WBA Meets with Tianjin Customs District in China

Last week, the World Bearing Association (WBA) met with the Tianjin Customs District in China to recognize their success and vigilance around stopping counterfeit bearings and begin a dialogue around working together. Representatives from SKF, Timken, NSK and Schaeffler joined more than 40 Tianjin Customs Officials at the session. American Bearing Manufacturers Association (ABMA) President Scott Lynch presided over the meeting, representing WBA President and Timken President & CEO Jim Griffith.

Are you bearing an unnecessary risk?

True story: A steel mill suspected that a non-authorized dealer had supplied a large quantity of counterfeit bearings. The mill reported that after only two or three hours of operation, the replacement bearings were performing so poorly that the mill’s maintenance team was forced to shut down the machinery, dismount the bearings and remount the older bearings. Close inspection concluded that more than 1,000 suspect bearings were, in fact, fakes.

Should We Be Concerned?

Today’s global economy coupled with a lingering recession has led to an explosion of scams and counterfeit, fake, pirated, bogus and sub-standard industrial parts. Manufacturers, trade associations, governments and law-enforcement agencies have been taking steps to stem the flow of these products into the global and U.S. supply chains. This article, based on the September 2011 UPTIME column in Maintenance Technology, by Robert “Bob” Williamson puts a spotlight on fake bearings and the dangers they pose for the maintenance and reliability community. Read more. . .

U.S. Chamber Praises Senate Action to Move Forward with PROTECT IP Act

May 26, 2011
Global Intellectual Property Center

WASHINGTON, D.C.—David Hirschmann, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual Property Center, released the following statement today commending the Senate Judiciary Committee’s unanimous passage of the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act (S. 968).
“Today’s decisive action by the Senate [...]

ICE puts the summer heat on counterfeiters

May 25, 2011
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
WASHINGTON – As the summer months begin in the United States, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is keeping the heat on counterfeiters by seizing domain names of websites used to sell counterfeit goods and illegally distribute copyrighted materials. This operation marks the fifth phase [...]

U.S. Chamber’s Global IP Center Announces New Executive Vice President

Apr 14, 2011
Global Intellectual Property Center
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC) announced today the addition of Mark Elliot as its new executive vice president. Elliot will be responsible for leading the GIPC team and its mission to protect and promote the intellectual property (IP) rights that are vital [...]

In the Fight Against Global Counterfeiting, Newly Released ANSI Report Comes Out Swinging

SOURCE American National Standards Institute
NEW YORK, May 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Counterfeiting is a growing global concern that crosses all borders and victimizes government, businesses, and consumers alike. Estimates put the economic cost to U.S. companies alone at $250 billion, and annual American job loss at 750,000. Safety risks, health issues, and the operation of [...]

Intellectural Property Rights – Fiscal Year 2010 Seizure Statistics

Intellectural Property Rights – Fiscal Year 2010 Seizure Statistics Final Report

Counterfeit spares problem now very real in the UK, says Brammer

Brammer, the UK’s leading supplier of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) products and services, has issued a fresh warning to UK industry about the problems posed by counterfeit spares – in the light of new evidence showing the threat in the UK is now very real.
A recent incident saw a total of 2.5 tonnes of [...]

Brammer warns over counterfeit spares

04/04/2011
Author Ken Hurst
Maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) products and services specialist Brammer has issued a fresh warning to UK industry about the problems posed by counterfeit spares – in the light of new evidence showing the threat in the UK is now very real.
The company quotes a recent incident that saw a total of 2.5 [...]