South Africa-based high-performance polymer producer Vesconite Bearings is arranging a roadshow to US earthmoving customers in June.

This is according to newly-appointed earthmoving representative Juan van Wyk, who is spearheading the company’s drive to have the earthmoving industry use the company’s advanced thermoplastic bushings in various types of earthmoving equipment, including load, haul and dump (LHD) equipment, back hoe loaders, excavators, wheel loaders, articulating dump trucks, graders, and crawlers.

Van Wyk, who is a recent graduate in mechanical engineering from the North West University, is passionate about problem solving and intends to discuss the development of custom components for specific machines and manufacturers.

The design of a particular component typically involves defining the problem, undertaking background research, specifying requirements, brainstorming solutions, performing development work, building a prototype, testing and analysing the results and possibly redesigning the component if necessary.

This approach, together with a partnering between Vesconite Bearings and earthmoving equipment users and manufacturers, should see the optimising of components and could result in improved efficiency, weight savings or longer component guarantees, among other potential benefits. 

“The US is a significant market for earthmoving equipment and is expected to show impressive growth in the coming five years,” says Van Wyk.

“We are expecting considerable growth from the construction sector with significant growth in new infrastructure development and renovation. The surface mining sector is also expected to support earthmoving equipment industry growth.”

Vesconite has been developed and proven in many industrial applications and has become the preferred bushing material where high loads must be carried with small clearances, including on pivot and articulation points.

The thermoplastic is specifically suited to solve the problems experienced in the harsh earthmoving environment, with Vesconite bearings offering various advantages, including the elimination of greasing and down time and the extension of the life of shafts and mating pins.

Caption: Juan van Wyk preparing for the US roadshow to earthmoving customers