Once the warranty period ends, a machine owner faces the question of where to service it more affordably, and which spare parts to use. In this piece, we look at the question of spare parts.
Equipment manufacturers quite fairly claim that the best choice for their machinery is parts offered under their own brand.
And that’s true. But can you save a little without losing much in quality? Yes! That’s possible too.
Let’s start with the fact that spare parts can conventionally be split into:
- original parts;
- alternative parts (certified and uncertified equivalents).
By “original” parts we mean those the manufacturer either produces at its own facilities or commissions from specific producers – for its own assembly line and for further sale (OEM parts).
And here’s the nuance: manufacturers most often only assemble the complex machinery, while ordering most of the components and assemblies from specialized suppliers.
So the parts manufacturer that supplies the assembly line has the technical capacity to produce equivalents of those same parts. And in cases where the parts manufacturer and the equipment manufacturer reach an agreement, the former can sell those same parts under its own brand and through its own network.
That’s how we get certified equivalents, which are 100% identical to the original parts but offered on the market at a somewhat lower price. It’s not always easy to find information about such parts right away, so it’s worth consulting specialists.
Uncertified equivalents (or simply, non-original parts) are products from independent manufacturing companies (NAM). And here you can run into a very wide range of quality: anywhere from “factory-grade” to outright counterfeits.
So how can you choose alternative parts without making a mistake? Quite simply: turn to professionals, such as ABA “Astra”, the official dealer for world-renowned agricultural machinery manufacturers, which has provided warranty and post-warranty service and supplied spare parts for this equipment for more than a quarter of a century.
As demand for alternative parts grew among farmers, the company carried out a series of studies and surveyed farm technical specialists, which identified several parts manufacturers with the best price/quality ratio, level of trust and brand recognition. The best of these were then selected, and work with them began. The range was soon expanded, and the first customer feedback started coming in.
Since then, ABA “Astra” has significantly expanded its range thanks to quality alternative and OEM parts. The company now works with around 40 European, American and Chinese parts suppliers, offering more than 5,000 part numbers already in stock in Ukraine.
Over 7 years, the company has built up experience that lets it select parts based on the customer’s needs and budget in a way that helps them save money without making mistakes.
Farmers also benefit from the fast parts delivery that ABA “Astra” provides, thanks to its regional presence.
A wide range of parts for Claas (and other brands) is offered in the online store.
If you don’t find the part you need, you can order it by calling your regional manager.
