Automotive giant SKF reports that it has participated in three simultaneous raids against retailers of counterfeit bearings in China. The raids, which were led by Chinese police, resulted in the seizure of counterfeit bearings which may otherwise have been sold to industrial customers and end-users.
‘Counterfeit products are often associated with luxury and consumer brands, but they are also a problem for industrial customers in almost all regions,’ said Tina Astrom, director, group brand protection. ‘Although the sale of counterfeit bearings is a problem in China, Chinese law enforcement is very proactive and supported by a legal framework that enables taking action against counterfeiters.
‘Amongst the seized goods, there was a counterfeit large-size cylindrical roller bearing. The bearing had severe visible damage, suggesting that it had not been able to meet the performance needs of the machine in which it was installed. The damage was so severe, the failure of the counterfeit bearing would most likely have created substantial damage to its surrounding machinery, resulting in unplanned production downtime and financial implications for the end-user.’
This story is reprinted from material from SKF, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.