Bearing and wear part manufacturer Vesconite Bearings has increased its efforts to develop better -than-the-original-equipment-manufacturer (OEM) forklift parts.

The company has long known that its gantry support bearings, tilt cylinder bushings, side shift pads, mast pivot bushings, steer axle articulation bushings, king pin bushings and lever and pedal bushings offered low-friction, wear-resistant and high load capacity characteristics. The Vesconite parts last longer than the originals and do not need regular greasing. They are sought after by the forklift rental companies who appreciate the longer wear life and savings achieved from reduced maintenance. 

Since the start of 2020 Vesconite Bearings has invested considerable staffing resources into building a catalogue of parts for all the major forklift brands, and offered prototype testing for these better-than-the-OEM parts.

“We have parts for nine common forklift brands in our catalogue,” says forklift industry champion Calvin Mpofu. With three more team members, Mpofu has identified the most popular brands and parts, and then requested the Vesconite factory produces them.

"This mammoth task is ongoing. As the factory completes each batch, we dispatch to select clients for testing,” he notes.

The global forklift repair and rental industry reports that business has picked up after the Covid induced slow down. While the traditional forklift maintenance cycle may have increased due to reduced forklift operation, forklift usage and forklift maintenance is expected to escalate in the coming months.

"Installation and testing of the Vesconite parts is happening at a faster rate," says Mpofu, who notes that forklift rental companies that have received prototype parts have already indicated that the material feels more premium and commend the great care taken in the machining of these better-than-the-OEM components.