If you manage purchasing for a facility that relies on industrial compressors, you've probably faced this question about Howden parts: OEM or aftermarket? I've been on both sides of this decision over the past few years, and the honest answer is that there's no single right choice. It depends heavily on your specific circumstances—the compressor model, how critical it is to your operations, your maintenance team's capabilities, and your company's risk tolerance.
Let's break this down by three common scenarios I've encountered. I'll walk through each, explain the logic behind the choice, and then help you figure out which bucket your situation falls into. My experience leans toward mid-sized manufacturing facilities, by the way—maybe 50 to 200 employees, with 1 to 3 screw compressors in the mix. If your setup is drastically different (say, a single critical unit in a hospital), take that into account.
Scenario One: The Critical Duty Machine
Scenario: The compressor that runs a primary production line. If it goes down, the line stops, and you're looking at thousands of dollars in lost output per hour. In my experience, this is the straightforward case: stick with genuine Howden compressor parts, period.
I've only had to deal with a critical failure once—or rather, I almost had to. In 2022, one of our main units started showing vibration anomalies. The maintenance lead suspected a worn bearing in the compression end. We checked with a certified Howden service center for the replacement part. Price was steep—around 40% more than a generic equivalent we found online.
Part of me wanted to go with the cheaper option. On one hand, the savings were hard to ignore, especially with my budget that quarter. On the other, I knew if that generic bearing failed and caused secondary damage—say, scoring the rotor housing—we'd be looking at a full compressor rebuild, not just a bearing swap. That $600 savings could turn into a $15,000 repair bill plus a week of downtime. I went OEM. No regrets.
The key consideration here: downtime cost. If every hour of downtime costs more than the premium on genuine parts—and it usually does—then OEM is the safer call for critical components. Valves, seals, bearings, oil pumps—anything in the compression path that could cause catastrophic failure if it goes wrong. For less critical components? That's Scenario Two.
Scenario Two: The Non-Critical or Redundant Unit
Scenario: A backup compressor, or one that handles lower-priority tasks like general plant air for cleaning and pneumatic tools. The stakes are lower. If it hiccups, production doesn't stop.
This, in my opinion, is where aftermarket parts for Howden compressors become a viable option. We had a used Howden screw compressor—purchased second-hand, reconditioned—that served as our backup. It wasn't pristine, but it held up for the 10-15 days a year we actually needed it.
When its oil filter needed replacing, I didn't go through the OEM channel. I sourced a compatible high-quality aftermarket filter from a reputable industrial supplier. Took about $35 vs. the OEM's $110. It worked fine. It's a filter—basic filtration. Same principle applied to generic separator elements for that unit.
But—and this is a caution—I once tried a cheaper seal kit from an unbranded source. The kit looked identical. Installed fine. Lasted about 200 hours before leaking. The labor to replace it? That ate up any savings from the cheaper kit, plus some. That was my overconfidence fail—I knew I should stick with a known aftermarket brand or OEM for seals, but thought 'how different can it be?' Turns out, material quality varies enough to matter.
The lesson: aftermarket is fine for standard consumables from reputable suppliers, but be wary of 'bargain' parts for components that face pressure, heat, or friction. Even on a non-critical unit, a repeated failure is a waste of time.
Scenario Three: The Rebuild or Overhaul Decision
Scenario: The compressor is due for a major overhaul—valve plates, piston rings (if it's a reciprocating unit), bearings, gaskets. The compressor might be 10+ years old. Howden might not even stock all parts for older models in your region. This is where the calculus gets interesting.
I was part of a rebuild decision in 2023 for a 15-year-old Howden unit. The question: buy a full Howden overhaul kit (pricey, but everything matches) or piece together a solution? We didn't have a formal procurement process for this kind of major repair—the third time we'd ordered the wrong gasket set, I finally created a checklist—and it showed.
We ended up going with a hybrid: Howden parts for the high-wear, high-tolerance items (bearings, main seals) and high-quality aftermarket for gaskets, o-rings, and other static seals. The OEM quotes were $4,800. By mixing sources, we got it done for about $2,900. That's a substantial savings. I'd argue that approach, for a rebuild on an older unit, is actually the smartest value play. You get the critical reliability where it counts, but save on the commodity items.
But—again, I have mixed feelings. Part of me is proud of the savings. Another part wonders if the aftermarket gaskets will last as long as OEM ones. We're 18 months post-rebuild with no issues, so far so good. But I can't 100% guarantee the outcome. Take this with a grain of salt: my sample size here is just one major rebuild.
How to Decide Which Scenario Is Yours
Here's a rough decision-making framework I wish I'd had years ago, instead of learning it through trial and error:
Step 1: Classify the Component
Is it a critical duty part (bearings, rotors, valves, seals that affect compression directly) or a standard service part (filters, gaskets, hoses, couplings)? Critical duty = lean OEM. Standard service = aftermarket is probably fine, from a reputable brand.
Step 2: Assess the Compressor's Role
Is it a single, non-redundant unit supporting primary production? If it fails, does production stop? If yes to both, OEM is the safer bet. If it's a backup or low-priority unit, aftermarket becomes more attractive.
Step 3: Evaluate Your Maintenance Capability
Does your team have the expertise to troubleshoot compatibility with aftermarket parts? A slight variance in a seal profile might go unnoticed until it leaks. If your maintenance is done by external contractors who charge by the hour, a failed aftermarket part is expensive in labor. If your team is experienced, they can handle it.
Step 4: Run a Quick TCO
Take the part cost difference (e.g., OEM $400 vs. aftermarket $200). Estimate the probability of early failure on the aftermarket part—say 10% based on your experience? Multiply the cost of that failure (labor + downtime) by 10%. If that number is less than the $200 savings, aftermarket is arguably worth the risk. If it's more, lean OEM. For example: $200 savings vs. a 10% chance of a $2,000 failure? That's $200 vs. $200 expected cost—a wash. I personally lean OEM at that point.
A Quick Note on Used Howden Screw Compressors
If you're buying a used Howden screw compressor, factor parts availability into your purchase decision, as of early 2025. Some older models have limited OEM parts support. Know the model number and check with a parts distributor—maybe a local or regional Howden supplier—before you buy the machine. I've only worked with domestic vendors on this, by the way; international sourcing might be different. If you're working with a machine imported from Europe or elsewhere, the lead times for certain Howden compressor parts might stretch to 6-8 weeks, which changes your stock-out risk considerably.
In my opinion—and this is where my experience might not perfectly match yours—mixing OEM and aftermarket for Howden parts, with a clear strategy, makes more sense than an all-or-nothing approach. The critical parts are your insurance policy. The service parts are where you can save real money without taking on significant extra risk.
(Prices mentioned are based on quotes I received in Q2 of 2022 and Q3 of 2023. Verify current pricing with your suppliers, as rates may have changed.)
