Are You Putting Your Business at Risk?
Imagine a critical machine griding to a halt, production lines stalling, or worse, an accident occurring on the factory floor. What if the root cause wasn’t a manufacturing defect or an aging component, but a deceptive fake? In today’s interconnected global marketplace, the threat of counterfeit industrial parts is more prevalent than ever, silently infiltrating supply chains and posing severe risks to businesses worldwide.
The following insights are drawn from an official SKF news report, shedding light on the pervasive nature of this dangerous issue and the proactive measures being taken to combat it:
The Pervasive Problem of Counterfeits
The concerning increase in fake goods on business-to-business (B2B) platforms is becoming more than simply an annoyance; it is a quickly worsening worldwide catastrophe. Companies frequently run their operations without realizing they are utilizing counterfeit parts, which puts them at serious danger. Without knowing the true quality and origin of critical components like bearings, machinery reliability can plummet, jeopardizing worker health and safety, and ultimately inflating operational costs far beyond initial purchase prices.
This insidious problem spans nearly every industry. According to estimates from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a startling 3.3% of all online cross-border sales are fake. The counterfeit trade, which is estimated to be worth €427 billion (US$509 billion), is a huge threat to both legal firms and the world economy.
While many consumers are savvy enough to recognize the risk of fakes when buying luxury items—think clothing, accessories, footwear, cosmetics, and electronics—the industrial sector faces a far more perilous reality. Here, counterfeits don’t just cause headaches for manufacturers; they lead to immeasurable losses and, often, extreme danger.
Consider Sweden, where almost 1,000 sets of fake bearings were found by customs. This episode serves as a sobering reminder of the scope of the issue; it is not an isolated one.
SKF’s Proactive Battle Against Fakes
For more than ten years, SKF has led the battle in recognition of this escalating threat. They set up a specific team to educate and increase awareness of unethical suppliers and teach employees and consumers how to spot and avoid them. To get rid of counterfeit SKF products from the market, this team works closely with law enforcement.
Clayton Supp, a former SKF Brand Protection Manager, was a key figure in this initiative. He highlights the severe repercussions of counterfeits: “If a product with an SKF mark doesn’t perform as expected, customers might switch to another brand. If customers don’t know they’re using counterfeits, they’ll blame SKF for the issues, which is costly and severely damages our brand.”
Supp’s vast experience includes conducting warehouse inspections, which frequently assist clients in resolving ongoing equipment problems. He remembers a client in South America who was having trouble with a machine issue that kept happening. Supp examined their warehouse stock at an analysis meeting while the client collected the troublesome bearing. “All bearings were genuine SKF, except for one model,” he recounts. “I brought the counterfeit to the meeting, and when the customer returned with the faulty bearing, we immediately recognized it as a counterfeit.”
The Elusive Nature of Counterfeits
For end-users, spotting a fake isn’t easy. As Kjetil Eliassen, another former SKF Brand Protection Manager, explains, “Only highly trained experts know how to distinguish between counterfeits and genuine products.” However, he notes some tell-tale signs: “Products might experience unexpected installation problems or premature failure, or the order delivery time might be much shorter than the manufacturer’s usual delivery time.”
The rapid expansion of B2B e-commerce has ironically created fertile ground for counterfeiters. “Some websites look very professional, with high-definition images from manufacturing plants and detailed company information,” says Supp. “But in reality, these websites are just cunningly designed by a designer in some crude workshop.”
Suppliers of fake bearings also use devious pricing techniques, frequently lowering their prices just a little bit below those of authentic goods. “Price isn’t necessarily a criterion for judging counterfeits,” Eliassen cautions against depending only on price. We’ve even heard of fake goods being offered for twice as much as authentic ones only because the fakers had them on hand.
Customers who either don’t know they’ve bought fakes or are afraid to acknowledge it make the problem worse. Eliassen and Supp have seen countless instances when clients suffered from serious reputational harm in addition to substantial financial losses as a result of production stoppages, discarded products, and even forced recalls.
