One of the earliest industrial milestones that expanded Vesconite Bearings’ reach beyond mining and marine applications was its successful installation at the Goodyear South African tyre plant in Kariega, formerly Uitenhage.
By the early 1980s, low-friction wear-resistant Vesconite Bearings had already earned a growing reputation in deep-level mining and marine propulsion systems. In mining operations across South Africa, the material was being used in a variety of equipment, where high loads, abrasive dust and marginal lubrication quickly destroyed traditional bronze components. In marine applications, Vesconite had proven itself in water-lubricated marine bearings, demonstrating long service life in saltwater environments.
The next proving ground would be equally demanding.
At Goodyear’s Kariega facility, worn bronze bearings on a four-ton rubber masticating mill were presenting a persistent maintenance challenge. Rubber masticating mills operate under extreme conditions. They are exposed to tremendous loads, abrasive fillers such as carbon black and silica, and significant heat generated during rubber processing. Under these circumstances, the existing bronze bearings were found to wear rapidly.
In a move that would become one of Vesconite Bearings’ defining early industrial case studies, the worn bronze bearings were lined with five pre-shaped one-metre strips of Vesconite. Rather than replacing the entire bearing assembly, the installation demonstrated Vesconite’s adaptability as a wear-resistant liner material.
The mill was closely monitored for one month following installation to assess immediate performance under full production conditions. After twelve months of operation, the mill was opened for inspection and dimensional measurement. The results were striking. Wear after a full year of operation was measured at approximately one-tenth of one-millimetre. This level of wear was regarded as hardly significant, particularly in such a heavily loaded, abrasive and high-temperature environment.
The outcome provided measurable proof that Vesconite could withstand conditions that had caused rapid deterioration of bronze bearings. The success of the initial trial led to five rubber masticating mills at the plant being fitted with Vesconite.
