Protecting your bottom line is an important part of running a profitable business. In the quest for cheaper resources, it’s common to run across counterfeit hydraulic parts. These units are designed to mimic the appearance of high-quality, name-brand units and are sold at a lower cost.
Counterfeit goods, especially in hydraulic systems aren’t up to the quality, reliability, or durability of authentic original parts from reputable manufacturers.
The consequences of using these parts quickly outstrip the reduced upfront purchase cost. This guide helps you identify counterfeits, how they harm the hydraulic industry, and how professional hydraulic repair services can protect you.
Counterfeit Hydraulic Parts: The High Cost of Cheap Alternatives
Counterfeit parts represent a significant risk to those who purchase them building or repairing hydraulic systems. They can be hard to identify when buying on the open market, with their reduced price being the first sign.
Both the distributor and those manufacturing counterfeit parts aim to pass themselves off as genuine.
These suppliers aren’t concerned with performance or any safety risk that affects those who purchase their counterfeit goods. They put commercial and private owners at risk, as it can be difficult to distinguish them from original parts when purchasing. Here are some risks they pose:
● Safety Hazards: The reduced cost of counterfeit parts comes with its own cost. Lower prices are often achieved by cutting corners in multiple stages of production. From the materials used to the quality assurance process, their manufacturing standards fall below those of authentic brands. These components can cause serious safety hazards by failing at critical moments.
● Increased Maintenance Costs: Many counterfeit hydraulic part manufacturers find their greatest production savings in reducing material quality. The raw materials used in manufacturing must withstand the pressures they experience in operation, making them prone to failure. Even when they don’t create a safety hazard, these inferior raw materials do increase the cost of maintenance.
● Increased Downtime: Counterfeit goods fail more often than authentic equipment, and often have inferior performance. Even worse, your customers expect the product to be delivered or work completed within a certain timeframe. The performance delays resulting from counterfeit hydraulic parts jeopardize this timeline and our reputation.
● Damage to Your Reputation: If you manufacture equipment that relies on hydraulic parts, the impact goes beyond your workshop. Every device you ship out with these components passes on all the above concerns to your customers. If these devices start to fail or cause safety concerns, your brand’s reputation will suffer as a result.
While the above list is far from comprehensive, it represents the inherent risks of using counterfeit hydraulic parts. The potential consequences for your staff, customers, and bottom line make it clear identifying these components must be a priority.
The Hydraulic Shell Game: How to Avoid Counterfeit Parts
Learning to distinguish counterfeit hydraulic parts from real ones is essential for anyone buying them. Thankfully, some ways exist to help distinguish them from those who produce genuine parts. When you’re buying a hydraulic part from an unfamiliar source, pay attention to the following details:
● Refund Policy: Before you order the part, be certain that the shipper offers a return policy. Any dealer in reputable hydraulic parts will back their orders with a money-back guarantee. If the place you’re ordering from doesn’t have one, it’s time to move on.
● Reviews: If you’re buying online, check the site reviews. They’ll give you a clear indication of the experiences others have had with them. One caveat: if the site has a lot of 5-star reviews or a lot of 1-star reviews, these are suspect. Give the most credence to reviews rated between 2 and 4 stars. The others are likely due to people being paid to write reviews for or against the site.
● Packaging: One of the first indicators of the unit being an original part you have available is the packaging. While counterfeiters work hard to recreate the original, mistakes are common. First, go to the manufacturer’s official website and compare their packaging to your source’s. You may notice that the branding is inconsistent, serial numbers may be missing, and the packaging may appear sloppy.
● Documentation: Your next indicator will be when you open the package. Most genuine parts manufacturers include a hard copy of the device’s documentation in the package. If this documentation is missing, it’s another warning sign.
● Sloppy Packaging: Another sign is how the device is protected inside its packaging. If the unit is sitting in an empty box, this can be a bad sign. Large and complex hydraulic units may be packed in grease or with styrofoam supports that protect them during shipping. If these are absent, mark it up as another warning sign.
● Serial and Model Numbers: Officially manufactured replacement parts will have serial and model numbers, typically on the parts themselves. Smaller units may have these numbers on the packaging rather than the part. You don’t have an authentic part if you don’t see these on the packaging or the unit.
● Raw Materials: Finally, inspect the unit’s materials. If you see signs of wear and tear, cracks, or a sloppy appearance, take action. Don’t use the part; return it to the shipper and get a refund.
Even after following all these steps, the occasional counterfeit can slip through the cracks when replacing original parts. So, how do you ensure that you’re not getting fake hydraulic replacement parts?
Reputable Hydraulic Repair Services Will Keep You Safe from Counterfeit Parts
The most effective way of avoiding getting counterfeit parts is by working with reputable and professional hydraulic repair teams. Keeping their customers happy and working without interruption is the cornerstone of their business. As a result, they’ll have developed reliable supply lines that guarantee the replacement parts they receive are original parts.
Contact Servo Kinetics in Ann Arbor today if you want to avoid the risks of using counterfeit parts. Our industrial hydraulic repair services always get the job done right and our reverse engineering and rebuild services are tried and true. Join our list of worldwide customers that count on us for expert hydraulic repair services!