SPARES & ACCESSORIES FANS
To give an idea of the scale of the problem, it was estimated that the number of counterfeit ‘Bitzer’ products sold in Asia at the time was equivalent to one third of all genuine Bitzer product” sales. Across German engineering industry as a whole, the losses from counterfeits were put at around €8bn a year, according to engineering association VDMA. The problem of counterfeiting also extends to refrigeration oils. This is a particular concern, as low quality, badly formulated lubricants can quickly damage a compressor and result in complete failure. Examples of counterfeit compressor oils, carrying an illegally-used Bitzer logo, have cropped up in a number of regions, including Vietnam and Korea. Direct action taken by Bitzer includes intervention to ensure
removal of suspect companies from trade shows in the US, Germany and elsewhere, where clear infringements were on display.
In the UK, the problem is more likely to focus on spares and components supplied via so-called grey channels. This involves products being supplied into a market through unoffi cial, unauthorised routes. This carries a number of risks for companies sourcing components. If people buy from an unauthorised or unoffi cial source, either a ‘bricks-and-mortar’ supplier or via the internet, by law the warranty has to be supported by the contractual route of supply.
In the event of an issue, this could leave the buyer exposed,
as there may not be the same level of technical knowledge or responsibility exercised by the unoffi cial supplier. In the case of an internet purchase, it may be even harder to secure a satisfactory outcome. A further risk of sourcing parts through unoffi cial channels is that use of non-authorised or counterfeit parts invalidates the warranty on a compressor.
To help contractors identify genuine products, we have
introduced security identifi cation for Bitzer compressors. This uses QR codes on packaging and the compressors themselves that installers can quickly scan to check authenticity. It can also be used to access relevant technical information and support material. For replacement parts, the strong advice is – only use genuine components and oils purchased from Bitzer UK or our offi cial BAND distributors. As with a high-performance car, every component in a
compressor contributes to its power consumption, noise level, reliability and life expectancy. If you adopt the wise custodian attitude of a proud vehicle owner, you will get the best out of your beautifully engineered refrigeration equipment, and your customers will thank you.
For example, Bitzer’s head offi ce reported that at one stage it was monitoring no fewer than 14 Chinese companies suspected of producing fake
compressors, mainly for sale in Asia.
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www.acr-news.com • July 2024 27
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