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Fake product awareness for Brazilian distribution customers

Symbolic destruction of counterfeit bearings to increases knowledge and awareness about the counterfeit – but still many misconceptions

Cajamar, Brazil. In May SKF arranged a destruction event where representatives from our authorized distributors witnessed the symbolical destruction of counterfeit SKF products.

All six tonnes of counterfeit goods where seized when SKF Group Brand Protection supported the police Rio de Janeiro during a raid against a non-authorised supplier of rolling bearings in November 2014. Criminal proceedings has finally come to an end and the court has classified the seized goods as counterfeit, hence ordering the destruction. SKF took the opportunity to create some awareness about the problem.

SKF Management in  Brazil, explains: “Counterfeit products are often associated with luxury and consumer brands, but they are also a problem for industrial customers in almost all regions. Brazil is no exception. We want to help our customers understand the risks of counterfeit bearings”.

During the event an SKF Authenticate app contest was arranged. Using the app is the best way to contact SKF to have suspect products verified. In three simple steps you can enter and submit all necessary information needed for Group Brand Protection to make a product verification. All participants had to download the app, take pictures of the displayed counterfeit products and submit their verification request. In addition to product pictures they were also instructed to take a selfie so that we could announce the winner!

“We wanted all of them to experience how easy it is to contact SKF if they encounter any doubt about a products authenticity,” says SKF Brazil Distribution Development Manager.