In 2021, a Canadian manufacturer of dump truck bodies confirmed the outstanding performance of Vesconite Hilube bushings after an extensive testing programme, leading to the company placing orders and introducing the bushings into production vehicles.
This followed the introduction of Vesconite Hilube to the manufacturer at an industry trade show in the United States in early 2019, where the dump truck body manufacturer showcased a new rear gate system fitted with aluminium-bronze bushings.
Recognising an opportunity to introduce a superior solution, a mechanical engineer from Vesconite Bearings initiated discussions for the OEM to test an alternative bushing material known for its low-friction, grease-free operation under load, with the aim to increase the service life of the bushings and reduce maintenance-associated downtime.
Custom-machined Vesconite Hilube bushings were supplied in April 2021 for in-house testing. The accelerated trial subjected the bushings to unusually harsh conditions, including:
- A cycle simulation of 15 seconds up, 45 seconds down;
- 30 tons of static asphalt weight that was not discharged during testing; and
- Over 600 completed cycles by August 2021.
Despite the exaggerated load conditions, the bushings showed no visible wear, appearing “brand new” at inspection. By September 2021, the components had completed the equivalent of five years’ simulated service life with no measurable wear or material degradation.
The results confirmed that Vesconite Hilube significantly outperformed other bushing materials considered during the system’s development. On the strength of this validation, the manufacturer began fitting Vesconite Hilube bushings to production units from October 2021.
