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How to Source Obsolete Automation Parts in ASEAN Without Buying Counterfeits: A Procurement Checklist

Why obsolete parts are a different purchase

When Siemens, Rockwell, Schneider or Mitsubishi withdraw a product, the official channel stops within months while the installed base keeps running for 10–20 years. Demand moves to a secondary market of distributors’ remaining stock, surplus from closed plants, refurbishers – and counterfeiters. In ASEAN the problem is sharper: authorised distributors cover only current ranges, and import lead times from Europe or Japan for a “last-time-buy” item are 8–16 weeks. Procurement teams therefore need a process that is fast but still protects the plant from fake or dead-on-arrival modules.

Step 1 – Capture the right identification data

• Full order number including suffix (e.g. 6ES7 315-2AG10-0AB0, 1756-L61/B, ATV71HU15N4Z).
• Hardware/firmware version from the nameplate or the engineering software (S7 “FS” and “V” fields, Rockwell series letter and firmware revision).
• Photo of the nameplate and of the module in the rack – connectors and option boards are often forgotten.
• Whether an identical part is mandatory (validated process, safety function) or a documented successor is acceptable.

Step 2 – Cross-reference before you search

Many “unobtainable” parts have a drop-in successor: 6ES7 3xx → ET 200SP/S7-1500 conversion kits, MICROMASTER 440 → SINAMICS G120C with the same footprint, PowerFlex 40 → PowerFlex 525, Altivar 71 → Altivar 930. A good supplier will tell you which successors need program changes and which are plug-and-play. Our parts catalogue lists the product family and status for each number so you can see at a glance whether you are buying the last of a discontinued line.

Step 3 – Verify authenticity in five steps

1. Supplier audit – legal entity, tax ID, physical warehouse, references in your industry. (HOANTRANTDH: tax ID 0202176937, Hai Phong; our team.)
2. Document check – original purchase trail where available, certificate of conformity, packing list that matches serials.
3. Visual and label inspection – hologram and label print quality, consistent date codes, no re-soldered components, correct weight.
4. Functional test – power-up, firmware read-out, I/O or drive test on a bench where applicable; test report sent with photos.
5. Pre-shipment record – serial numbers and photos recorded before packing, so what you receive can be matched to what was offered.

Ask for steps 3–5 before payment. A supplier who cannot show a photo of the actual unit with its serial number is selling something they do not have yet.

Step 4 – Duty, documents and transit in ASEAN

Automation parts mostly fall under HS 8537, 8538, 8504 and 8471. Goods originating in an ASEAN country ship with Form D and enter at 0 % duty under ATIGA; goods originating elsewhere (Germany, Japan, USA) pay the MFN rate, usually 0–10 % for industrial control components. VAT (Thailand 7 %, Indonesia 11 %, Malaysia SST, Philippines 12 %) is recoverable for registered companies. Express courier from Vietnam reaches Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur or Manila in a few days; the exact estimate is stated in each quotation. For urgent line-down cases, tell the supplier – priority handling and DDP delivery are normal practice.

Step 5 – New, new-in-box, refurbished or used?

Build a spares policy instead of buying in panic

Rank control systems by downtime cost, list every module type per rank-A machine, and hold one tested spare of each on site. Buying ten S7-300 CPUs today at a planned price is always cheaper than one CPU bought during a shutdown. We can run your bill of materials against our stock and return availability, condition and family status for each line – send it via the form below or to sales@hoantrantdh.com.

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