Vesconite News

When the stern tube bearing on the 490' x 75' container ship M/V Marine Rickmers began to fail, Durban, South Africa-based Elgin Brown & Hamer (EBH South Africa) replaced it with state-of-the-art, pollution-free Vesconite. The innovative self-lubricating polymer is far superior to oil-lubricated lignum vitae, white metal and composite bearings, especially with the implementation of ever more stringent environmental regulations.Vesconite doesn't swell in water and machines to +/-0.001", so tight tolerances are always ensured.

Whether a simple wear plate or machined into a complex, multi-faceted shape, many projects call for a material of substantial thickness. Vesconite and Vesconite Hilube plate stock is now available in sizes up to 4" thick. The plates are available up to 8" wide and 10' long. Because stock can be ordered close-to-size, machining time and costs are reduced. Vesconite and Vesconite Hilube are self-lubricating and have no stick-slip, so grease is unneeded. This is an important environmental consideration with increasing regulation, such as the EPA's Uniform National Discharge Standards.

Vesconite is typically found on a boat as a strut or rudder bearing material, but yacht designer Scott Jutson of Jutson Marine Design has a unique application for it. He specifies the advanced polymer as a corrosion isolator on his aluminum Hysucat (hydrofoil supported catamaran) designs. Jutson uses 3mm sheets of Vesconite as an interface between SAF 2205 stainless steel hydrofoils and the aluminum hulls they're bolted to. The isolator inhibits galvanic corrosion between the dissimilar metals.

South American river tugboats need robust rudder bushings: some 20 tug boats on the Parana River, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, have been equipped with Vesconite rudder bushings. In the challenging waters of South American rivers, tugboat owners began ordering Vesconite’s proprietary thermoplastic rudder bushings starting in 2014. Convinced that the material – which is wear resistant, self-lubricating, environmentally-friendly, requires no grease, and easy to machine and fit – was more suitable than the bronze that has traditionally been used in the application…

Be it a mega yacht, workboat or ship, tremendous forces are put on warping rollers. Traditionally manufactured with bronze bearings that require regular maintenance and greasing, Vesconite is the modern polymer alternative that outclasses metallic materials, according to its manufacturer. Vesconite is self-lubricating and performs when dry or wet with seawater. Because it doesn't need grease or oil, it's environmentally friendly and complies with the EPA's Uniform National Discharge Standards. It provides low friction and zero stick-slip.

Founded in 1958, self-lubricated polymer bearings and bushings manufacturer VescoPlastics produces a proprietary range of bushings, bearings and wear plates that operate in dusty, dirty or wet conditions and last longer than other products on the market. VescoPlastics has warehouses in South Africa, the UK, the US, the Netherlands and New Zealand, with stocking distributors in Argentina, Australia and Singapore. VescoPlastics is the oldest operating manufacturer of engineering plastics materials in Africa.

Workboats, ships and megayachts rely on large and extra-large rudder bearings. Having a vessel in dry dock for days or weeks while waiting for an oversized bearing is costly and frustrating, said Vesconite, whose machined Vesconite and Vesconite Superclad replacements—up to 10' in diameter with practically any wall thickness—are available for immediate shipment from a global network of dedicated dealers, and with fast turnaround times for custom sizes. Vesconite is an advanced…

Workboats are built for a diverse range of purposes, but they all share the need for trouble-free bushings and bearings. Answering this call, Vesconite offers a line of low-friction, long-lived polymers that it says thrive in a dirty, marine environment. The company's flagship product, Vesconite is a self-lubricating, low-wear material able to carry high loads at slow speeds. It doesn't swell in water or need to be greased, and offers up to 10 times the usable life of bronze, the manufacturer claims. The polymer is suited for rudder necks and pintles.

Many plastics and metallic alloys present machining challenges as some deform and are difficult to maintain exacting tolerances, while others require strict and costly adherence to environmental regulations. Vesconite claims to solve these issues with a high-performance bearing polymer that is easy to tool on standard metalworking equipment, nontoxic and environmentally-friendly. Vesconite is an advanced, internally-lubricated polymer that reliably performs in wet, dirty and corrosive environments, the manufacturer said.

Vertical turbine pumps keep barges trimmed and balanced by moving water ballast. Bearing failure at this critical time is not an option. Vesconite Hilube, an internally-lubricated polymer that can be used in wet and corrosive conditions, outperforms traditional bushing materials, even in the silty waters of the Mississippi River. A wear life of more than 10 times that of sintered bronze reduces maintenance costs.      www.vesconite.com (As published in the June 2015 edition of Marine News - http://magazines.marinelink.com/Magazines/MaritimeNews)

Water, dirt and salt play havoc with mated surfaces. Engineered to perform in harsh outdoor environments, Vesconite and Vesconite Hilube are suited for use as wear plates. According to its manufacturer, Vesconite is an internally-lubricated polymer that excels in dirty and high-friction applications. Unlike nylon, it has high dimensional stability and does not swell or soften when immersed in water or other fluids. It has high load-bearing qualities. Sharing the same qualities as Vesconite, Hilube is engineered for ultra-long life and requires little, if any, maintenance.