Fact

Lignum vitae is a self-lubricating natural material. It provides low wear in abrasive water environments making it ideal for maritime or hydroelectric applications. It resists shock, loading, and vibration, and is oil/grease free.

Proof

Used in nuclear submarines such as the USS Nautilus, and polar class ice breakers
Used in over 250 hydroelectric plants across North America
Bearing of choice for Indian Navy

Fact

Lignum vitae has been used in marine applications since 1862. Combined with its unmatched performance, reliability, or need for grease or oils, lignum vitae products result in lower operational costs in comparison to its synthetic counterparts.

Proof

Custom made in the United States
Easy installation
No water filtering system required
No seals required

Fact

Lignum vitae known as the oldest bearing, wear pad, and seal material still in use. Components manufactured with lignum vitae offer decades of continuous performance far superior to newer composite and synthetic bearings.

Proof

Lignum Vitae Bearings lasted 67 years in the Locks and Dam 15 hydroelectric plant in Illinois
The original specification for ships dating back to the mid-1800s
Mechanicville, NY Hydro Plant used lignum vitae without interruption for 50 years

Case Studies

Ameren Osage Plant
Ameren Missouri’s Osage Energey Center switched to 100% lignum vitae material. Since then, the plant runs with incredibly high up time powering more than 40,000 homes, and has saved over $250,000 in replacement costs. Read More.
Indian Coast Guard
Lignum Vitae materials were used to replace a repeatedly failing component in the ICGS Sagar in 2017 and has been serving without issue since installation. Read More.
SS Jeremiah O’Brien
After 74 years of wear the rudder clearance exceeded standards
and needed to be replaced. The lignum vitae bearing staves took
approximately one day to install and the installation went
smoothly. To date the solution is performing perfectly – no
rocking, no sticking, moves freely. Read More
Hydro Tech
HydroTech partnered with Lignum Vitae N.A. to address an ongoing
problem: repeated premature failure of resin-composite style seals
in its horizontal water S turbine due to overheating and extensive
wear. Read More
Mechanicville, NY Hydro Plant
The Mechanicville plant team worked to research original design
tolerances, dimensions and alignment, and found that bearings
engineered with lignum vitae performed for 50 years without
issues, compared to newer, composite material bearings that
experienced repeated failures over a similar time-frame. Read More
USACE LOCK 15
The USACE approached Lignum Vitae North America (Lignum Vitae
N.A.) for a solution capable of withstanding the extreme conditions of
the Mississippi River without sacrificing performance. Read More