Kobelco excavators have industry-leading innovations which help the machines keep running efficiently for longer. They’re designed to be productive, durable and fuel efficient, even on the most demanding of sites, they’re an important, worthwhile investment for growing businesses.
So when repairs or servicing need doing, why would you scrimp on the parts you’re using? Paul Hurrell, Technical Support Engineer, sets out the reasons why spending a little more on genuine parts is key to cutting downtime.
Reducing true life cost
Firstly, what goes into calculating a machines true life cost?
The cost to buy.
Cost to run. Costs of servicing, maintenance, repairs and fuel consumption are the main contributors.
As a dealer, we want to help you get the best from your machine throughout your ownership and also help you get the highest residual value possible when it comes time to replace it.
Yet we also know that any parts or repairs bill is going to be tallied up against your total cost of ownership. This can leave you tempted to opt for the cheaper non-genuine filters, pumps or motors.
However, saving money now can actually add up significantly over the long-term, as generic parts are more likely to need replacing sooner. Using them can also void your warranty, potentially leading to bigger bills later.
Longer service life
Fewer breakdowns
While Kobelco’s genuine parts undergo the same level of testing as their machines, non-genuine parts can’t guarantee that level of durability, reliability and performance. We can see this in the parts themselves, with air filters using 33% more material and fuel filters using 41.91% more.
This extra material means these parts can withstand more wear and tear. They can also hold more dirt and protect your machine far more effectively.
On the other hand, generic parts are unlikely to withstand high levels of work rate for long or help your machine run as efficiently. As a result, using non-genuine parts can quickly leave you with more time spent in the workshop, more bills and more downtime.
Quicker repairs
I can tell you from personal experience, there’s nothing more helpful than a replacement part that fits where it should perfectly. It’s not just satisfying for your engineers and technicians though. Having a genuine part with the exact OEM specifications means it will lock in place first time.
This doesn’t just cut down installation time and hassle, but means nothing is skewed. It performs in the right way as soon as you switch on the ignition. So you don’t lose another minute in the workshop or have an unexpected breakdown later on.
Lower carbon impact
If you’ve purchased a Kobelco, fuel efficiency has no doubt been a factor in your purchasing decision. Even if it isn’t top of your must-haves list, it’s a key part of the total cost of ownership calculation, so you want to maintain it for as long as possible.
Genuine filters target five-micron-level contamination, trapping fine debris that damages fuel-system components. Non-genuine filters usually only reach 10-micron performance, leaving larger particles behind. So if you want to maintain good fuel efficiency and keep your carbon emissions low, choosing a Kobelco filter is a no-brainer.
Extra support
Of course, buying parts off the internet can be cheaper and more efficient, but if it arrives and isn’t right, you’ll be kicking yourself. As we work on machines every day, we know exactly which part is needed on each Kobelco excavator. This means you don’t have to worry about picking the wrong part.
It’s also likely that we’ll have it on site thanks to the huge range of genuine OEM parts we have in stock. So it’s just as quick as ordering online, but it takes away the guesswork thanks to the expert advice from our team.
