GENUINE SHAFT COUPLINGS: Hidden Costs & TCO Risks When Using Cheap Couplings

When comparing a genuine shaft couplings to a cheaper alternative, the initial price quote might seem attractive, but in reality, it’s a case of saving on the surface but paying a higher price in the long run. Many businesses are lured by the low price and overlook the overall operational picture.

The article “The True Cost of Cheap Couplings: Understanding TCO & Risks” will clearly break down the total cost of ownership (TCO), exposing the risks of failure, downtime, and chain reactions—things that silently cost businesses much more. This perspective is essential for making truly sustainable and effective long-term choices.

1. TCO (Total Cost of Ownership)

According to Ringfeder Power Transmission, the TCO of a component includes:
– The purchase price of the coupling and parts: simply the price you pay to buy the coupling and its accompanying equipment (parts).
– Assembly and installation of couplings: Includes labor costs, alignment, or additional costs arising from installation errors if components are not precise.
– Regular maintenance and servicing of couplings: Couplings and other equipment require regular maintenance throughout their lifespan to ensure reliability and performance.
– Quality replacement parts: Choosing a supplier with a stable supply chain and readily available spare parts is crucial for minimizing downtime, ensuring maintenance schedules, and enhancing competitiveness.
> TCO shows that a cheap coupling can be the most expensive expense over the entire equipment lifecycle. Conversely, genuine shaft couplings, despite higher initial costs, are a strategic investment that optimizes the total cost of ownership (TCO) effectively.

(Cre: Ringfeder Blog – What is the Total Cost of Ownership?)

2. Hidden Costs of Poor Quality Couplings

Using cheap couplings results in costly hidden expenses:
– Increased downtime: According to Honeywell Process Solutions, unplanned downtime costs millions of dollars annually for continuously operating factories.
– Impact on product quality: According to Autodesk, the cost of poor quality (COPQ) accounts for 5–35% of a manufacturing business’s revenue.
– Reduced machine efficiency: Poor materials and inaccurate tolerances increase friction, overheating, energy consumption, and reduce the lifespan of the drive system.

(Source: Autodesk.com – Understanding the Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) in Manufacturing)

Thus, these hidden costs turn cheap components into a huge financial burden and operational risk. To overcome this, businesses need to clearly recognize the superior benefits and stability that only genuine, high-quality, and proven shaft couplings can provide.

3. Long-Term Benefits of Genuine Shaft Couplings

– Reduced downtime and maintenance costs: High-quality, genuine shaft couplings are designed to compensate for misalignment, absorb shocks, and effectively reduce vibrations.
> This directly reduces the frequency of malfunctions and unplanned downtimes, thereby reducing product loss and production losses.
– Improved product quality: For precision drive systems (CNC, robots), couplings ensure accurate torque transmission, reduce lag/warping, directly reduce defective products, and increase production efficiency.
– Operational efficiency & energy savings: Genuine shaft couplings prevent power loss during transmission, contributing to optimized machine performance, energy savings, and accelerated industrial progress.
– Absolute operational safety: Quality couplings provide secure connections, prevent chemical leaks, and reduce the risk of shaft breakage, ensuring safety and compliance with workplace regulations.

4. Expert Advice from Dai Hong Phat – Prioritize Genuine Shaft Couplings to Optimize TCO

TCO should be the deciding factor, not the purchase price. Businesses should prioritize genuine shaft couplings, high-quality components, proven quality, and readily available spare parts from suppliers.

Dai Hong Phat Corp is an authorized distributor of leading global brands of genuine shaft couplings: Ringfeder (Germany), Rathi (India), KTR (Germany), Cross+Morse (UK), PTI (Korea), Westcar (Italy), committed to providing genuine, high-quality products with complete and clear CO/CQ documentation.

View more: Genuine shaft coupling brands supplied by Dai Hong Phat

Dai Hong Phat Corp always provides genuine shaft coupling solutions to help customers optimize total cost of ownership and achieve long-term operational efficiency.

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