European counterfeit bearings seized

London – Police have seized 6,500 counterfeit bearings, imported to Sweden and packaged as SKF products, reports Brammer, a UK supplier of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) products and services. The incident, it said, is a warning to UK manufacturers about the dangers of buying components and products through unauthorised sources.

The probability of receiving counterfeit spares increases significantly if a company is not vigilant about where it is sourcing its products from, said Jeremy Salisbury, head of marketing at Brammer. He adds that the only way to guarantee that genuine parts are being received is to buy through an authorised distributor.

“Counterfeit parts may look identical to the real thing but that is where the similarities end,” commented Salisbury. “They may have a lower initial purchase cost, but the potential costs that can be incurred down the line far outweigh any initial savings achieved. They are likely to fail more quickly, leading to unplanned downtime with all the costly ramifications that can create.

“Meanwhile, extreme cases have seen counterfeit bearings cause extensive damage to machinery, with manufacturers unable to claim through either their warranty or insurance as they have not used a genuine spare part.

Brammer’s marketing chief also points out that buying and using counterfeit products can pose serious heath & safety risks posed to employees, especially production operatives. Companies, he warns, will be liable for both legal and medical costs if a member of staff is injured as a result of an incident caused by a counterfeit product.

“Quite simply, buying through unauthorised sources is a risk not worth taking for any company which is serious about maintaining plant operational effectiveness, production line integrity and, even more importantly, employee health and safety,” Salisbury concludes.