Industrial straightening machines and wheelset presses must operate with reliable precision in high-load environments where component performance directly impacts safety, efficiency, and long-term equipment value. Each manual straightener, automatic straightener, and wheelset press is engineered for optimal performance and built to withstand harsh environments. Every component plays a vital role in the equipment’s reliability and accuracy.
Whether expanding equipment capabilities with new tooling or replacing critical components, it’s tempting to focus on upfront costs, opting for cheaper aftermarket parts over genuine MAE-Eitel components. However, the choice between authorized OEM parts and aftermarket alternatives can have a significant impact on your operation. While a $2,500 savings on industrial spare parts and repairs may seem like a smart move, the potential risks of cheaper components can result in lasting and costly consequences.
The OEM Advantage
A MAE-Eitel machine in your shop means responsive customer service, prompt repairs by OEM-trained experts, and spare parts guaranteed to meet OEM specifications already at your fingertips. When a part wears out or a component breaks, MAE-Eitel’s industrial spare parts and repair services are designed to keep production moving while maintaining machine warranty integrity and extending the equipment’s lifespan. We stand behind the integrity of our equipment and proudly offer extensive services to support our customers’ evolving straightening requirements.
Comprehensive Spare Part Inventory
As a global leader in industrial straightening equipment with decades of experience and legacy machines still in operation around the world, we maintain an extensive inventory of precision-manufactured spare parts for current and older model straightening machines and wheelset presses. By maintaining a comprehensive spare part inventory, MAE-Eitel can rapidly respond to customer requests and ship replacement parts that are guaranteed to fit and function exactly as required.
Custom In-House Manufacturing
When needed, our manufacturing capabilities enable us to produce and deliver out-of-stock, discontinued, and custom components in a matter of days, not weeks, minimizing downtime and resulting costs. From machining the raw materials within exact specifications to heat treating and finishing parts for superior strength and durability, we’re able to produce critical parts in-house and deliver them without delay.
Component Repair Services
At MAE-Eitel, we’re dedicated to ensuring our customers’ success with cost-effective solutions to their industrial straightening needs. If a part can be repaired, we have the tools, skills, and expertise to bring it back to original factory specifications, reducing costs without reducing quality or precision. Due to the critical nature of each component, every repair undergoes extensive testing and validation to ensure reliability.
New Tooling for Expanding Workpiece Capabilities
In highly competitive markets, manufacturers are pressured to continuously improve their services and expand their capabilities to meet changing customer demands. Investing in new tooling for industrial straightening machines can be a strategic move to remain competitive. We maintain extensive capabilities that allow us to quickly produce new tooling that will integrate seamlessly into our machines, allowing manufacturers to expand capabilities without extensive downtime.
The Slow Burn of Aftermarket Industrial Spare Parts and Repairs
Aftermarket industrial spare parts may require lower upfront capital investments, but the risks and associated costs often outweigh the initial savings, especially when you look at the total cost of ownership implications. An aftermarket hydraulic ram, for example, may cost $2,500 less than a factory-direct ram. However, aftermarket parts come with lower price tags for a reason, either due to relaxed quality processes, inferior material choices, or substandard services.
Downtime Costs Add Up Fast
When you consider that automatic straightening press downtime can cost manufacturers over $1,500 per hour on average, an unplanned outage of any length rapidly erases the initial savings gained from aftermarket components. Parts arriving late or off tolerance can make installation more complicated and time-consuming, and that quick repair suddenly extends to hours of unplanned downtime.
Warranty and Risk Exposure
Installation alone can eat into initial cost savings, and when aftermarket parts or tooling fail prematurely, they can cause additional damage to the machine, potentially voiding equipment warranties. Unauthorized parts also introduce unnecessary risk in demanding applications, where reliable performance is vital to safety, such as wheelset presses exerting up to 6,300 kN of force. Even a slight reduction in bearing load capacity from aftermarket parts can cause premature failure, resulting in costly repairs, voided warranties, and critical safety hazards.
Why Gamble on Aftermarket When OEM Quality and Warranty Are Guaranteed?
When you break down the total cost of ownership, the potential downtime caused by premature failures can cost more than the difference in sticker price. With MAE-Eitel industrial spare parts and repairs, manufacturers extend the value lifecycle of their equipment with precise fit for smooth installation, proven durability, and the superior customer-focused solutions we’re known for.
The next time your industrial straightening machine or wheelset press requires spare parts or repairs, choose the option that protects your productivity, safeguards your warranty, and keeps your machines running at optimal performance.
Contact MAE-Eitel to learn more about the costs and benefits of authorized parts and repairs.
