An abattoir located in East London, South Africa, has significantly reduced the frequency of dressing roller replacements following the introduction of Vesconite Bearings’ rollers. The upgrade has improved reliability in a demanding meat-processing environment, while lowering maintenance requirements and associated costs.
Previously, the abattoir used nylon rollers, which presented durability challenges since rollers typically required replacement every three to four months, and even sooner in high-washdown areas.
The introduction of Vesconite Bearings’ rollers, with Vesconite Hilube inserts inside VescoPolycap, has addressed this issue.
“Since moving to Vesconite Bearings’ rollers, the roller life is getting closer to 10 to 12 months, depending on the section of the plant,” a representative of the abattoir explained.
The Vesconite Hilube bushing inserts in the rollers, with low friction and high wear resistance, have significantly reduced internal wear, extending the service life of the rollers while improving overall robustness.
Ease of movement has also improved. The first stage of carcass handling involves manual pushing, and operators have noted a clear difference when the rollers are fully loaded.
“The rollers definitely are easier to push,” the representative noted.
“The rollers are holding up well under our operating conditions,” the representative confirmed.
“Each dressing roller carries approximately 300 kg and, while this is a typical operating load, continuous operation and exposure to harsh washdown environments make long-term durability essential.”
The operating environment also places considerable strain on components. Rollers are exposed to ambient temperatures of around 25°C, combined with high humidity, and are subjected to daily washdown and sanitisation cycles. These processes introduce water, cleaning chemicals, and organic residues and, once in operation, the rollers also move into chillers running at approximately 0°C, creating additional thermal stress. The Vesconite Bearings rollers, however, continue to perform reliably under exposure to grease, moisture, varying temperatures and cleaning chemicals.
Beyond wear performance and performance in a variety of operating conditions, the Vesconite Bearings rollers have also proven more resistant to handling damage. Unlike the previous nylon rollers, the outside of the rollers is made from high-impact strength VescoPolycap that does not break if dropped, adding an extra layer of durability during routine operations and maintenance.
Dressing rollers are a critical component in the abattoir’s production process. They are used during the dehiding and dressing of beef carcasses, travelling along a rail system that transports the product into chillers. Consistent roller performance is essential to maintain throughput and hygiene standards across the plant.
The extended lifespan of the rollers, through the introduction of the Vesconite Bearings components, has translated directly into reduced maintenance interventions. With fewer replacements required, the abattoir has lowered both downtime and labour associated with roller changes.
