre' is a misleading unit
Chains are priced per metre because that is how they are cut and shipped, but the metre price is a function of the cross-section: a metre of 80 mm heavy-duty chain uses several times the material of a metre of 10 mm micro chain.
When you compare two quotes, convert to the same basis first: same inner height, same inner width, same bend radius, same material grade, same quantity. If a quote does not state those five, it is not comparable yet.
| Variable | Why it must match |
|---|---|
| Inner height | drives material volume and link size |
| Inner width | cost steps up non-linearly |
| Bend radius | larger radius needs longer chain for the same stroke |
| Material grade | PA66+GF30 vs reduced glass is a different lifetime |
| Quantity | tooling amortisation changes the unit price |
| Incoterm | FOB vs DDP is not a price difference, it is a delivery difference |
How to get a real number from us
We quote specific models, not price bands. To do that we need four things, and with them we can usually answer within one working day.
- Stroke length — the travel the chain has to cover, in mm.
- Cable list — outer diameters and quantity of each cable and hose, so we can size the cavity.
- Speed and environment — travel speed, and whether chips, coolant or washdown are present.
- Quantity and destination — first order quantity and the delivery city, so the Incoterm is unambiguous.
What we will not do to win a price
There are several ways to cut a quoted price without changing the model number. Reducing glass content, thinning the side plate, or opening up pin clearance all lower cost and all shorten life — usually after the warranty window, which is why they are common.
We do not do that on a stock model. If your budget and the duty are genuinely incompatible, we would rather tell you and let you decide, including the option of going to a cheaper supplier for a non-critical axis.
Specification at a glance
| Quotation basis | Specific model, not price band |
|---|---|
| Typical response | Within one working day with complete data |
| Incoterms | EXW / FOB / CIF / DDP on request |
| Minimum order | 1 piece for stock sizes |
| Payment | Confirmed per order and destination |
Figures are the range across the series, not a guaranteed value for every size. Confirm the model against your duty before ordering.
Questions buyers ask at this stage
How much does a cable carrier cost per metre?+
It depends on inner height and width more than anything else: a metre of 10 mm micro chain and a metre of 80 mm heavy-duty chain are not comparable units. Send the size and quantity and we will give you a specific number rather than a range.
Why is your price higher than another quote for the same size?+
Usually the material grade, the side plate thickness or the pin clearance. Ask the other supplier for the glass percentage and the plate thickness; if they cannot answer, the saving is coming from somewhere in the part.
Do you have a price list?+
No public list, because the price depends on the five variables above. We quote per requirement. If you are budgeting a project, send approximate sizes and quantities and we will give you a budgetary figure.
Does the price include brackets?+
It depends on the model. Some are quoted with end brackets, some without. Ask explicitly which is included before comparing two quotes — a missing bracket is a common source of a misleadingly low number.
What about freight and duties?+
We quote the Incoterm you ask for. FOB and DDP are different arrangements, not a discount; we will state which one a price refers to so you can compare like with like.
Send four numbers, get a real price
Stroke, cable outer diameters, speed and quantity. That is enough for a quoted model rather than a price band.