Lower cost
China BUCKET cylinder assembly are often significantly less expensive than name brand or OEM cylinders. The lower manufacturing and material costs can translate to substantially lower prices.
Comparable quality
While not always matching the highest quality cylinders, Chinese bucket cylinders have improved a lot in recent years and can provide good quality and durability for the price, especially for light to moderate duty use. Some are even manufactured in ISO 9001 certified facilities.
Increased choice
There are many more options and variations of Chinese bucket cylinders, allowing you to find the exact size, specification, and features you need. Some also offer custom or non-standard options.
Quick availability
Chinese cylinder suppliers have extensive distribution networks which allow for fast shipping times and the availability of a wide range of products. Rare or niche items are also often in stock and can ship quickly.
Upgraded features
Some Chinese bucket cylinders offer additional features like larger ports, stronger rod eyes, better sealing, upgraded pistons/seals, etc. These provide benefits over basic OEM cylinders at a lower cost.
Interchangeable
Replacing OEM or name brand cylinders with Chinese alternatives can allow for an easy like-for-like swap, using all your existing hydraulic lines, mounts, and installations. No major modifications may be needed in some cases.
However, there are some potential downsides to consider as well:
Lower quality
While quality has improved, there is more variability and lower quality options may still exist. Cylinders could fail prematurely or not perform as intended, requiring replacement.
Lack of warranty
Chinese cylinder brands typically offer little or no warranty, so there is more risk if a product proves defective or underperforms.
Difficulty obtaining specs
It can sometimes be challenging to obtain detailed specifications, drawings, or other technical information for Chinese bucket cylinders which could be needed for your application.
Fitment issues
There is a small possibility that a Chinese cylinder may not bolt up or fit properly in your equipment due to slightly different dimensions or port locations. Test fitting first is advisable when possible.