Fake hydraulic cylinders lead to rejected service claims

Non-genuine hydraulic cylinders are becoming an increasing problem for people seeking maintenance and replacement, according to Enerpac.

The company’s Australasian service centres are seeing more claims for these ‘look-alike’ cylinders that are brought in needing to be fixed when they break down or wear out.

According to the company, the problem is particularly acute in New Zealand, but also encountered in Australia. It often costs the owner of the cylinders double the amount when they lose production time with the defective item, and then are unable to get it fixed under Enerpac warranty.

“We were surprised when the claims started happening because Enerpac cylinders are designed for lowest total cost of ownership, with quality and value built into their engineering. They are engineered not to fail,” said Enerpac New Zealand Hydraulic Specialist Neville Stuart.

“But then we looked closer and realised they weren’t our tools, but look-alike cylinders painted nearly identically to our cylinders. All that was different on some was the absence of the Enerpac brand.

“Also, one look-alike range catalogue is nearly a mirror image of ours. It uses the same layout and almost indistinguishable product coding from the style used by us, the trusted market leader.”

The look-alike situation has been developing insidiously over the past several years and is now coming to the point of legal action, which Enerpac has commenced, said Stuart.

According to the company, the ways in which buyers of industrial products and services can protect themselves include:

• Nominate the use of only named, quality equipment when they specify and order — dealing with OEM products and authorised distributors with full service backing and the guarantees and traceability that companies such as Enerpac provide.
• Build a relationship with a reliable supplier who is prepared to supply the names of established customers in similar industries to the one being quoted. Experience and input from customers — a true knowledge partnership — is fundamental to the design, development and production.
• If in any doubt, check with major distributors and OEMs to ensure that the products being quoted are the products that they are represented to be.
• Thoroughly familiarise staff with correct safety procedures through on-site training courses run by reputable suppliers.

Image caption: Enerpac Hydraulic Specialist Neville Stuart with a cylinder featuring the branding that makes all the difference.