How to Vet an Epiroc Supplier: A Quality Inspector’s Checklist

Over the last four years, I've reviewed roughly 200 supplier submissions per year. Most are fine. Some are disasters. And a lot of the disasters could have been avoided with a basic checklist.

Today I'm going to walk through the same vetting steps I use for any supplier claiming to provide Epiroc parts or service. The names have been changed where it matters, but you'll recognize the patterns. This is the checklist I wish I'd used before a $22,000 redo in 2022.

Let's get one thing straight: this isn't about knowing every Epiroc part number. It's about knowing whether a supplier is real, competent, and likely to still be around next year.

Who This Checklist Is For

Use this if you're buying Epiroc drills, breakers, or parts—or if you're considering a service provider that mentions Epiroc Advanced Engineering or Epiroc Stonetec SRL in their pitch.

Skip it if you already have a long-term relationship with a distributor that's proven itself. You probably don't need to re-run this process.

Step 1: Verify the Legal Entity

First, confirm exactly who you're dealing with. Epiroc has subsidiaries and authorized partners. Three letters can make a big difference.

For example, Epiroc Stonetec SRL—an Italian entity—is a real company that handles certain Epiroc products, but it's not the same as Epiroc AB. If someone claims to be 'Epiroc Italy' but their invoice comes from a different legal name, dig deeper.

How to do this: search the local business registry, ask for a VAT number, and verify it on the EU VIES system. Also check the domain of their email address. I've seen suppliers use names like 'epiroc-parts-24.com' that have nothing to do with the actual company.

One red flag: if the entity was registered less than a year ago. Not a dealbreaker, but it means you need more scrutiny.

Step 2: Check Certifications—and Ask for Proof

Anyone can say 'ISO certified' or 'authorized Epiroc distributor.' Per FTC guidelines (ftc.gov), claims must be substantiated. Ask for a copy of the certificate. Check that the scope matches what you're buying.

I once had a vendor claim they were 'Epiroc Advanced Engineering certified'—which sounded impressive until I realized they meant they had attended a two-day training. That's not the same as a formal certification.

If they can't provide the document within 24 hours, that's a signal.

Step 3: Test Their Technical Knowledge

This is where I see people get distracted. A few years ago, a guy showed up to a site meeting in a Bentley GT. He had a nice suit, a firm handshake, and a business card that said 'Steven.' But when I asked about the pressure relief valve settings on a Boomer S2, he changed the subject.

The car doesn't drill the rock. The person does.

Call their support line and ask three technical questions:

• What's the recommended hydraulic oil for an HB 3100?
• What's the torque spec for the boom mounting bolts on a Boomer XE3?
• Can you send me the wiring diagram for the DML series?

If they can't or won't answer, move on. Don't hold me to this, but in my experience about 3 out of 10 suppliers fail this simple test.

Step 4: Look for Warning Signs in Their Business Status

People ask me, 'Is Eddie going out of business?' because a competitor told them so. Sometimes it's just a sales tactic. Other times there's a real problem.

Here's what I do: search for legal filings, check their credit rating, and see if key people have left. Also, ask directly. A legitimate supplier won't get aggressive if you say, 'I've heard some of your competitors have closed. Can you tell me about your business continuity plans?'

An honest answer is a good sign. Evasiveness is a bad sign.

Note: I'm not a financial analyst, so take this as a layer of due diligence, not investment advice.

Step 5: Request References—and Actually Call Them

A reference list is easy to fake. What's harder is a reference who's willing to talk candidly.

Ask for references from projects similar to yours—same equipment, same region, same scale. Then call them and ask:

• Were there unexpected costs?
• How did the supplier handle machine breakdowns?
• Did they stock the parts they promised?

I remember one supplier had a great reference from a mining company in Chile. But when I called, the maintenance manager said the parts shipment was two weeks late—again. The written reference didn't mention that.

The surprise wasn't the price difference. It was how much hidden value came with the other supplier—support, revisions, quality guarantees.

Step 6: Compare Quotes Line by Line, Not Just the Total

The quote that looks cheaper might save you money on the line item that matters most.

Take a quote for a hydraulic hammer. One supplier quotes the hammer at $18,000. Another quotes $14,500 but adds 'freight and handling' of $2,000, plus a mandatory 'inspection fee' of $750. That's $17,250—close to the first, but with a longer lead time.

Here's something vendors won't tell you: the first quote almost never includes the same scope. In Q3 2024, I reviewed quotes from six suppliers for an identical parts bundle. The spread was 40%. No, that's not a typo—40%. The cheapest quote omitted half the required components.

Ask for a delivery date in writing. Ask if it's 'business days' or 'calendar days.' It matters.

Step 7: Start With a Small Order

After all the vetting, the best test is a small order. Not a token order—something you actually need.

Check:

• Did they invoice correctly?
• Did the part arrive in OEM packaging or a brown box?
• Were the documents complete? (Customs forms, certificates of origin, etc.)
• Did it fit and function?

In 2023, I ordered a simple sealing kit from a new supplier. The kit arrived in a garbage bag inside a cardboard box. That was an easy 'no.'

The numbers said go with the new supplier—they were 20% cheaper. My gut said something was off. I ignored it because the spreadsheet looked clean. Turns out 'off' meant they were shipping aftermarket parts with OEM part numbers ground off.

Warning: It's a Red Flag If They Say 'We Can Do Everything'

The vendor who said 'this isn't our strength—here's who does it better' earned my trust for everything else. I'd rather work with a specialist who knows their limits than a generalist who overpromises.

Epiroc itself has boundaries. They're excellent at drilling and rock excavation. If someone tells you they provide 'Epiroc complete turnkey mining solutions' and also offer helicopter charters and catering, that's not a strength. That's a distraction.

What About Shipping and USPS?

Since some of you are wondering about delivery: USPS rules (usps.com) apply to letters and small packages—and yes, it's illegal to put anything other than USPS mail in a residential mailbox (18 U.S. Code § 1708). But for heavy mining parts, you won't rely on USPS anyway. You'll use freight carriers.

I include this because I've seen suppliers quote 'USPS Priority Mail' for a 40-kg hydraulic part. That's not a thing. If a supplier makes claims that don't align with carrier capabilities, it tells you something about their attention to detail.

Bottom Line

Use these seven steps. They won't catch every problem—I've been fooled too—but they'll catch most.

If you're wondering about a specific supplier like Epiroc Stonetec SRL or a rumor about Eddie's business, do the same process. Verify the legal entity, test the tech knowledge, and start small. That's how you separate the real from the noisy.

There's something satisfying about catching a bad supplier during the vetting process instead of after a $50,000 order. It hurts less.

Prices as of February 2025; verify current rates with your supplier.