Since hydraulic seals and kits play an important role in industrial development and there is a wide demand for them in various industries, various hydraulic seals and repair kits, including aftermarket and OEM, are supplied on the market.
Now, let’s learn more about the difference between them.
What is a hydraulic seal?
Hydraulic seals are made of various materials, such as PU, PTFE, NBR, etc., which are used to prevent leakage of media in hydraulic systems. According to their functions or materials or designs, they are divided into piston seals, rod seals, PU seals, PTFE seals, and U-cup seals. Different seals are selected according to the needs of the equipment.
What is a hydraulic repair kit?
Hydraulic repair kits refer to complete sealing kits that are combined according to the various hydraulic seals required by different mechanical equipment. They appear and are used as a set and are generally used in the aftermarket repair market.
Aftermarket hydraulic seals vs OEM?
1. Price
The price of aftermarket is lower than that of OEM. There will be different price gaps due to brands, materials and application areas, which are about 30%-100% cheaper or even higher.
The reason is that the R&D cost of aftermarket hydraulic seals is low, and because of the high replacement frequency, it ofen made by low-priced ordinary materials and simple production processes.
2. Quality
The quality of OEM is generally more guaranteed than that of aftermarket. OEM has stricter requirements and dimensional tolerances for quality and longer service life, stricter quality control systems, and production standards, and uses better materials. These reasons make the manufactured OEM hydraulic seals of high quality.
3. Delivery time
Aftermarket products generally have a wide range of inventory and can achieve fast delivery. OEM products generally need to be customized or arranged for production, which requires a certain delivery time.
4. Performance
The performance of the aftermarket may be close to or reach the OEM level, but the durability and wear resistance of the OEM are higher than those of the aftermarket. OEM has been strictly tested and verified in all links and can better meet the requirements of the hydraulic system.
5. Applicability
Aftermarket hydraulic seals have more complete models and sizes, which can meet the needs of various mechanical equipment, so you have a wider range of choices.
OEM hydraulic seals have limited models and sizes, but they are more compatible with OEM original equipment.
6. After-sales service
OEM products have a longer service life and more professional technical support than aftermarket products and can adjust and solve product material formulas and designs at any time.
In summary, aftermarket hydraulic seals have obvious price advantages and fast delivery times. OEM has higher product quality assurance, technical support, and a lower risk of equipment failure. They have different advantages and disadvantages, and the specific differences depend on product type, brand, and market supply and demand.
When choosing, in addition to price, quality, performance, and usage scenarios should be considered comprehensively to ensure maximum cost performance. The specific choice is based on actual usage, such as:
For short-term use or non-critical parts, the use of aftermarket hydraulic seals has higher cost performance and economic benefits.
For long-term use or critical parts, the use of OEM hydraulic seals is more reliable and durable.
TYS has 25 years of experience in the hydraulic industry and has rich expertise. We supply hydraulic seals and repair kits for various brands of machinery. Contact us for free to get the best quote.
