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When procurement teams order replacement parts for conveyors, they have to choose between purchasing parts by the original manufacturer or third-party manufacturers.

That might seem straightforward, but it’s less cut and dried than it seems. Below, we look at why this is such an important decision, the difference between original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts and third-party manufactured ones, the concept of total cost of ownership (TOC) and its role in decision making. We’ll discuss which parts you should keep OEM and how to evaluate third-party parts suppliers, and we’ll provide you with a procurement framework for decision making. We’ll also explain how we can support you with conveyor servicing to optimise your conveyor’s lifespans and performance.

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why this decision matters more than purchase price

Choosing conveyor parts isn’t a question of comparing prices and just choosing the cheapest. Decision-makers must compare short-term requirements with long-term risks. Do they choose the cheaper, quicker aftermarket replacements by third-party suppliers, or the OEM parts, designed for longevity, performance and perfect fit?

Getting it wrong can prove costly. Although third-party parts have a lower upfront cost, they can prove unexpectedly more expensive in the long run. OEM conveyor parts are preferable, despite the higher upfront cost.

Why procurement teams are moving beyond unit price

Although unit prices are important in decision-making, procurement teams are thinking more holistically. One aspect they’re considering is the total cost of ownership (TOC), which covers all the direct and indirect costs of purchases. This means evaluating costs such as maintenance costs and the costs of downtime in terms of lost productivity and lost business opportunities.

what are OEM and third-party conveyor parts?

OEM conveyor parts are parts made to the same standards and specifications as the conveyor’s original components when the manufacturer produced it. The parts’ original manufacturer makes the components and sells them to other companies to market them. The dimensions, tolerances and materials are all selected to meet the conveyor’s performance requirements.

Third-party conveyor parts, also called ‘aftermarket’ parts, are generic parts that third-party manufacturers produce. Often, they’re designed to be compatible with the machinery or ‘close enough’ to the original, but the quality and fit can vary.

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Common misconceptions about aftermarket conveyor components

Although OEM parts are better, some businesses choose aftermarket conveyor parts because of the following misconceptions:

  • aftermarket parts are cheaper: in the short term, yes, in the long-term, they can become expensive because they may require replacement more and create more downtime;
  • aftermarket parts fit universally: aftermarket parts are highly compatible, but they sometimes deviate from the original parts’ specifications and might not fit as well;
  • aftermarket parts are just as good as OEMs: although aftermarket parts make sense occasionally, sometimes they’re less durable and not always manufactured to the same standards as OEM ones are.

OEM vs third-party conveyor parts: side-by-side comparison

 

OEM

Aftermarket

Cost

 

Higher initial cost

Often cheaper

Compatibility and fit

 

Identical to the replaced part and guaranteed to fit

Designed to be like the replaced part and compatible with the machinery, but dimensions may vary

Quality and manufacturing standards

 

Built and tested under the same thorough standards as the manufacturer

Quality can be good, but testing might be less thorough

Warranty implications

 

Likely to last at least one year, and the manufacturer will honour the warranty when damage prevents the part from function. Conditional.

Coverage varies widely, but may be shorter than one year and may affect the conveyor’s original warranty

Lead times and availability

 

Generally reliable, though older parts may take longer to arrive

Often stocked more widely, so quicker to access

Technical support

 

Access to the manufacturer’s network, which includes people who know the parts and the equipment first-hand

Sometimes limited to the parts supplier and less easily available.
Supplier choice and sourcing flexibility

Slightly more limited, but sourcing is reliable

Often stocked more widely, which creates quicker access
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total cost of ownership

TOC is a big consideration for any procurement team. Here are some of the things they consider:

Purchase price vs lifecycle cost:

Procurement teams must think about the purchase price and wider cost of acquisition, which will include installation, training and transportation, and weigh these up against the lifecycle cost, the accumulation of costs from purchase to disposal;

Downtime costs:

These are the costs of the conveyor being unavailable for use, which creates loss of productivity and revenue;

Maintenance:

How often will the conveyor need maintenance, and how much will this cost?

Replacement intervals:

How long does the manufacturer recommend usage of certain conveyor components, or of the conveyor itself, before replacement;    

Inventory holding costs:

This includes storage costs and the cost of keeping spare parts in inventories.

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which conveyor parts should always be OEM?

