Schaeffler India conducts raids on spurious parts, packaging dealers in Mumbai

Schaeffler India, the local arm of the 12.1 billion euro Schaeffler Group of Germany, has conducted successful raids on four companies in Mumbai, which have been found to be dealing in counterfeit FAG rolling bearings.

At these production, packaging and trading firms, police have confiscated tens of thousands of counterfeit FAG packaging units, more than 500 counterfeit FAG rolling bearings as well as various machines. The proprietors have been arrested, and criminal proceedings have been instituted. The arrests also serve as a means of deterrence in counterfeiting circles.

Products of the FAG brand, which is one of the leading rolling bearing brands, are highly popular with counterfeiters. The team of investigators from the agency TACT India, which safeguards the company’s  interests in India, has identified Mumbai as a central market for these counterfeit products and identified the main protagonists. Their investigations yielded sufficient information as a basis for the raids. However, the firms involved had already learned in advance of the operations and had closed their shops or moved to new storerooms. After five days of waiting and some more observation, the investigators were able to raid four firms.

In a joint operation with the local policy authorities, TACT India has impounded more than 37,000 counterfeit FAG packaging units and labels, 530 counterfeit FAG rolling bearings and 250 FAG master copies as well as various grinding machines and packaging machines. Moreover, two of the proprietors and an employee were arrested and remanded in custody.

Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket, with its three product brands LuK, INA and FAG Schaeffler, is a specialist supplier of components and services around the drivetrain in passenger cars and commercial vehicles: from the engine over the accessory drive and the transmission to the chassis. Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket supplies the automotive replacement parts market with spare parts for the drivetrain, engine and suspension — for all vehicle classes and in genuine OE quality. 

As part of its global growth strategy, the Schaeffler Group now has a sharp focus on the India market. Aiming to double its business in the country in the next five to six years, the Group has commited a Euro 100 million investment to improve operations, product portfolio and local competencies.

Schaeffler fights against product piracy
In 2004, Schaeffler set up a central department for fighting product and brand piracy. Since them the company’s Brand Protection Team has handled several thousand cases in Asia as well as a large number of major counterfeiting offences in Europe and the USA.

The company says this global experience forms the basis for the constant improvement and refinement of its procedure for prosecuting violations of its brand rights. The Schaeffler Group says it employs a zero tolerance policy towards all cases of product and brand piracy with its primary aim being to protect its customers’ interests.

To protect buyers and end clients procuring INA and FAG products from distributors, Schaeffler has assessed and certified sales partners worldwide. All authorised distributors are listed on the Schaeffler website and can be checked by entering the certificate number. The company says if there is the slightest doubt as to whether a bearing is original, the local Schaeffler sales team or the Brand Protection Team can be contacted.