When purchasing Allen-Bradley® and Rockwell Automation products, where you buy can be just as important as what you buy.
Industrial automation equipment is part of the systems that run your machines, processes, and, in some cases, critical infrastructure. Purchasing products outside the Rockwell Automation authorized distribution network can introduce unnecessary questions about a product's authenticity, history, condition, and support.
What looks like a good deal online could ultimately expose your operation to greater safety, reliability, warranty, and cybersecurity risks.
Unauthorized sellers may advertise Allen-Bradley products as "new," "factory sealed," or covered by a "factory warranty." However, products purchased outside the authorized distribution channel may not have the traceability needed to verify those claims.
Products from unauthorized sources could potentially be:
For an industrial facility, those uncertainties can create much larger problems than simply receiving the wrong product.
Cybersecurity isn't limited to firewalls, passwords, and network monitoring. The integrity of the physical devices connected to your industrial network matters, too.
Counterfeit or modified electronic components can introduce additional cybersecurity risk because the origin, handling, and integrity of those products may be unknown.
Once a device becomes part of your industrial control system, you're trusting it to communicate with other equipment and perform as expected. Introducing hardware or firmware that cannot be properly verified adds an unnecessary variable to an environment you're working hard to secure.
For manufacturers and critical infrastructure operators, maintaining a trusted supply chain should be part of the overall cybersecurity strategy.
Cybersecurity isn't the only concern.
A product that has been previously used, improperly repaired, modified or stored incorrectly may not perform to the same standards as a genuine new product sourced through an authorized channel.
That can potentially lead to:
The initial savings from an unauthorized source can quickly disappear when an unreliable component affects production.
Another important consideration is warranty and support.
Purchasing a product that appears to be genuine does not necessarily mean it carries the warranty, licensing, or support you expect.
Buying through Rockwell Automation's authorized distribution network provides greater confidence that you're receiving genuine products backed by the appropriate manufacturer support.
It also gives you access to a local partner who understands the technology and can help when questions or problems arise.
One of the simplest steps is to know your source.
Before purchasing industrial automation equipment, consider:
Price is important—but so are authenticity, traceability, and long-term support.
Your automation system is too important to introduce an unknown risk.
As your local authorized Rockwell Automation / Allen-Bradley distributor, ES&E provides genuine products backed by the warranty, support, and confidence you expect.
When you purchase through an authorized source, you're not simply buying a component. You're protecting the reliability and integrity of the system that the component will become part of.
Know the source. Protect your operations.
Explore Rockwell Automation's resources on product authenticity and authorized sourcing to learn more about protecting your operation from counterfeit and unauthorized products.