Beverage Industry logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Beverage Industry logo
  • NEWS
    • R&D News
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Reader's Choice Poll
  • CATEGORIES
    • Alternative Drinks
    • Beer
    • Bottled Water
    • Cannabis Beverages
    • Carbonated Soft Drinks
    • Energy Drinks & Shots
    • Juice & Juice Drinks
    • Plant-Based Beverages
    • Sports Drinks
    • Tea and Coffee
    • Wine & Spirits
  • R&D
    • Beverage R&D Features
    • Ingredient Spotlight
  • PACKAGING
    • New Packages
    • Packaging Equipment
    • Packaging Material
  • OPERATIONS
    • Distribution
    • Plant Focus
  • TOP LISTS
    • Beer Market Report
    • Executive of the Year
    • State of the Beverage Industry
    • Top 100 Beverage Companies
    • Truck Report
    • Wholesaler of the Year
  • MEDIA
    • eBook
    • Podcast
    • Polls
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Annual Manual
    • Contract Packaging Guide
    • Take a Tour
  • MORE
    • Classifieds
    • Channel Strategies
    • eNewsletters
    • Events
      • Membrane Technology Forum
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Market Insights
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archived Issues
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Plant Focus

Aftermarket parts offer efficient, quality options

Non-OEM parts supply cost, time savings

By Jennifer Storelli
B1000 valve
Bevcorp is known for offering aftermarket can-filling valves, electronic float upgrades, gearboxes and consumable wear items. (Image courtesy of Bevcorp)
American Holt parts
In its portfolio, America Holt stocks more than 3,000 different parts, including more than 1,000 parts for bottlers as well an extensive line for fillers and seamers. (Image courtesy of American Holt)
B1000 valve
American Holt parts
February 14, 2014

Although many people think of the automotive industry first when they hear the phrase “aftermarket parts,” almost every industry has some form of aftermarket presence, and the beverage industry is no exception, says Joseph Stroup, director of business development for FBN Inc., Plainwell, Mich.

“Aftermarket parts refer to parts manufactured by a company other than the [original equipment manufacturer] (OEM),” he explains. “We are unique in that our goal is to improve upon an original design and provide it to our customers at a very competitive price.”

Parts suppliers also can take on another role for their customers. American Holt Corp., for instance, is a reverse-engineering company that stocks more than 3,000 different aftermarket parts. It uses both precision metrology and chemical analysis equipment to determine the proper materials to use for manufacturing parts. It also implements contact measuring machinery and video inspection equipment to measure and design parts to within 0.0001 inches accuracy, explains Tom St. Lawrence, national sales manager for the Norwood, Mass.-based company.  Jon Levy, president of the company, notes that this exactness in engineering is comparable to that of aftermarket parts suppliers in the aerospace industry. Through this approach, the company is able to design parts to fit in OEM machines that are made of the same materials as the OEM parts and offer the same fit, form and function, he says.

Similarly, FBN’s Stroup says his team spends thousands of hours in the field and in the lab observing, testing and developing parts — especially its more specialized offerings like filling valves and capper chucks — to ensure that they perform as well as or better than their OEM counterparts.

The aftermarket parts industry also offers the opportunity for companies to design parts that enhance OEM machines. For example, aftermarket parts suppliers can use more modern technology, such as the latest materials and coatings that might not have been available when the original machine was built, to increase service life expectancy, explains John Beeze, sales manager for Bevcorp LLC, Willoughby, Ohio. Aftermarket parts also can boost an OEM machine’s speed and durability and even reduce filling and blending losses, he adds. Bevcorp offers newly engineered high-speed valves, larger product inlets and sealed bearings that can help make OEM machines run faster and last longer, he explains.

Savings also can be a benefit to utilizing aftermarket parts. For those of comparable quality to OEM parts, aftermarket parts can offer an average of 30 percent savings on product price, Bevcorp’s Beeze says. “The cost of capital equipment continually increases, and the machines become larger and more difficult to install, so the aftermarket will become even more important to maintain these machines cost effectively,” he says.

This pricing also contributes to competition in the market, FBN’s Stroup notes. In order to remain competitive, OEMs, in turn, strive to improve the quality, performance and service for their parts, he says. In addition, the lower prices and availability of aftermarket parts also has pressured some OEMs to lower their prices on high-volume replacement parts, adds Mike Mangone, vice president of sales for Havre de Grace, Md.- based ShoreLine Packaging and Processing Machinery LLC, which uses aftermarket parts in its rebuilding business. “Some of the OEMs are simply not manufacturing or stocking the quantities of parts that they did in the past, and the customers cannot afford to be down,” he explains. “Now, [customers] have one or more choices, depending on the parts segment.”

Timing is everything

Aftermarket parts also give some customers a choice of how soon they will receive their replacement parts. When a customer needs a specific part replaced or repaired, they often need it handled as soon as possible, FBN’s Stroup says. “Time is everything, as every second a line is down is worth a significant amount of lost revenue,” he explains. This downtime is even more expensive for high-speed machines, he says. However, when working with international companies, lead times for replacement parts could be impacted, he explains. In these cases, customers can turn to locally based aftermarket parts suppliers for solutions, he says.

Bevcorp offers a rebuilt exchange program that keeps high-volume parts, like gearboxes, on-hand for quick replacement at a cost-effective price, Beeze says. In addition, the company employs a team of service technicians to install its aftermarket equipment so that customers don’t have to employ an in-house service staff. In emergency situations, Bevcorp’s service technicians will travel to beverage plants with required parts within four hours of the call, he says. The majority of the company’s non-emergency orders ship within
48 hours, he adds.