A major goal for brand protection teams is to help customers identify and remove fake inventory, preventing these dangerous products from entering the production line. “I want to encourage customers to take responsible action immediately: blacklist counterfeiters and scrap counterfeit products to prevent them from entering production,” states Eliassen. “This is the most effective way to avoid losses. Every day I work, I see my efforts changing the purchasing behavior of customers across various industries, effectively combatting counterfeit trade.”
External Pressures: A Breeding Ground for Fakes
Another significant factor fueling the counterfeit trade is the increasing pressure on procurement departments. Nadine Krüger, SKF Director of Industrial Sales for Eastern Europe, elaborates: “Procurement departments face ever-increasing pressure on time and money.”
“In the present and foreseeable future, product supply is declining, partly due to raw material shortages, which has led to increased raw material prices,” Krüger explains. “For procurement personnel, every minute counts, and every penny matters. They might end up directly purchasing products with the SKF logo because they trust our brand and won’t investigate the supplier’s background.” She warns that the “number of counterfeits in the Eastern European market has sharply increased, so buying products from unknown sellers increases the risk of acquiring counterfeits. While purchasing products without ensuring supplier legitimacy might save time and money, using inferior or even dangerous products can be far more costly.”
Beyond the financial hit to legitimate manufacturers, counterfeits pose grave threats to machine reliability, operational costs, worker health and safety, and the environment.
Consider an African mining enterprise that unknowingly installed counterfeit bearings. In less than three months, a catastrophic failure occurred, causing secondary damage to the shaft and gears.
Supp emphasizes: “Customers use SKF products because they need the high quality, innovation, and benefits that SKF provides. Because SKF products are able to improve business operational reliability and efficiency. Counterfeits not only harm their operations but also impact employee safety and the environment.”
Training is also crucial in fighting fakes. “I spend most of my time raising awareness about this issue,” Supp notes. “I’ve held training sessions around the world for SKF employees, authorized distributors, end-customers, and government agencies. Now, we continue online training through video conferencing.”
SKF’s core message to customers is clear: The best way to ensure you buy genuine products is to purchase them through authorized channels. To this end, SKF’s Group Brand Protection team conducts random inventory checks for authorized dealers, who sign anti-counterfeiting clauses in their contracts. SKF provides unequivocal guidelines, insisting that all distributors sell only genuine SKF products.
How to Secure High-Quality Bearings You Can Trust
With counterfeit bearings becoming increasingly sophisticated, it’s more important than ever to know how to protect your supply chain. Here are a few key steps you can take to avoid falling victim to fake products:
- Buy only from authorized distributors. Always verify that your supplier is officially recognized by the brand.
- Be cautious of prices that seem too good to be true. Counterfeiters often set prices just slightly below market value to appear legitimate.
- Inspect packaging and documentation. Look for discrepancies in labeling, branding, or missing quality certificates.
- Pay attention to delivery times. Products delivered unusually quickly or outside of normal lead times can be a red flag.
- Monitor product performance. Early failure or installation issues may signal counterfeit components.
Even the most experienced professionals can be misled by well-disguised counterfeits. That’s why working with a reliable brand is your best defense.
The global marketplace and the accessibility of online platforms have made purchasing bearings more convenient and often more cost-effective. This evolving landscape underscores the importance of a reliable source of information to guide your decisions.
Whether you’re seeking specific brands or exploring interchangeable options, understanding the nuances of both online and offline acquisition is crucial. For detailed insights into securing high-quality bearings and avoiding common pitfalls, consult our complete [Bearings Purchasing Guide].
Why TFL Bearings Are a Smarter, Safer Choice
At TFL, we take quality seriously. Our bearings are manufactured under strict quality control systems and are fully interchangeable with major international brands like SKF. That means you get the performance, safety, and durability your business depends on — without the risk of counterfeits.
We offer:
- Proven interchangeability with leading brands
- Rigorous quality assurance for every batch
- Reliable availability and professional customer support
- Trusted partnerships with verified distributors
When the cost of a single failure can ripple across your entire operation, the value of genuine, high-quality bearings is undeniable. TFL is committed to helping you run safer, smarter, and more efficiently — with products you can trust and a team that stands behind every order.
Avoid the risks. Demand verified quality. Choose TFL Bearings — where performance meets peace of mind.