OEM vs third party conveyor parts is a common decision-making scenario, but there are some conveyor parts that you should always make OEM. These are:

the drive system:

this unit provides the power that operates the conveyor;

motors and gearboxes:

these drive system components generate the movement that transports the goods on the conveyor. Overloading, overheating and worn windings and components can cause them to fail, and, although they’re not cheap, it’s best to replace them with OEM conveyor parts;

PLCs and controls:

programmable logic controllers (PLCs) monitor and coordinate the conveyor operations and make them more efficient;

Proprietary components:

These are conveyor parts that only the licensed manufacturer has the right to produce;

Warranty-sensitive parts:

These are parts that carry strict protection by the manufacturer if any defects or damage render the product unsuitable for use; however, the manufacturer won’t replace them if there’s any damage because of incorrect use, installation, unauthorised modifications or tampering with them or the conveyor.

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how to evaluate a third-party conveyor parts supplier

For peace of mind, it’s best to replace conveyor parts with OEM ones, but that doesn’t mean you should automatically rule out parts by third-party suppliers. Thinking of using a third-party supplier for your parts? Here’s what to consider when weighing up one.

Manufacturing standards

You don’t want to have to replace the parts too soon, so check the supplier’s manufacturing standards. Do they follow industry standards and certifications? Ask for sample components to verify the parts’ consistency and precision.

Material certifications

What materials is the supplier using: standard or premium? Do they meet industry standards and certifications?

Traceability

Can you verify the component’s history? From the moment it starts its journey as a raw material and then moves through production, you should be able to confirm a part’s history. This includes the source of the manufacturing materials.

Dimensional tolerances

Dimensional tolerances are the acceptable range of variations in specified dimensions such as length, diameter, thickness or angle that still allow machined components to function, fit and be inspected correctly. Tolerances matter because they determine whether a part will work within the whole, not just as a single part.

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Technical support

What technical support does the supplier offer? Do they offer on-site repairs and/or maintenance? Can you contact them easily? Is the response quick?

Delivery performance

Timely delivery is essential. Analyse the supplier’s logistics and how they manage the supply chain. Do they meet deadlines consistently? Do they handle disruptions well?

Previous customer experience

Is the supplier well established? Can they provide references from businesses in your industry or similar industries? References can indicate the supplier’s reliability and whether customers are satisfied.

a procurement decision framework

This evaluation framework will help you to decide whether to run with a purchase.

  1. Assess equipment criticality: how vital is the equipment in operations?
  2. Review warranty status: what are the warranty terms and conditions?
  3. Evaluate operational risk: what could go wrong? How would it damage operations?
  4. Compare total lifecycle cost: what is the conveyor part’s cost beyond the unit cost? How often will you have to replace the component? What do maintenance and installation cost? What does disposal cost?
  5. Qualify the supplier: assess quality, cost and turnaround times.

how Joloda Conveyor Services supports long-term conveyor performance

You want top performance from your conveyor for as long as possible. To help you get the best out of your conveyor, we provide:

  • conveyor servicing, including urgent repairs and planned maintenance;
  • preventive maintenance, to avoid unexpected downtime and expensive emergency repairs;
  • genuine and compatible replacement parts;
  • technical expertise: our engineers are qualified, attend an intense six-week training course before we start sending them out on jobs and, to ensure their skills and knowledge are up to date, undergo three to four audits per year on each piece of equipment.

As a result, you can minimise downtime and enjoy long-term conveyor performance.

We offer customer service around the clock, and fast response times. Call us any time and, in line with your maintenance agreement, we’ll send an engineer out within two hours, four or the next day.

To invest in one of our conveyors, order spare parts or hire our conveyor services, email us at hello@joloda.com or message us via our contact form. We can advise you on the right parts for your conveyor, and our expert engineers will fit them so your machinery runs smoothly.


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about Joloda Conveyor Services

We are a unique service provider, focused 100% on repairs, maintenance and refurbishment of conveyor systems. Our team of conveyor carers are experts because they are not distracted by lots of additional bolt-on services; when your equipment needs attention, we’ll carry out conveyor troubleshooting and fix the problem to get you back operational as quickly as possible.

Learn more About Us and how we can help to keep your, and the UK's conveyors rolling, by preventing and fixing common conveyor belt problems.


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