Sep. 09, 2024
Consumer Electronics
The food industry is highly competitive, and the functionality of kitchen equipment plays a significant role in determining a restaurant's success. When handling kitchen equipment repairs, most foodservice businesses opt for OEM parts.
Manufacturing companies that make OEM parts make parts for specific products. Therefore, replacing kitchen equipment parts with OEM parts instead of aftermarket parts restores it to its original functionality. Also, if your piece of equipment is under warranty, you must use the OEM part and a Certified Servicer to keep that equipment under warranty.
If you own a food business, here are some benefits you could get from using OEM kitchen equipment parts.
Assured Quality and Functionality
Manufacturers test OEM parts for exact equipment pieces. This way, any OEM replacement parts you use on your kitchen equipment will function the same as the former parts. But, with aftermarket parts, there is no guarantee that replacement parts can withstand the level of work that the former parts did. Some tests performed by OEM companies include:
Long-term reliability tests
Safety tests
Vibration tests
Temperature and humidity tests
Custom Equipment Parts
Manufacturers also test the product's functionality in natural and induced environments. These checks ensure the products perform optimally. Additionally, OEM parts are upgrade compatible. So there's no risk of buying equipment parts that become outdated with time.
Another benefit of OEM parts is that they are custom-made for precise equipment units. Before releasing OEM parts, manufacturers check how they work on the equipment they are custom-made for to ascertain that they are the right fit.
Every part must meet the product engineer's specifications before manufacturers release it to the market. Therefore, you can be sure that any OEM parts you buy will be compatible with your equipment brand.
Reduced Risk of Equipment Damage
Because generic parts are untested, there's always a chance that they could damage your products. But, with OEM parts, the risk of equipment damage or defects reduces significantly. OEM parts have undergone thorough testing, and buyers can get them directly from manufacturers.
When installed on commercial kitchen equipment, OEM parts will function correctly because manufacturers have set them at precise points to allow optimal operation.
Durability
Structural integrity significantly contributes to durability. Unlike OEM parts, generic parts do not provide surety when it comes to structural compliance. OEM parts undergo long-term reliability tests. So, suppliers can give you an estimated change-out period within which you can get new equipment parts.
Product Warranty
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Because companies that manufacture OEM parts are confident about their performance, most OEM parts have a warranty cover from the manufacturing company. Because of this, owners may get free repairs if OEM products fail.
On the other hand, manufacturers may limit or void warranties for generic or aftermarket parts. This happens because manufacturers are not sure of the product's functionality. In this case, if you use generic or aftermarket parts for your kitchen equipment, all repair costs may fall on you.
Product Availability
Buying your spare parts from an OEM supplier will reduce your waiting time. Unlike generic suppliers who may not stock certain brands. OEM suppliers will stock parts they consider vital for their machines' functionality. An OEM may also recommend stores where you can get the parts you need if they don't have them in their stock; Hawkins is listed by many manufactures as the local supplier for replacement parts for the foodservice industry in Colorado.
Buying OEM spare parts will help avoid delays in business operations as you wait to find the right parts for your kitchen equipment.
Return on Investment
Due to their high quality and durability, OEM parts provide a good return on investment (ROI). OEM parts will increase your kitchen equipment's longevity and eliminate the need for frequent repairs, thereby saving you money.
If you are a restaurant owner, investing in OEM parts for your kitchen equipment will ensure your equipment serves you longer, making you more money. Contact us today at Hawkins Commercial Appliance for OEM parts for your next kitchen upgrade.
If you are in the process of opening a restaurant or outfitting a new commercial kitchen for a school or municipality building, youre probably wondering how to make the best purchase decisions. Buying new commercial kitchen equipment is a big responsibility, even if you are simply looking to replace a single piece for a kitchen that is already up and running.
Since we repair and maintenance commercial kitchen equipment every day, we thought we would share a few tips on things you should consider before swiping your credit card on new equipment. You may have already considered some of these factors, and if so, thats great! We hope this guide will help you make an informed decision and ultimately save you money in the long run.
1. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
The total cost of ownership calculation helps you determine how much a piece of equipment will cost over its entire lifecycle. When crunching your numbers, you need to think about more than the initial purchase price. The unit will consume energy and possibly water, and may require inputs such as oil (think fryers) and labor for operating. All of these factors need to be added to the initial purchase price. Even if you dont know exact numbers, an estimate will do just fine.
Once you have completed a TCO analysis, you can easily compare pieces of equipment to see which is right for your business over the long run. For instance, an energy efficient piece will probably cost more to buy but will save you money in energy and water consumption over time. With energy and water prices rising each year, this initial investment can be regained pretty quickly.
2. Warranties & Maintenance Agreements
It is always smart to investigate the warranty for a new piece of commercial kitchen equipment. This allows you to see what the manufacturer will and will not cover if something goes wrong. This is also the time to explore any extended warranty options for the piece and decide if purchasing the extension is worth the extra money it will cost up front. When youre trying to decide between two similar pieces of equipment, the warranties may help you decide which makes the final cut.
Maintenance is another important factor to consider. While maintenance agreements may seem like a tough cost to justify, consider the alternative; unexpected equipment failure that requires an emergency repair call and costs way more than simple maintenance. If you take care of your equipment it will last longer and have fewer issues than neglected equipment that never gets inspected.
3. Functionality & Size
Before you go and buy every piece of commercial kitchen equipment available, make sure you take the time to plan out what you need. Look at your menu and consider what you actually need to prepare the food. Invest in pieces that will save on time and labor, as well as pieces that offer multi-functionality options such as combination ovens or steamers. There are many new styles of equipment available today than there were ten years ago, so do your research ahead of time.
Plan to purchase equipment that will be able to handle the output you expect to produce. Pieces that are too large for your needs will rack up your utility bill, while pieces that are too small will cause stress and frustration among kitchen staff and customers. Purchasing the right size equipment helps keep production flowing and your business running smoothly.
4. Shipping & Delivery
Depending on where you buy your equipment and how far it has to travel to get to you, shipping costs can range widely. If you find a particular brand or style of equipment that you are interested in purchasing, make sure to look at how much it will cost to ship. If you dont have someone to install the equipment that is another cost you will want to add to your TCO calculation.
Once your new equipment is delivered, look at it from all angles and inspect it for damage or missing parts. If there is damage, it is usually the shipping companys responsibility to replace or repair the damage, but you have to catch it within a certain number of days of delivery. If a component of the piece is missing, you should contact the place from which it was purchased, or possibly the manufacturer, to have that piece replaced.
All in, commercial kitchen equipment is a big investment. But thats how you have to look at it; as an investment. With the right equipment, your kitchen will run smoothly and you will produce a higher quality product than if you choose to skimp and buy whatever is cheapest without considering the factors above.
If you have recently purchased new equipment, dont forget about the importance of maintenance agreements. CPS offers maintenance programs for a wide variety of commercial kitchen equipment. We want to help keep your kitchen running without a glitch! Contact us today to learn more.
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