Every maintenance engineer has faced this situation: the machine is stopped, the original spare part has been withdrawn from the market, and the manufacturer declares a delivery time of 12 weeks. Searching for equivalents — finding an equivalent part from another manufacturer — is the solution, but it requires method and precision.
Understanding part numbers
Manufacturer product codes encode critical information. A bearing number like SKF 6205-2RS tells us: series 62 (single row rigid ball bearing), bore 05 (25mm), 2RS (double rubber seal). Understanding this structure allows you to search for equivalents from NSK, FAG, NTN or Timken.
The equivalent search process
- Identify the original specifications: Don't just match the part number. Check size, material, voltage, pressure rating, temperature range and certification requirements.
- Search among manufacturers: Use an e-industrial catalog that covers multiple brands. The E-Catalog UNITEC indexes 500,000+ components from 10,000+ manufacturers, making the search for equivalents a single search operation.
- Check compatibility: Check mounting dimensions, connection types and environmental certifications. An “equivalent” part that doesn't fit in the housing or can't handle ambient temperature is not truly equivalent.
- Consider the total cost: The cheapest alternative is not always the best. Take into account reliability data, warranty terms and local availability.
Common equivalent search categories
Bearings
SKF, FAG (Schaeffler), NSK, NTN, Timken and Koyo use standardized ISO designations. Most single-row ball bearings are directly interchangeable between manufacturers.
Pneumatics
Festo, SMC, Parker, Aventics (Emerson) and Camozzi often have direct correspondence tables. Cylinder diameter, stroke and mounting pattern are the key matching criteria.
Electrical components
Siemens, ABB, Schneider Electric and Eaton contactors and circuit breakers require particular attention to coil voltage, auxiliary contacts and UL/CE certifications when searching for equivalents.
When the search for equivalents becomes complex
Some pieces — custom-built components, proprietary PLC modules, specialized sensors — have no simple equivalent. In these cases, working with an experienced MRO partner who can globally source and negotiate with OEMs becomes essential.
Try the UNITEC E-Catalog to instantly search for equivalents among thousands of manufacturers.
