TIMKEN: Counterfeit Products are a Trap for End-Users
Counterfeit products are a trap for end-users and a pain for bearing producers. By chasing a cost-saving some of
end-users are eventually faced with huge production loses caused by downtime and the extra-cost of repairs. The principle of “pay less now to pay more later” is evident. One of the best examples is thrust tapered roller bearings installed in top drives of drilling rigs. This vital bearing ensures the operation of the entire rig and drilling operation. Downtime caused by this bearing failure costs an average of 15 k EUR per day. Then there are additional costs to also factor in, such as shipping and logistics, to transport the top drive from the field to the repair shop.
In the photos, the counterfeit thrust tapered roller bearing, supplied to the end-user as an allegedly original Timken bearing. It has been severely damaged during operations shortly after installation. It failed to deliver its average run life expectancy of 4-5 years for this typical application.
Both bearing itself and its package have signs of counterfeit production. The most obvious one is the separator. Original Timken thrust tapered bearings, TTHD design, will always have a solid brass cage, and never be sold in a composite screwed cage. The designations on the label are incorrect as well – it is missing the bearing assembly code, amongst a host of other labeling errors and faults.
As a bearing producer, Timken strongly recommends purchasing bearings only via authorized channels. By clicking on ‘locations’ in www.timken.com you can easily check if the company offering you Timken bearing has been authorized. Or you can call directly to Timken representative to confirm that.
Such kind of counterfeit products, as shown above, can cost 2-3 times less than the original bearings but it’s an insignificant cost compared to the downtime and potential losses.
When buying original products, you pay slightly more but it’s fully aligned with the principle ‘pay more now to pay less later’.
Don’t get tricked into investing in downtime!
