VAT Vacuum Parts & Components

Both, and the listing says which. Items whose name carries Compatible, Alternative or Substitute are aftermarket parts and carry a COMPATIBLE PART badge on the page; the rest are sourced as branded parts. Where we can offer the same part number in both, the aftermarket version typically runs 1.8 to 4.7 times cheaper — the median across the pairs on this site is about 2.5 times. Every formal quotation states the source and whether the item is genuine or compatible, so you are never guessing at the point of purchase.

Yes — pump model plus a photo of the old part is usually enough. Most listings here carry a Fits field naming the pump families the item serves, so we match from the pump model backwards to the part number rather than the other way round. What speeds it up: the nameplate photo (model and serial), a photo of the removed part including its connections, and the quantity. What slows it down: a part number transcribed by hand, because VAT numbers differ by a single digit between sizes that look identical.

Fit is confirmed against the pump model before the quotation goes out, not after you order. The failure mode worth knowing about: within one part-number family the kit contents often differ by pump size — a tip-seal set for a 6 m³/h scroll pump and one for a 15 m³/h pump can share a family number but not the same seals. That is why we ask for the full pump model rather than just the series, and why a quotation naming your exact pump is worth more than a part number pasted from a supplier list.

Some items carry a confirmed lead time on the page — In Stock, or Order with a number of weeks. Where the page says Lead time on quote, it means exactly that: we have not verified availability for that item yet and will not print a number we have not checked. Lead time is confirmed against the supplier at quotation time, together with the part-number match, and then written into the formal quotation. If a date matters to your shutdown, say so in the enquiry — it changes which source we go to.

No — we are an independent supplier, and brand names on this site identify compatibility, not affiliation. What that means in practice: we are not bound to one maker's price list, so we can put a genuine part and a compatible one side by side and let you choose on price and lead time. What it also means: warranty on branded items follows the source we buy from, and every quotation states that source explicitly rather than leaving it implied. If your procurement requires an authorised channel, say so up front and we will tell you plainly whether we can serve that requirement.