An agricultural equipment manufacturer has turned to a bearing material traditionally associated with the marine industry to improve the performance of carbon fibre sprayer booms.
The company selected Vesconite bushings for pivot points on its agricultural sprayer booms, where components must move repeatedly while operating in environments exposed to moisture, fertilisers and agricultural chemicals.
The decision was influenced by the manufacturer’s existing experience with Vesconite through its marine operations. The agricultural equipment business originated from a marine company with extensive knowledge of advanced composite materials, including fibreglass, composite laminates and carbon fibre.
According to Leandro Panzini of Vesconite Argentina, the material was considered when engineers began designing the boom pivot points.
“When they had to design the booms, and they had a few breakpoints where they needed to fit a bushing, they said, ‘We have the correct material’,” Panzini explained.
Designed for demanding conditions
Vesconite offers several characteristics that make it suitable for agricultural machinery. The engineered bearing material is lighter than conventional metal alternatives, maintains dimensional stability in water and provides resistance to a range of agricultural chemicals.
Its low-friction properties also allow it to operate with little or no external lubrication. This can be particularly useful in agricultural equipment where bearing points may be difficult to access for regular maintenance.
Sprayer boom pivot points experience repeated movement as booms are folded, unfolded and adjusted. At the same time, these components can be exposed to water, fertilisers and chemicals used during crop protection.
The combination of low friction, wear resistance and chemical resistance can therefore help maintain reliable movement in these demanding conditions.
Carbon fibre reduces boom weight
The use of Vesconite bushings forms part of a broader lightweight design strategy adopted by the manufacturer.
One of its major developments has been replacing conventional steel structures with carbon fibre sprayer booms.
Sprayer booms support multiple nozzles along their length and need to remain stable while distributing herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and liquid fertilisers across crops. As modern farming operations cover larger areas, manufacturers have increasingly looked for ways to develop wider booms without adding excessive weight.
Carbon fibre offers a high strength-to-weight ratio, allowing manufacturers to create lightweight structures while maintaining the stiffness required for accurate spraying.
Reducing boom weight can also make folding and unfolding easier, improve stability during operation and reduce loads on the wider spraying system during transport and field use.
Carbon fibre also provides resistance to corrosion and exposure to water, fertilisers and many agricultural chemicals, making it well suited to outdoor agricultural applications.
Combining two lightweight materials
The combination of carbon fibre and Vesconite provides complementary engineering benefits.
Carbon fibre delivers a lightweight and rigid structural component, while Vesconite provides a lightweight bearing solution at the points where movement occurs.
The manufacturer’s previous experience using Vesconite in marine applications, including rudder systems, provided additional confidence when engineers began applying the material to agricultural machinery.
The example highlights how engineering solutions can move between industries. Materials developed or proven in demanding marine environments can also provide useful performance advantages in agricultural equipment.
As agricultural machinery becomes increasingly wider, lighter and more automated, the interaction between structural and bearing materials will become increasingly important.
For applications such as sprayer boom pivots, selecting the right bearing material can help manufacturers retain the weight-saving benefits of composite construction without compromising durability, movement or reliability.
