Press Release

Schaeffler takes action against product piracy: Ten tons of counterfeit

rolling bearings destroyed

SCHWEINFURT, 2023-03-22.
· Counterfeit rolling bearings pose a danger for man and machine
· Every case of counterfeiting will be pursued
· Steel from destroyed counterfeits fed into recycling loop

The global automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler takes regular and
consistent action against counterfeit products. The company has now had
around 30,000 counterfeits with a total weight of ten tons destroyed in
Schweinfurt.

At the company premises of Riwald Recycling Franken GmbH in

Schweinfurt-Sennfeld, the products were so heavily damaged in the first step of
the destruction process that their further use is impossible. The scrap will now
be compressed and subsequently melted down in a steelworks – in this way,
the resource steel is returned to the recycling loop.

“Counterfeit products are a major safety risk for man and machine,” says Dr.
Edgar Duschl, Senior Vice President Intellectual Property at Schaeffler. Rolling
bearings and similar products play a decisive, safety-relevant role in a large
number of applications – almost everywhere where there is motion of any kind.
Safe and smooth-running passenger transport with trains and cars depends just
as much on reliable products from Schaeffler as the operation of various
industrial facilities.

Safety aspects are decisive

Dr. Edgar Duschl explains: “A defective bearing can lead to requirements for
premature maintenance, machine downtimes, and thus enormous costs for the
operator – or even result in a sudden total failure or even worse, an accident
with personal injuries.”

For Schaeffler, safety aspects are the most important motivation for combating
counterfeit products. “Our customers should always be able to rely on the
highest quality standards, which Schaeffler has always stood for – today and in
the future,” says Dr. Edgar Duschl. It is therefore important to follow up any
suspicions.

Every case of counterfeiting is always pursued by the Schaeffler Global Brand

Protection Team. “Firstly, there is the threat of civil claims for cease and desist,
damages, and the release of the counterfeits for destruction. Secondly, there is
also the threat of criminal prosecution, which can lead to a fine or custodial
sentence,” says Dr. Edgar Duschl.

Authorized distributors and app

Counterfeit bearings come from all over the world. If a distributor or customer is
offered a suspect product, for example from the brands INA, LuK or FAG, the
initial suspicion can be checked directly with the Schaeffler “OriginCheck” app.
In this way, the product code can be scanned using a smartphone and
compared with the corresponding Schaeffler product identification numbers.
Photos of the suspect products can also be simply sent to the Brand Protection
Team.

In addition, Schaeffler maintains an international network of authorized

distributors. These are listed on the Schaeffler website and customers can be
sure to always purchase original products there. “In our view, it is important to
raise awareness of this issue among all participants along the entire
value-added chain, including distributors, repair shops, and end customers,”
says Martin Rügemer from the Schaeffler Global Brand Protection Team. He
travels around the world to advise distributors and hold training courses.

After being discovered, the counterfeit rolling bearings are seized on site. They
are kept as evidence until completion of the ongoing proceedings. In many
cases, the counterfeit products are subsequently destroyed locally. The
counterfeits that have now been destroyed in Schweinfurt mainly originated
from investigations in Europe over the past two-and-a-half years.

The damage to German companies caused by product piracy is estimated by

the VDMA (German Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers Association) at
around 6.4 billion euros annually.

Security via scan: The Schaeffler “OriginCheck” app is available for iOS and
Android and can be downloaded at:
www.schaeffler.com/apps

The Brand Protection Team can be contacted at any time by e-mail:

piracy@schaeffler.com

***
Schaeffler Group – We pioneer motion As a leading global supplier to the automotive and industrial
sectors, the Schaeffler Group has been driving forward groundbreaking inventions and developments in
the fields of motion and mobility for over 75 years. With innovative technologies, products, and services for
electric mobility, CO₂-efficient drives, chassis solutions, Industry 4.0, digitalization, and renewable
energies, the company is a reliable partner for making motion and mobility more efficient, intelligent, and
sustainable – over the entire life cycle. The technology company manufactures high-precision components
and systems for powertrain and chassis applications as well as rolling and plain bearing solutions for a
large number of industrial applications. The Schaeffler Group generated sales of EUR 15.8 billion in 2022.
With around 83,000 employees, Schaeffler is one of the world’s largest family companies. With more than
1,800 patent applications in 2021, Schaeffler is Germany’s third most innovative company according to the
DPMA (German Patent and Trademark Office).

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Schaeffler takes regular and consistent action against counterfeit products. Schaeffler has now
had around 30,000 counterfeit products weighing a total of ten tons destroyed on the premises
of Riwald Recycling Franken GmbH in Schweinfurt-Sennfeld. Pictured from left: Martin
Ruegemer, Schaeffler Global Brand Protection and Frank Ziegler, Riwald Recycling.
Download:
https://www.schaeffler.com/remotemedien/media/_shared_media_rwd/06_press
/press_release/0000152DF.jpg

In a press, the products were so heavily damaged that their further use is impossible.

Download:
https://www.schaeffler.com/remotemedien/media/_shared_media_rwd/06_press
/press_release/0000152DC.jpg

Later, the scrap is melted down in a steel mill - thus the resource steel finds its way back into
the material cycle. Images: Schaeffler (Berny Meyer)

Download:
https://www.schaeffler.com/remotemedien/media/_shared_media_rwd/06_press
/press_release/0000152E1.jpg

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CONTACT:

Marion Strobel
Head of Communications Industrial
Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
Schweinfurt
Tel. +49 9721 91 2811
E-Mail: marion.strobel@schaeffler.com
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Marco Bosch
Communications Industrial
Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
Schweinfurt
Tel. +49 9721 91 1206
E-Mail: marco.bosch@schaeffler.com
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