FAG, a member of the Schaeffler Group, is warning that a flood of counterfeit bearings are making their way to the marketplace under the banner of known, quality brands.

In an attempt to protect its customers from unknowingly purchasing counterfeits, FAG has commissioned biotech company identif to develop a forgery-proof protection device for a range of its rolling bearings.

FAG rolling bearings are known for their superior quality but, in comparison, inferior counterfeit products, which are produced mainly in Asia, hold considerable safety risks. Due to their poor quality, fake bearings incur high costs in the form of machine downtime, damaged machine components, repairs and damage investigations - all of which results in customer complaints and warranty claims.

"To protect both our customers and our reputation suffering from the unknowing purchase of inferior forgeries, we sought to develop a product signature that efficiently guards our bearings against counterfeiting," says Kate Hartigan, INA FAG UK managing director.

The customised product mark is based on a nano-optical seal and offers durability as well as high resistance to external influences such as heat. In the event of any future damage claims, it can also be used as evidence in court, even after several years of bearing operation.

Since the signature is applied directly to the bearings rather than to the packaging as is usually the case, it offers maximum protection against counterfeiting. Measuring only 4mm in diameter, the signature mark turns from red to green, depending on the angle of view.

Mrs Hartigan concludes: "Roller bearings are safety-critical products, which means they must pass industry-standard quality inspections before they can be introduced to the market. However, the same cannot be said of the cheap counterfeits coming from the rolling bearing bazaars in Damascus, Dubai or Bombay, which are becoming a growing threat within the UK.

"While the issue of counterfeit bearing products is of growing concern to INA FAG, it is also of increasing concern to other UK bearing manufacturers, which is why I have raised the subject with the Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturers Association. We hope to be able to draw up a joint statement which we will use to lobby the UK Government to look more closely at the problem and to take the necessary steps to tackle the issue with the offending countries."

In the meantime, INA FAG advises that customers use authorised distribution channels or deal directly with the INA FAG sales company to ensure products are legitimate and bring the highest quality and safety.

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