More Counterfeit Bearings seized in India

Authorities in India, increasingly aided by bearing manufacturers and distributors, have continued their crackdown on the counterfeit bearing trade. Several estimates given to eBearing put the proportion of counterfeit bearings sold in India at approximately 30% of the overall market. In some smaller areas, counterfeits reportedly are 80% of the market. The largest proportion of counterfeits in India involve SKF-branded ball bearings, most often smuggled in from China. However, higher priced roller bearings and Indian-produced counterfeits with other manufacturer brands are growing problems. In the latest instance, SKF India was monitoring for and noticed a sales drop in the Chennai area. Sensing a crop of counterfeit bearings, the company sent its own experienced team to investigate. After determining the counterfeiting was taking place and tracing the source, SKF then alerted local police investigators, who raided Sri Krishna Bearings and arrested its owner. Previous raids for counterfeit bearings in the Chennai area have successfully targeted operations such as Ball Bearing Centre. Active involvement, monitoring unusual sales patterns and other proactive measures have helped SKF cut the incidence of counterfeiting in India. Where they might have been willing to look the other way in the past, several bearing distributors in India now tell eBearing they are far more careful to avoid counterfeits.