Also prepared to address emergencies, FBN can utilize its personal airplane to deliver parts next-day to customers in dire need of them, Stroup says.

American Holt offers a similar timing promise and ships 97 percent of customer orders on the same day that the order is placed, Levy says. This enables its customers to reduce their on-hand inventory costs by relying on American Holt’s quick turnaround with needed parts, he adds.

In other cases, customers cannot obtain a specific part in time because it is obsolete. Sometimes OEMs do not support their older machines, and in some extreme situations, the OEM has gone out of business, Bevcorp’s Beeze says. In these cases, customers can turn to aftermarket parts suppliers again to keep their machines operating.

Building a reputation

Despite the timing, pricing and quality benefits of choosing aftermarket parts, some customers still are uneasy about purchasing equipment from a company other than the OEM. “I have dealt with several customers and potential customers over the years that won’t consider aftermarket parts for certain areas of the production line,” FBN’s Stroup explains. “The majority of the lines we support are high-speed, and if someone supplies a part that does not perform or worse, fails, the customer is left dealing with the mess.” Stroup stresses that all aftermarket parts suppliers should strive to offer quality products. “The last thing we want to do is provide an inferior part,” he asserts.

For the customer, a good approach to deciding whether or not to purchase an aftermarket part is to have a conversation with the parts provider. “All aftermarket parts are not created alike, and, as a result, some [customers] have a bad taste from poor-quality parts that are in the marketplace,” American Holt’s Levy says. [Customers] should ask questions and understand how the parts are reverse-engineered and what quality-control processes are in place.”

In addition, sometimes warranties from OEMs can be voided if an OEM-supplied part is not used, FBN’s Stroup notes. To alleviate concerns with this, FBN offers a free trial period for its parts to prove their performance and help give the customer reassurance that their line will run well with the aftermarket parts, he says.

Aftermarket parts suppliers who want to help build their own reputations, as well as that of the overall aftermarket parts industry, should focus on what they know, Bevcorp’s Beeze advises. “The key to success in aftermarket is to stay in the machine markets that you know well and can support on an engineering and service basis,” he says.

 As aftermarket parts companies continue to build their positive reputations, and as the prevalence of aftermarket parts grows, customers will feel more confident in the value that they offer and choose aftermarket parts for their manufacturing needs, Shoreline’s Mangone says.  

KEYWORDS: processing equipment

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Haderspeckj headshot200

Jennifer Storelli freelances for Beverage Industry, writing for the magazine’s print and online components. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • top 100 beverage companies

    Top 100 Beverage Companies of 2024

    For the global beverage market, mergers and acquisitions...
    Wine & Spirits
  • Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla shakes

    Classic flavors provide reliable, consistent results for beverage-makers

    Classic flavors of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry...
    Ingredient Spotlight
    By: Chloe Alverson
  • Free Spirits Instant Bar Bundle

    Lifestyle trends drive growth for non-alcohol category

    As lifestyle trends continue to drive growth for the...
    Alternative Drinks
    By: Lauren Sabetta
Manage My Account
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Manage My Preferences

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Beverage Industry audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Beverage Industry or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Fourpeople toasting with cocktails made with low-sugar ingredients, celebrating healthier drink options.
    Sponsored byCargill

    What’s Hot in Sugar Reduction: Beverages

  • chocolate milk
    Sponsored byCargill

    Sweetening the Future for Dairy and Dairy-Alternative Beverages

  • woman pouring a drink
    Sponsored byFFP

    Building a Beverage System: Meeting Consumer Demand for Precision Wellness

Popular Stories

Sting Energy

PepsiCo, Sting Energy unveil global partnership with Formula 1

PepsiCo + poppi

PepsiCo completes acquisition of poppi

people drinking Wynk

Mindful drinking prompts growth for THC beverages

Top 100 Beverage Companies of 2024

Events

April 16, 2025

2025 State of the Industry Series: Alcoholic Beverages

On Demand In Beverage Industry’s annual State of the Industry: The Alcohol Beverage Market, analysts at S&D Insights LLC delve into these trends and how they’re shaping the industry.

June 26, 2025

FAST. FOCUSED. FUELED: Delivering Energy Consumers Can Feel

Learn how to formulate products that deliver the energy experiences that people want, and keep them coming back for more.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Retail Coffee Segment

What retail coffee segments will fare well into the next year?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Milk and Dairy Foods Nutrition, Processing and Healthy Aging

Milk and Dairy Foods Nutrition, Processing and Healthy Aging

See More Products

Related Articles

  • Two men at computer

    Warehouse management systems offer efficient distribution

    See More
  • Labeling Options Offer Marketing, Production Advantages

    See More
  • SIG Combibloc sustainable carton Beverage Industry October 2017

    Cartons, aseptic packaging offer beverage-makers more options

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • mastering brewing.jpg

    Mastering Brewing Science: Quality and Production

  • quality control.jpg

    Quality Control in the Beverage Industry 1st Edition

  • Beverage-Quality-and-Safety.gif

    Beverage Quality and Safety

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • April 26, 2012

    Food Plant of the Future: Raising the Bar on Plant Air Quality

    AVAILABLE ON DEMAND Exclusively for thought-leaders in food and beverage processing facility management, Food Plant of the Future webinars are presented by Hixson, a leading design and engineering firm of food processing facilities in North America.
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Elevate your expertise in the beverage marketplace with unparalleled insights and connections.

Join thousands of beverage professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing