The Vital Role Played by Suppliers of CAT Aftermarket Spares
Whether they are intended for use in heavy-duty CAT equipment or luxury automobiles, the spares manufactured, distributed, and retailed via the aftermarket are vital to ensure that these and many similar forms of mechanical equipment remain operational. When first delivered from the factory, each component of these products will have been the work of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and has been engineered to a precise set of specifications and within the prescribed tolerances that are compatible with the overall structural integrity, purpose, and expected performance of the completed assembly.
In many cases, the replacement parts available to owners may well be manufactured by the OEM but, given the size of the potential market for such items, third-party manufacturers have been quick to start producing compatible parts. Where specialised machinery or vehicles have been imported from an overseas manufacturer, owners in some areas are likely to experience long delays when waiting for imported OEM spares, such as track parts for a CAT bulldozer, for example. Access to an aftermarket that can deliver locally-produced parts at short notice can obviously make a huge difference in such cases.
That said, it is, of course, vital that any locally made part complies closely with the OEM specifications. Failure to do so could result in a limited lifespan for the replacements part or even in damage to the machine or vehicle in which it is fitted. Often offered at prices significantly lower than the OEM equivalent, the prospect of savings can be a strong motivator for owners, and the market for cheaper generic parts has become a very lucrative one.
A whole series of large-scale recalls by prominent automobile manufacturers have recently underlined the importance of quality components and there have even been incidents in which cut-price headlamp globes have led to damaging fires. What does this mean to those whose only viable option may be to purchase non-OEM parts?
For some, at least, to do so may not be a problem. Owners of CAT equipment in South Africa can rely on the quality and performance of aftermarket spares at all times. Kanu Equipment is a leading supplier of Caterpillar products both to the local market and to clients in many other regions continental Africa. Our policy is to maintain adequate stocks of all mission-critical parts for all of our products at all times. In addition to the genuine OEM parts, any third-party items that we supply are fully accredited and compliant with the OEM specifications.
Widely used in the nation’s strategic industries such as mining, agriculture, and forestry, as well as in construction, keeping these machines fully operational is vital, both to their owners and to the national economy. In our efforts to provide support for these vital industries, Kanu Equipment has made every effort to provide an exceptional after-sales service. This includes expert engineers with extensive knowledge of all CAT machines and vehicles, well-equipped workshop facilities and, of course, a constantly available stock of quality aftermarket spares.
