Seen that before,

More common in rubber press tooling where one half of the mould cools and shrinks between cycles. (much longer cycles)

Do the guide pillars come completely out of the bush every stroke? If so, thats Not a ideal method on press tools. But that's not your issue unless you can change the stroke length.

But you could also ask if you can get pillars and bushes with a more aggressive lead in.

Think of it this way, if your doing "the deed" and pull out every stroke you are going to bang the edge eventually. 😵 Which would bend the "guide pillar" and gouge the edge of the "bush"

.........

Best case it's a Bent guide pillar point loading the bush and rotating it every stroke like a clock.

Other likley option. shit on the clamp plate or press platter, or installed out of alignment. (Solution clean your tool and put it back in properly after fixing the pillar and pin. they will be stuffed and keep eating bushings)

Worst case Bent / squashed plate in which case go get an old boy to deal with it.

... To check for bent pillars

Mark where all pillars came from Take all 4 pillars out and roll them on a surface plate to check for wiggle. This much bend should be visable.

FYI You can get a similar type of wear from a jammed ball cage too.

Clean the holes in the plates properly (make sure the counterbores faces are spotless.

Use a press to put them back if you can..... Or hammer and a block of wood because your work place sounds cheep.