A Vesconite thrust washer has outlasted bronze on a Bucher CM50 grinding machine at a large fruit juice concentrate producer.
Reports received from the producer were that the Vesconite washer operated into three seasons and showed no signs of wear, in contrast to the bronze, which lasted only two seasons.
The component was designed and manufactured to act as a thrust washer and a running surface for the machine. Furthermore, it acts as a seal to protect the bearings against fruit pulp and water.
Vesconite is ideal for the application because it does not swell and is resistant to strong acids in fruit juices, say Vesconite Bearings food and beverage application developers Joané Odendaal and Nadia Swart, indicating that the Vesconite thrust washer continues to operate in the application.
Besides not lasting as long, bronze washers are also twice the price of Vesconite and susceptible to theft, they note.
The Bucher CM50 grinding machine primarily makes fruit pulp from apples and pears. It processes 30 to 50 tons per hour of apples and is an essential part of juice and puree production at the company.
Vesconite Bearings is proud to have once again proven its bearing and wear material’s superior performance and durability in the food and beverage industry, Odendaal and Swart say.
