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If stainless steel lasts five times longer but costs the same as mild steel, then… what was the question?
If you bought high quality 304 stainless steel aftermarket components to replace the worn carbon steel parts on your JD drill, you would expect to pay more, wouldn’t you? False, according to Romafa.
“Many of our stainless steel replacement parts cost the same as OEM steel parts directly from John Deere or other manufacturers,†Romafa representative Jim Kinnaman said in a telephone interview.
Romafa Metal Works, located near Arborg, Manitoba, was launched in 2012. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of replacement components for air distribution systems, using stainless steel .
“A 304 stainless steel has a much higher nickel content. This is why a replacement component lasts about five times that of the original carbon steel. The big plus is that a lot of our prices are very similar to what John Deere would charge. We offer competitive prices on Flexi-Coil, CaseIH, New Holland and Morris parts.
Kinnaman says that depending on the fertilizer going through the seeding equipment, some of these OEM parts are ready to be replaced after just a few years. He says if you want to make those original parts last, you need to clean every plot of fertilizer before storage. This fertilizer mixes with the condensation and only eats away at the metal.
Although all Romafa aftermarket parts are a direct swap with the original component, some reengineering has been done on the function and performance of the new part, even those designed for much older trolleys. Where there were small problems in the OEM part, they disappeared from the Romafa replacement.
On meter housings for example, the design of a new part retains all of the functions of the original, including cleaning the OEM hopper. However, a smoother internal design and manufacture makes cleaning easier. The welds are pacified or pickled to maintain the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel. An example of component improvement is the improved meter seal which eliminates back pressure.
Kinnaman adds, “We have PVC that connects to our stainless steel with a very tight fit in our air system. On the John Deere, they have corrosion which allowed air to enter. This creates a vacuum which siphons the product. If your cart was stationary and not sowing and your fan was running, it would suck up the seeds and spit them out on the ground even if your meter was not measuring.
“If you plant canola and it runs out into the yard, it’s a costly mistake. It’s a little, little seed. It siphons very easily. We have added a seal that prevents this siphoning.
“The original John Deere part had a plastic disconnect, which didn’t work for very long. Simply replacing that plastic with stainless steel makes it easier for the farmer to switch to one side or the other when that’s what he wants to do.
The company name Romafa comes from the use of the first two letters of Ronald and the name of his wife Marcela and family.
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