What Are OEM and RPI Parts?

When you’re ready to replace a part on your autoclave, you’ll most likely look for it online. But when you go online, you might end up noticing something interesting. The same part you need on two different listings, with the only difference being 3 letters: OEM or RPI. They look the exact same, the description matches, but the price is different. SO you ask yourself, what do those 3 letters mean? What are OEM and RPI parts?

It is an important distinction to know, as you’ll see it more often than not. Both versions serve a purpose, and for good reason. Which is why in this article, we want to help you understand the difference. So we’ll go over what OEM and RPI parts are, and why they both have a place in the industry.

What Are OEM Parts?

To start off, we’ll talk about the listing you’ll see more often than not: OEM parts. OEM stands for “Original Equipment Manufacturer.” Put simply, these are replacement parts made directly by the company that built your equipment. It’s not all that difficult to think about, it’s a lot of people’s go-to options for things even beyond the scope of autoclaves. And with anything you can buy a replacement part for, people look to OEM specific parts for good reason.

OEM parts provide unmatched consistency when repairing your units. Because they are built to the precise dimensions, materials, and specifications of your original equipment, they go through rigorous testing to guarantee reliability, proper fit, and long-term durability.

With OEM parts for your autoclave, you have an unparalleled peace of mind for a few reasons:

• Exact Fit: Engineered to precise specifications for a seamless installation.
• Peak Performance: Maintains optimal thermal efficiency and reliable sterilization cycles.
• Warranty Protection: Safeguards equipment warranties against unexpected repair costs.
• Enhanced Safety: Rigorously tested to meet strict regulatory and pressure standards.
• Maximum Lifespan: Built with durable, factory-specified materials to reduce downtime.

What Are RPI Parts?

On the opposite side of OEM parts is RPI parts. RPI stands for “Replacement Parts Industry, Incorporated.” Unlike with OEM parts, RPI‘s acronym doesn’t represent a type of part, it represents a business.

RPI is a business that’s been around since 1972 where they’ve provided parts and independent services to the industry.. Their creation stemmed from a growing need in the healthcare industry for parts other than OEM ones. Over time, they developed a wide collection of available parts, as well as a combination of excelled customer services and fair prices. They’re in the parts business, and they make that quite clear.

They manufacturer and design parts, as well as directly source possible replacements. They ensure the quality of the parts they engineer meet or exceed the quality of the OEM parts. With a product development team and quality control department working in tandem for only the best possible parts alternative.

If that wasn’t enough, here are a few other points that show RPI‘s dedication to the craft:

• Designed to Fit: RPI parts are engineered and manufactured for a fit equivalent to the OEM standard parts across all of its available components.
• Quality Standard: RPI’s components are produced to meet their own set of standards, specifically ISO 9001. ISO 9001 is an international standard for quality management systems to ensure businesses meet both customer and regulatory requirements.
• Proper Solutions: One of RPI’s specialties in the parts business is producing a solution for various needs. That ranges from basic replacement parts, PM kit bundles for proper maintenance, and even producing hard-to-find components for your units. With quality equal to that of OEM offerings, RPI‘s approach to what they offer shows how good they are at what they know.

Which One is Right For Me?

Now that you understand what OEM and RPI are, the next question that may come to mind is… “Which one do I pick?” That is an easier question to answer than you may realize. With OEM, you get a factory fresh piece with that new part smell, with a guarantee that it’ll fit. On the other hand, RPI serves a purpose as well. Offering OEM quality parts at a lower cost with a few quality of life improvements for the road. Here’s how to look at it:

OEM Parts

With OEM parts direct from the manufacturer, you get your list of basic utilities and benefits. Like any OEM part, you’ve got a guaranteed fit directly from the manufacturer. Quality is never an issue with an OEM either, so peace of mind comes standard. Also for some warranties, using an OEM part may help to circumvent any potential issues with it.

While the price tag may not suit the budget conscious, if your practice wants the same “out of the box” quality as the original part… then OEM is probably what you’re in the market for.

RPI Parts

With RPI parts, you get a quality part, while it’s not OEM, there are still a few reasons to go with them. Not only do you get OEM quality parts, you get those parts on a budget. For a practice that may be tight on funding but still in need of a replacement part, RPI has you covered. Also, those parts fall under a rigorous testing standard (ISO 9001) for quality assurance. Meaning that the parts have to both meet the industry standard and customer satisfaction.

They created a trusted brand of affordable, yet trusted quality aftermarket parts. RPI also prides themselves on ensuring that even the hard-to-find parts are never out of reach when you need them.

Final Thoughts

When you’re staring down the listings on a website, deciding on which part to get… take the necessary factors into account. The part you want will depend on your practice’s needs. OEM options offer the direct approach, right from the factory, with factory prices. RPI offers OEM quality, with a few changes of their own with the budget-friendly approach. Much like choosing between a new and refurbished autoclave, both OEM and RPI parts will get you where you need to go. Both parts will ensure the longevity of your autoclave and keep your cycles running smoothly. It all comes down to the nuances.

Here at Sterilizer Autoclave Solutions, we’ve got a wealth of both OEM and RPI parts available to you at any time. If you’ve got an autoclave in need of a part, you can head over to statimusa.com. You can search by part number or by autoclave to make your experience smooth. If you’re not sure what to go for, and you have any questions about OEM or RPI parts, replacements, or anything else, give us a call at 704-966-1650 Option 3 for our Free Tech Support Line. We’ll help you find exactly what you’re looking for!

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As always if you have any questions about this process or anything else please feel free to contact us and take advantage of our “FREE TECH SUPPORT.”

We also offer FREE VIRTUAL TECH SUPPORT to “See and Talk” with a “Real Time Live Technician” for any problems you may be in need of help with.

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You can find our entire selection of parts for autoclaves and other products on our site here. →