Centalink Driveshafts

The Technology Behind CENTALINK

The CENTALINK driveshaft is a torsionally stiff, constant-velocity intermediate shaft built around a distinctive link design. Its specially shaped links — bolted together with flexible rubber bushes and working much like the elbow and wrist of an arm — push and pull to compensate for axial, radial and angular misalignment while keeping the connection backlash-free.

Often referred to as the "Silent Drive Shaft," CENTALINK uses four precisely positioned rubber bushes to minimize structure-borne noise and provide a high degree of electrical insulation. The result is quiet, vibration-controlled power transmission that also protects your system from corrosion. Internationally patented and on the market since 1991, CENTALINK has a proven track record: more than 10,000 units are in service worldwide, many of them running well beyond 50,000 hours in demanding applications.

Applications

CENTALINK is one of the most widely used intermediate driveshaft solutions in the marine sector, and its versatility reaches well beyond it. Typical applications include:

• Ship main and auxiliary drives — between engine and gearbox, or between gearbox and propulsion unit
• Z-drives and waterjets — frequently combined with lightweight carbon-fiber tubes
• Propellers, generators, and hydraulic or water pumps
• Industrial and power-generation duties — such as fan drives, cooling towers and mills

Whether for new propulsion installations or upgrades to existing drivelines, CENTALINK adapts to a wide range of torque, speed and alignment requirements.

Key Features

• Advanced kinematics: specially designed links ensure reliable push-and-pull operation.
• Misalignment compensation: handles axial, radial and angular movement in a single flexible unit.
• Silent running: four rubber bushes minimize structure-borne noise and vibration.
• Electrical insulation & corrosion protection: safeguards connected equipment and extends service life.
• Backlash-free & torsionally stiff: precise, responsive power transfer.
• Low maintenance: the condition of the rubber bushes can be checked visually, with no special tools required.
• Fail-safe by design: built-in safety features keep equipment protected.
• Customization options: available in intermediate and specialty sizes, and in carbon-fiber or glass-fiber construction.

Variants, Sizing and Torsional Tuning

CENTALINK is available in a wide standard series, plus optional intermediate and specialty sizes, and in carbon-fiber or glass-fiber construction to suit different length, weight and torque requirements, with intermediate shafts available in lengths up to 12 meters. For applications with specific torsional vibration requirements, CENTALINK can be combined with torsionally flexible CENTAX elements to fine-tune the torsional behavior of the complete driveline. Eiken Maritime can support this with torsional vibration analysis (TVA) and driveline consulting, from design through to commissioning.

Why Source CENTALINK from Eiken Maritime

As a certified sales agent and distributor for Regal Rexnord Centa, Eiken Maritime supplies CENTALINK driveshafts together with the local expertise to specify, install and support them. Our team brings 90 years of combined experience in marine drivelines and rotating machinery, backed by service and onboard inspection and after-sales support — including a Borgeskogen warehouse holding around 5,000 Regal Rexnord Centa stock parts for same-day dispatch on urgent jobs.

From selecting the right shaft for your application to keeping it running across its full service life, we help you get the most out of your CENTALINK installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a CENTALINK driveshaft? CENTALINK is a torsionally stiff, constant-velocity intermediate driveshaft from CENTA. It uses linked segments with flexible rubber bushes to compensate for axial, radial and angular misalignment while running quietly and backlash-free.

What is CENTALINK used for? It is widely used in marine propulsion — including ship main and auxiliary drives, Z-drives and waterjets — as well as in generators, pumps and a range of industrial and power-generation applications.

Why is CENTALINK called the "Silent Drive Shaft"? Its four precisely positioned rubber bushes dampen structure-borne noise and provide electrical insulation, resulting in notably quiet, vibration-controlled operation.