The World's Most Counterfeited Bearing

With all the stories flooding the industry publications and internet sites regarding counterfeit bearing seizures by various customs agencies in numerous countries around the world it has become completely apparent that one brand leads the rest in the number of such instances reported. It stands to reason that the largest bearing manufacturer in the world would also be the most counterfeited brand. If you were a counterfeiter, would you choose to counterfeit a brand that no one had heard of. I don't think that would gain a counterfeiter any advantage. It makes perfect sense that counterfeiters would choose to copy brands with a reputation for quality in order to ride the shirttails of the trademark holder to the market. According to the published published stories on the subject, SKF is the by far most counterfeited bearing on the market and has been for many years. No other brand even runs a close second.

 Here is the problem. Since it has been demonstrated that what SKF recommends as a solution (that is buying from only "authorized" sources) will not protect one from the possibility of receiving counterfeit product (as shown here), the the most prudent thing to do is to avoid altogether purchasing a brand that carries with it such a huge possibility of receiving a fake. This is particularly true since the consequences of receiving even one counterfeit can be so dangerous, if not deadly. More and more bearing users are waking up to this common-sense solution to the problem of counterfeit product: Since it is virtually impossible to determine whether or not a bearing is counterfeit, as bearing manufacturers are claiming, then avoiding heavily counterfeited brands is not only prudent, but an absolute must for those concerned with the safety of their customers. A growing number of bearing users are coming to the realization that what they once considered to be an asset (i.e. name recognition) has turned into a risk that is no longer worth taking.

A little extra time researching lesser-known brands that are never-the-less high quality can virtually eliminate the serious problems raised by the incredibly large numbers of counterfeit  bearings that have infiltrated the marketplace these days.  This will be time well spent, if just for the peace of mind it can produce, not to mention the lives it may save.