A leading European manufacturer of screw conveyors has endorsed Vesconite Bearings’ wear-resistant Vesconite Hilube hanger bearings following more than a year of successful operation at a rice processing plant. The endorsement follows in-field testing of the low-maintenance, self-lubricating hanger bearings, which were installed on one of the manufacturer’s conveyors operating at the plant.
Previously, the screw conveyor manufacturer supplied cast bronze hanger bearings with its conveyor systems. While effective, these bearings required regular greasing to avoid issues such as friction-induced noise and premature wear. Some clients, including the rice processing plant, began requesting alternatives that offered longer service life, reduced maintenance, and quieter operation. This led to the trial of Vesconite Hilube, an engineered bearing material noted for its self-lubrication, low friction coefficient, low maintenance, and resistance to swelling or distortion in moist environments.
After more than a year in continuous service, the Vesconite Hilube hanger bearings have shown excellent performance in real-world conditions, prompting the rice processing company to specify the bearings in additional screw conveyors ordered from the manufacturer.
The screw conveyor manufacturer observed that Vesconite Hilube was especially effective in minimising noise, as alternative bronze materials tend to be noisy when not lubricated. The manufacturer also highlighted that the self-lubricating Vesconite Hilube lowers maintenance demands by eliminating the need for frequent greasing.
As a result, the conveyor manufacturer has ordered three different sizes of Vesconite Hilube hanger bearings for future builds and retrofits. With decades of experience in designing and manufacturing augers and screw conveyors for a broad range of industries (including agriculture, food processing, biomass, ecological systems, chemical production, plastics, and aggregates), the company recognises the importance of durable and efficient components in its machinery.
The manufacturer’s conveyor systems are used to transport and mix diverse materials such as corn, flour, mud, dust, sand, semisolids, and gravel, and the hanger bearings play a crucial role in the performance and longevity of these systems. Hanger bearings are designed to support rotating shafts in longer conveyor spans, ensuring smooth rotation, reducing vibration, and minimising shaft deflection and wear.
As the demand for quieter, more efficient, and lower-maintenance material-handling solutions grows across industrial sectors, Vesconite Bearings expects continued interest in its hanger bearing solutions from both OEMs and end-users alike. It also anticipates increased demand from the food processing sector, including rice processing plants, since Vesconite Hilube hanger bearings eliminate grease and thereby remove the possibility of food contamination from lubricants.
