The company with the largest share of golf course irrigation in South Africa has replaced carbon-graphite bowl bushings with Vesconite Hilube bushings in their multi-stage canister pumps. The Vesconite Hilube bushings have significantly reduced repair costs and increased pumping reliability.
Fine grit and abrasive particles embed themselves into the original carbon-graphite bushings and cause excessive wear to the stainless steel pump shafts. This does not happen with Vesconite Hilube bushings – increasing the wear life of the bushings and shafts, and preventing shaft instability that can damage pump impellers and chambers. The irrigation company introduced Vesconite Hilube bowl bushings for seven models of Grundfos canister pump that are typically configured in four to twelve stages on golf courses. Grundfos canister pumps are the preferred choice for more than half of South Africa’s 400 irrigated courses.
Switching to Vesconite Hilube bowl bushings reduced irrigation system maintenance costs, which are considerable in this water-scarce country. The improved reliability of the pumps keeps golf courses in prime condition – and ready for the next round.
Golf courses irrigating with ground water containing silt and debris results in high wear to carbon graphite bowl bushings and stainless steel shafts on canister pumps.
Numerous OEMs and pump repairers use Vesconite Hilube bushing and wear rings. The bushings perform in water, do not swell, are dimensionally stable, with zero delamination, resulting in fewer breakdowns. Their low friction coefficient allows for dry starting – avoiding a common problem with traditional materials. Also, corrosion is eliminated with Vesconite, and shaft wear is dramatically reduced. Backed by a 60-year company track record, Vesconite Hilube has become the material of choice for pump bushings and wear rings.