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TO ASSURE AUTHENTICATION ALWAYS PURCHASE THROUGH AN AUTHORIZED CHANNEL

NSK has partnered withthe World Bearing Association (WBA) and its efforts against counterfeiting globally. The first way to protect yourself from counterfeit bearings is to ALWAYS purchase through an Authorized Distributor channel. For OEM purchase please make sure you are working with an authorized NSK channel partner. 

 

HOW TO IDENTIFY AUTHENTIC NSK BEARINGS

The only way to assure you are receiving authentic NSK product is to purchase through an authorized source however, there are a few key things to look for if you are concerned about counterfeit bearings.

  • Are the markings similar to standard manufacturer markings?
  • Are there any markings at all?
  • Inspect rolling elements and raceways. Look for rough finishes and abnormal roller appearance.
  • Are there markings on different areas of the bearing than normal?
  • Is the product wrapped in appropriate shipping material?
  • Examine the Bearing Carton.
  • Is the packaging similar to other packaging?
  • Are the crates quality shipping crates?
  • Do they have proper markings?
  • Are the logo markings genuine?
  • Examine the Outer Shipping Cartons
  • Look at the pallet configuration and container load
  • Compare manufacturer country with shipment country

YOU ARE NOT GETTING WHAT YOU PAID FOR

Counterfeit products do not come with the quality and warranty of genuine parts.

Not only are you not getting what you paid for, but faulty and non-genuine bearings can degrade and fail quickly. At best, this will only lead to equipment downtime and repair.

Counterfeit bearings can cause shutdowns in mills and production facilities, serious auto accidents and even loss of human lives.

In addition, a faulty, counterfeit bearing may have legal consequences for you as a buyer and/or distributor.

One fake bearing could, in fact, break your business. Is it worth it?

WORLD BEARING ASSOCIATION (WBA) AND THE WORLD CAMPAIGN AGAINST COUNERFEITING

In the last two decades, counterfeiting in general has grown by 10,000 percent globally. While there has been much reporting about consumers being taken advantage of by counterfeits in music, film, home electronics and designer clothing, a far greater risk lies in industrial counterfeiting of items such as tires, seals and bearings. All these products are safety-critical and fake versions pose a real threat. 
As a result, the World Bearing Association (WBA) has launched an awareness campaign to inform about safety hazards arising from counterfeit bearings. “Our initiative is aimed at sensitizing the public on the dangers associated with counterfeits,” says James W. Griffith, WBA president and president and chief executive officer of The Timken Company. “The WBA is thus intensifying its anti-counterfeiting initiatives – that means information for customers on the one hand and consistent prosecution of offenders through the competent authorities on the other.” 
The WBA anti-counterfeiting information campaign will reach out to various audiences over the next three years through e-mails, Web banners, social media and the campaign site, www.stopfakebearings.com. At the site, interested consumers can learn more about counterfeiting and about what branded-bearing manufacturers are doing to stop it. 
“Bearings support our daily life, although we can not see them. If counterfeit bearings find their way into our customers’ products, it will not only afflict the product reliability, but it may also damage the safety of our customers’ products. This can cause an immediate threat to our feeling of security and safety in our daily life. What is more, fake bearings betray our customers’ expectations and their trust in our NSK brand, which we have been building up carefully for almost 100 years. In order to keep our commitment to our customers all over the world to guarantee their safety and security, NSK participates actively in the WBA campaign to stop product counterfeiting,” says Norio Otsuka, NSK President and CEO. 
Counterfeiting also violates intellectual property, such as patents and trademarks. Because counterfeits look like and are marketed like genuine, premium-brand products, it usually takes a trained expert to identify them. Law enforcement and the concerned brand manufacturer may be contacted.
Premium manufacturers invest continuously to develop their technology and improve the quality and value of their products. Please visit www.stopfakebearings.com to learn more. 
About the World Bearing Association

Report IP Theft

Report IP Theft

If you suspect counterfeit bearings please report counterfeit concerns to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center.