With Nampo Harvest Day 2021 officially anticipated to take place from 17 to 20 August at Nampo Park in Bothaville, leading supplier Bearings International (BI) will use the flagship event to showcase the importance of the agricultural industry and the wide range of products it offers to the farming community.

Organiser Grain SA reports that while Nampo is expected go ahead in a physical format in August, the show would be smaller than before due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and is likely to be run at 70% capacity. In the past, the highly successful event has attracted about 15 000 to 20 000 visitors a day.

Farming is not only one of the largest contributors to South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but a relatively stable market segment showing steady year-on-year growth. BI has had an agricultural product focus for 40 years now. It has also invested significantly into developing new products and improving its stock levels where the farming community needs it the most.

The main products supplied are bearings and seals, sprockets and chains, power take-off (PTO) shafts, v-belts and pulleys, electric motors, gearboxes and couplings. In conjunction with Jonnesway, BI has even developed an agri toolbox specifically for farmers under its Agri-Smart banner of solutions designed specifically for the agricultural industry.

The toolkit includes spanners, screwdrivers, an electric-current testing pen, pliers, punches, files, a hacksaw with spare blades and a large hammer. The tools are safely stored in a compact and sturdy case that can fit comfortably behind the seat of a vehicle.

The agricultural industry presents a very harsh operating environment for bearings, as farmers plant in extremely dusty conditions, explains BI Business Development Leader – Agriculture Gerhard Pienaar. To prevent premature bearing failure, BI has designed special agri hub units with tri-ply seal ball bearing arrangements to prevent the ingress of dust and dirt.

This feature ensures an extended operating life, which is a critical factor as farmers have a limited planting period. Tri-ply seals are a one-piece design incorporating three seals moulded to a shroud cap. This not only provides excellent protection against contaminants, but prevents the loss of lubricating grease to ensure a longer service life.

The rubber seal extends to the outer circumference of the shielded plate for improved sealing performance, while the galvanised steel-plate construction protects against corrosion, and provides for an optimal design for enhanced pressure resistance. The ‘triple lip’ feature is excellent for dust- and waterproofing, protecting against any contamination from the air or even foul water.

BI has 11 different specially-designed bearing hub units available that fall under its Agri-Smart banner of value-added products and services for the agricultural sector. All have a fastening kit that can be ordered separately.