News

WBA Meets with Tianjin Customs District in China

wbaeditor — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:12:24 +0000

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. Read More

Are you bearing an unnecessary risk?

wbaeditor — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:09:46 +0000

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. Read More

Should We Be Concerned?

wbaeditor — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:47:16 +0000

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

wbaeditor — Tue, 31 May 2011 15:39:35 +0000

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 Judiciary Committee to approve the PROTECT IP Act sends a clear message that rogue sites—those devoted to the sale of counterfeit goods or distribution of pirated content—have no place in the legitimate marketplace. We commend Chairman Leahy and the committee for taking a firm stance in defense of American jobs, consumer safety, and a vibrant Internet. Read More….

ICE puts the summer heat on counterfeiters

wbaeditor — Tue, 31 May 2011 15:34:36 +0000

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 of “Operation In Our Sites,” a sustained law enforcement initiative aimed at counterfeiting and piracy over the Internet. Read More…..

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

wbaeditor — Wed, 11 May 2011 18:17:47 +0000

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 to creating jobs, growing the economy, and enhancing U.S. competitiveness.

“Mark’s unique combination of project and people management skills, experience in building support for intellectual property globally, and strong public affairs communications track record will help us build on GIPC’s strong track record of success,” said David Hirschmann, president and CEO of the GIPC. Read More….

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

wbaeditor — Wed, 11 May 2011 18:12:25 +0000

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 dangerous criminal enterprises make counterfeiting even more damaging to people around the world.

In an effort to identify and communicate cross-sector solutions to this global challenge, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has published a free report, Best Practices in the Fight against Global Counterfeiting: An Action Guide to Strengthen Cooperation and Collaboration across Industry Sectors and among Global Supply Chains. The document is now available as a free download on ANSI’s website. Read More…

Intellectural Property Rights – Fiscal Year 2010 Seizure Statistics

wbaeditor — Tue, 03 May 2011 14:30:26 +0000

Intellectural Property Rights – Fiscal Year 2010 Seizure Statistics Final Report

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

wbaeditor — Tue, 03 May 2011 14:27:41 +0000

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 counterfeit SKF bearings seized by Trading Standards officers from a non-authorised SKF bearing distributor in the UK. Read More…

Brammer warns over counterfeit spares

wbaeditor — Tue, 03 May 2011 14:26:58 +0000

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 tonnes of counterfeit SKF bearings seized by trading standards officers from a non-authorised SKF bearing distributor in the UK. Read More….