Among the world of fake products, probably one that grabs the imagination best is counterfeit brake parts on big rigs and school buses. Substandard fake parts are a serious problem for legitimate manufacturers - who also have to tackle 'will-fit' aftermarket parts that are not technically counterfeit, but are widely used.
A recent article in Fleet Equipment magazine discussed the challenges facing the manufacturers. The remedies proposed were focused heavily on tightening purchasing guidelines (to prevent knowingly purchasing cheap knock-offs) and legal remedies, such as patenting a part number. We believe that, given the counterfeiters ability to make convincing look-alikes, the manufacturers should take steps to enable customers to more easily spot fakes.
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