A UK-based drill rig manufacturer has used low-friction wear-resistant Vesconite bushings on its trailer-mounted drill rigs and drill stands for more than 30 years, highlighting its faith in the bushings’ performance and durability in coring operations with repeated short drilling cycles.

Since 1991, the company has fitted four Vesconite bushings to each of its manufactured rigs. These have been installed on two vertical guide shafts that form the mast system. These shafts have supported the drilling carriage, which moves up and down during coring operations. The bushings have been positioned both above and below the drill assembly to ensure precision and reduce wear and tear.

The company has also used Vesconite on some additional, smaller components on its rigs.

The rigs and drill stands are common in road construction, pavement investigation, airport runway maintenance and other projects, where core sampling is required to assess material composition, structural integrity and subsurface conditions.

They are typically designed with a stroke of up to 700 mm, meaning the system operates in short, repeated vertical movements rather than long continuous travel. In addition, the systems and the bushings that are employed on them must resist abrasive ingress from asphalt, concrete and aggregate materials and maintain precise alignment of the core barrel throughout drilling cycles.

“It’s the only material that can sit on a machine in wet, cold, dry, hot conditions, and the wear stays the same all the time,” says a representative of the company about what the manufacturer regards as Vesconite’s main advantage.

The UK company continues to use Vesconite bushings across its range of trailer-mounted rigs and drill stands, reinforcing their role in maintaining consistent performance in infrastructure testing and geotechnical investigation work.

“We are extremely happy with the product,” says the representative.

“It’s by far one of the best in the market, and it beats the other products we’ve tried from other competitors many times.”