Forcing the issue with counterfeit parts

Cummins Inc.’s engagement with the Australian Border Force (ABF) to identify and stop shipments of counterfeit parts entering the country is now in full swing, with training workshops recently held for ABF personnel in Perth, Darwin, Sydney and Brisbane.

Cummins is now a Notice of Objection holder registered with the Australian Border Force, a legal document that allows ABF to seize imported goods that infringe copyright and trademarks.

The Intellectual Property (IP) training workshops saw over 300 ABF officers familiarising themselves with the Cummins brands – engines, generators, Holset turbochargers, Stamford alternators and PGXL coolants.

“The magnitude of the problem in Australia has required Cummins to take a tougher stance against counterfeiters, and that means working closely with ABF,” says Kyle Miller, Cummins’ aftermarket business development manager for mining in the Asia Pacific region.

Sophisticated reproductions of original parts have made it incredibly hard for even the trained eye to distinguish real from fake. These illegal imitations of engine components, oils and lubricants manufactured from inferior materials can lead to serious safety and product issues.

Even counterfeit labelling, packaging, barcodes and QR codes look like the original, with many consumers misled into thinking they are buying the genuine article.

To put the cost into perspective, counterfeit goods are estimated to be a US$500 billion-per-year industry.

The training workshops for ABF officers highlighted the difference between genuine and counterfeit parts, the safety and operational risks involved with counterfeit parts, and Cummins’ latest global initiative – the use of holograms – to support anti-counterfeiting efforts.

Holograms

Cummins has introduced a new leading-edge parts label system, featuring hologram technology, to help customers confirm they are buying the genuine product.

The development of holograms, whose effects cannot be completely replicated or simulated by normal reprographics methods, has introduced a new level of brand protection.

To differentiate from counterfeit products, Cummins’ new labels feature a Cummins-specific hologram as well as a verification website. Customers can scan a QR code on the label to reach the site (see link to site below).

To verify the authenticity of Cummins products using the new label, visit www.cummins.com/genuinepartsauthentication. Customers can also visit a Cummins branch or authorised Cummins dealer for confirmation.