Switching linear actuator suppliers is becoming increasingly common as engineers, designers, and OEMs face rising prices, long lead times, end-of-life products, or stock shortages from their current vendors. Whether you're replacing a legacy actuator from brands like Linak, TiMOTION, Firgelli, or other OEM suppliers, factors such as specifications, build quality, and the availability of compatible alternatives requires a careful evaluation. This guide will walk you through the essential factors to consider — and how our Replacement Chart can help you find compatible alternatives quickly and confidently.
Quality & Reliability Checks (Specific to Linear Actuators)
Before switching suppliers, it’s critical to confirm the new actuator meets (or exceeds) the performance and durability of your current model. Reliable suppliers thoroughly perform actuator testing and provide data sheets with verified performance values. Key areas to evaluate include:
- Force consistency: Confirm the actuator delivers consistent force output across its entire stroke.
- IP ratings: Ensure adequate protection for dust, moisture, or washdown environments.
- Noise level: Important for customer-facing applications in home, medical, or office automation.
- Mechanical design & build materials: Check the leadscrew type, housing, bearings, and overall build quality.
- Duty cycle: Verify that the duty cycle of an actuator can operate for the required duration to avoid overheating.
- Warranty terms: A reputable supplier should offer clear, reliable warranty coverage.
Spec Compatibility: The Most Important Part of Switching
Even small mismatches — such as stroke length tolerance, operating current, or connector style — can prevent units from becoming equivalent actuator models with seamless integration. Doing a few measurements and inspecting the labeled stickers, if available on the original actuator, can help confirm the specifications your linear actuator alternatives must meet. Focus on the following:
- Force rating: Refers to how much load the actuator can handle. Dynamic force is when the load is in motion, while static force is when the load is stationary.
- Stroke length: Shaft travel distance calculated by subtracting the fully closed hole-to-hole (H2H) length from the fully open H2H length of the actuator.
- Voltage: Typically, 12 VDC or 24 VDC for brushed DC motor operation is commonly found. Higher voltage tends to require lower current draw and can work with thinner wires.
- Speed: Measured by the distance travelled over a period (example: inches/second), usually depends on the force rating options an actuator has been configured for.
- Connector type: Plug variation located at the end of the cable wires for plug-and-play capabilities with the compatible wire harnesses.
- Mounting style: Method of holding the actuator in place for understanding bracket compatibility.
- Control systems: Operational means of actuator movement. Positional feedback is required for greater accuracy and advanced capabilities such as synchronization.
When doing your actuator cross-reference, look for linear actuator alternatives that match the critical specifications of your existing model to ensure proper operation. Specifications such as force and speed ratings can usually be equal to or higher than the original model actuator, since a higher force ensures sufficient lift capacity, while speed can always be slowed down using speed controllers.
Pricing & Total Cost Savings
Switching to suppliers that align with your values often leads to significant cost improvements over time. A higher value supplier doesn’t just offer lower upfront costs— they also offer lower total project and maintenance costs over the entire lifecycle. Consider suppliers that can offer values such as:
- Cost-effective actuators: Over time, costs are greatly dependent on the price relative to product customization capabilities, performance, and value
- Product durability: Fewer replacements result in better long-term time and cost savings, avoiding production downtime
- Supplier transparency: Ensure services such as customizations and shipping are not charged as hidden fees
- Warranty: Strong indicator of reliable products with technical and customer support for troubleshooting and aftermarket assistance
Lead Times & Stock Availability
Stable inventory isn’t just convenient—it’s essential for long-term planning. When a supplier has long actuator lead times—or provides vague delivery estimates—the impact quickly ripples through a project. Production lines may stall, R&D teams are forced to pause prototyping, and service departments struggle to complete repairs or warranty replacements. These delays increase costs, extend project timelines, and negatively affect customer satisfaction.
Choosing a supplier with a reliable, consistent inventory of your actuator in stock helps eliminate these risks. Look for suppliers who maintain in-stock availability for their most used actuator models, offer predictable restocking cycles, and provide real-time inventory visibility so you always know what’s ready to ship. Expedited fulfillment options and strategically located warehouses can further reduce downtime, especially when urgent replacements are needed.
Support & Engineering Assistance
Strong actuator tech support is invaluable when switching actuator brands. This is especially important when replacing actuators across different mounting styles or transitioning between brushed and brushless motors, Hall effect feedback, or upgraded control systems. A dependable supplier should offer:
- Selection help for equivalent replacement models
- Wiring diagrams/guides
- Detailed datasheets
- 3D models & drawings
- Troubleshooting engineering support
Switching to a Stable Supplier
Supplier stability ensures the models you adopt today will still be supported years into the future — essential for OEM production and repeat servicing. Beyond immediate compatibility, consider the long-term supply partners with a dependable track record that will offer stability and reliability. Evaluate their:
- Manufacturing capacity
- Consistency of product availability
- Long-term product lineup
- Customer track record and reviews
FAQ Block
How do I find an equivalent linear actuator when switching suppliers?
Compare stroke, force, speed, voltage, and mounting style. Our Replacement Chart matches these values automatically to help you find the closest compatible model.
Can I replace a Linak or TiMOTION actuator with another brand?
Yes — as long as the key specifications and mounting requirements match. Many Progressive Automations actuators are designed to serve as drop-in alternatives.
What specs should match when choosing an actuator alternative?
The most critical specs to match are:
- Force rating
- Stroke length
- Travel speed
- Voltage
- Feedback options
- Ingress protection rating
Does switching suppliers require system modifications?
Not always. If connectors or mounting brackets differ, minor adjustments may be required — but control compatibility can often be maintained for actuators using 2-wire operated brushed DC motors.
How do I know if a replacement actuator is compatible with my mounting and control system?
Check the mounting hole size, bracket dimensions, control box feedback type, operational voltage, and current draw. Our engineering support team can help verify our product specifications.
IN SUMMARY
A detailed understanding of what you need from linear actuator alternatives is critical for ensuring you find suppliers that can offer equivalent actuator models for your use cases. Through careful consideration and thorough research, correctly switching linear actuator suppliers can often help shorten lead times, boost cost savings, and enhance overall value.
As one of the top actuator and motion control suppliers in the world, Progressive Automations offers industry-leading flexibility, quality, support, and field experience to meet all your needs. If you have any other questions about what we can offer, please do not hesitate to reach out to us! We are experts in what we do and want to ensure you find the best solutions for your application.
sales@progressiveautomations.com | 1-800-676-6123