A large winery in South Africa, processing 1,000 tonnes of grapes per day, has successfully tested Vesconite flanged bushings in its Pera H-series destemmers. These bushings replaced traditional bronze bushings, which required daily greasing and suffered from rapid wear, leading to increased maintenance demands and potential downtime. Seeking a more durable and low-maintenance solution, the winery installed five Vesconite bushings—one in each of five destemmers—where they serve as critical rotational bearings for the beater shaft, ensuring precise alignment and smooth, low-friction operation within the housing.
Operating at 560 RPM, these bushings ran for 11–12 hours per day during peak processing periods throughout the pressing season without any reported issues. Unlike bronze, Vesconite’s self-lubricating properties eliminate the need for external lubrication, significantly reducing maintenance time while also preventing contamination risks in food processing environments. Vesconite is certified for food and water contact, making it a safe and reliable choice for applications where hygiene and compliance are critical. Additionally, its low-friction, wear-resistant properties ensure a long service life, even under demanding speed and load conditions.
The success of these bushings across multiple destemmers for an entire season highlights their reliability and cost-effectiveness. Wineries seeking to extend the lifespan of their equipment, reduce maintenance requirements, and enhance operational efficiency can greatly benefit from Vesconite bushings, making them a valuable investment for the industry.
