Fight the fakes: Counterfeit NSK bearings haul seized

30 August 2022  

The worldwide fight against fake parts saw a win in South Africa recently, with the discovery of a haul of counterfeit NSK bearings in Johannesburg.

A police search and seizure operation initiated by NSK in the city led to the confiscation of thousands of replica bearings worth an estimated R5 million (£251,000). Both criminal and civil proceedings are now underway against suspects who are set to receive a court summons.

A spokesman for NSK said: “Due to its market reputation for quality, founded on over a century of engineering excellence, NSK has become a target brand for counterfeiters. However, the company’s Global Aftermarket department continues to protect the company’s brand image, working closely with local authorities around the world. Fake bearings not only ‘dupe’ end users into thinking they are purchasing quality products at reduced prices, they carry the risk of premature and potentially dangerous failure.

“In the interest of self-protection against the dangers of fake industrial bearings, the advice is to always buy from authorised NSK distributors. There are of course some tell-tale signs that can help customers to identify a fake bearing. Aside from a price that looks too good to be true, look out for packaging that features the incorrect logo, markings, branding, stickers, holograms, bar coding or manufacturer codes/dates. Also, check whether the bearing carries the correct part number etching. Poor machining quality is another giveaway of bogus bearings.”

Another option is to download the World Bearings Association (WBA) app. With it, scan the barcode on the packaging to confirm the authenticity of the bearings.

NSK’s spokesman added: “If an NSK bearing does not carry a code – not all products have one yet – but there is a suspicion of counterfeiting, please contact NSK immediately.”

To download the WBA app, go to: www.stopfakebearings.com