How we verify every order

Part of our buyer trust programme:About us·Procurement·Shipping & returns

As an independent industrial automation distributor, AO Ctrl does not receive parts directly from manufacturer production lines. We source obsolete and hard-to-find parts across various channels in the global supply chain — surplus stock, allocation re-sellers, end-of-life specialists, and authorized channel overstock. Because provenance varies, we apply the same quality discipline to every line: screen, document, and decline anything we cannot stand behind.

Incoming inspection — every line, every time

Before any part enters our consolidation queue, it passes through a documented inspection checklist. No exceptions — not for repeat suppliers, not for sealed factory packaging, not for rush orders.

Authenticity screening

Counterfeit automation parts — relays, contactors, breakers, drives — are a known risk in the independent channel. Our inspection process is built around the patterns we see in this market:

• Marking consistency — re-marked parts almost always show inconsistencies in font, alignment, or depth. We compare every line to the manufacturer datasheet reference image when available.
• Packaging mismatch — a Schneider breaker in Siemens-style packaging, a mismatched country-of-origin label, or a date code that predates the series introduction — these are caught at step 1 and quarantined.
• Supplier vetting — we qualify suppliers on transaction history, not on a one-time checklist. Suppliers with any suspect material in their history are removed from the pool.
• Decline, don't guess— if we cannot document a line's channel to our satisfaction, we decline it and tell you why. We do not ship undocumented material and hope for the best.

ESD & moisture-sensitive device handling

All parts are handled in an ESD-protected environment. Moisture-sensitive devices (MSL 3 and above) are packed in moisture-barrier bags with desiccant and humidity indicator cards. ESD-safe packaging is standard on every shipment — not an optional add-on.

• ESD-safe workstations, grounding, and packing materials throughout
• Moisture-barrier bags for MSL-rated parts with HIC included
• Reels and trays sealed and labeled — no loose parts in generic bags

Photo QC — before the box closes

Every line in your order is photographed and checked against your BOM before the shipment is sealed. The photos are part of our dispatch record. If you want them, ask — they're free and included on request.

• Part number and quantity visible in every frame
• Lot and date codes captured where legible
• Packaging condition documented — dents, tears, or opened seals noted
• Shortages or discrepancies flagged before you pay, not after you receive

Supplier qualification

We do not source from open-market listings or anonymous trading platforms. Every supplier in our network is qualified through:

• Transaction history — minimum documented order history before a new supplier graduates from trial to regular status
• Channel disclosure — we ask where the parts came from, and we record the answer on your quotation
• Ongoing monitoring — any suspect material, undisclosed refurbishment, or pattern of discrepancy = immediate removal

Condition-graded listings

Every listing is graded on two independent axes, and we state both instead of implying one blanket grade:

• Lifecycle— Active, NRND, Last Buy, or Obsolete (end-of-life), taken from the manufacturer's lifecycle data where it is available.
• Physical condition— shown as a badge on each product page: Factory New · New Surplus (Open Box) · Refurbished & Bench-Tested · Used (Clean Pull).

Refurbished & bench-tested units are power-on tested under load before dispatch; we send the short test video and photographs ahead of shipping, and they carry our stated warranty. New and new-surplus lines ship with their sourcing channel documented on the quotation. Used clean-pull units are inspected, photographed and shipped as-pulled — if you want the exact unit verified on video before you pay, just ask.

What we do not do

Being honest about our limits is as much a quality signal as listing our capabilities:

• We are not an authorized distributor for any manufacturer we list, and we do not imply manufacturer warranty coverage. Our warranty is our own — stated on every quotation.
• We do not perform board-level component repair (reflow, chip replacement) or re-mark used units as new. "Refurbished" on our listings means tested and verified by us, never cosmetically re-marked or relabelled.
• We do not operate a certified electrical test laboratory. Bench testing of used and refurbished units is functional power-on verification with video proof; where your program requires X-ray, decapsulation, or certified conformance testing, we arrange third-party testing at cost — and we will not claim to have performed tests we did not perform.
• We do not ship undocumented material. A line we cannot trace is a line we decline.

Traceability & documentation

Every order ships with:

• A packing list matching your BOM line by line
• Lot and date codes recorded where available from the supplier
• Country of origin as stated by the supplier at time of sourcing
• Channel type noted on the quotation (authorized overstock, surplus, allocation re-seller)

If your compliance program requires specific documentation — certificates of conformance, test reports, or chain-of-custody records — tell us before we source. We will tell you honestly what we can and cannot provide for each line.

After-sales

Warranty and dispute terms are stated on your quotation. Refurbished units carry the warranty shown there; if an item arrives damaged or not as graded, contact us and we will resolve it under those terms. Returns are RMA-backed with a written order reference. See our Shipping & returns page for the full policy.