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2016-04-06
Steel producers ready for fighting against fake products within industry
Producers of steel pipes, fittings and flanges have today met in Dusseldorf to discuss the problem of steel products counterfeiting, challenging the industry today. Ultimate goal of the meeting is to develop joint plan of actions to withstand unfair competition that cause crucial risks for industry and society. The meeting was organized as part of Fight Fake Products Initiative, established in December 2015.
During the meeting, members shared the plans to establish official entity representing the interest of the Initiative members. Participants have also discussed some cases of fake products, scope of legal actions to defend trademarks.
Carlo Farina, Dr.,Managing Director, Friedrich Geldbach, Gmbh:
“Today is the very first time ever that so many key suppliers are raising their voices into one, the first time ever that the counterfeiting and forgery evidence is brought so openly and so strongly directly to the public.
The main goal of creating Fight Fake Products Initiative is to act as a strong, coherent voice for European industry in the fight against the manufacture, distribution and sales of counterfeited products.
Andrey Burtsev, Vice-President of sales, Interpipe:
“Counterfeiting of steel is growing, particularly in the Middle East. The use of fake steel here makes vital safety issues. Pipe products and accessories are widely used in civil engineering in the region. Counterfeiters copy certificates, production documents, but they can’t copy quality. It can be a real threat for society. As a part of this initiative, we should further work with suppliers, official authorities, government to make this market fairer, safer and more competitive.
Anaïs EIDEN, Group Senior Legal Manager, Intellectual Property and R&D, Vallourec:
“The use of counterfeited products creates significant risks for our industry. It is not just about loss of profit and reputation. Use of faked products can cause serious environmental problems. Vallourec strongly supports Fight Fake Products Initiatives as an effective way to manage the risks of the business”.
Michael Kremmel, Sales director for the Middle East and Asia, Erne Fittings:
“We are to make customers, legal authorities, as well as governments aware of this malpractice. If they are aware, they can face it and react accordingly. Surely, producers do it in on day-to-day basis, checking certificates, verifying the documents. But it is not enough. As an organized group we will be in the position to address these cases by any means”.
During the meeting, members shared the plans to establish official entity representing the interest of the Initiative members. Participants have also discussed some cases of fake products, scope of legal actions to defend trademarks.
Carlo Farina, Dr.,Managing Director, Friedrich Geldbach, Gmbh:
“Today is the very first time ever that so many key suppliers are raising their voices into one, the first time ever that the counterfeiting and forgery evidence is brought so openly and so strongly directly to the public.
The main goal of creating Fight Fake Products Initiative is to act as a strong, coherent voice for European industry in the fight against the manufacture, distribution and sales of counterfeited products.
Andrey Burtsev, Vice-President of sales, Interpipe:
“Counterfeiting of steel is growing, particularly in the Middle East. The use of fake steel here makes vital safety issues. Pipe products and accessories are widely used in civil engineering in the region. Counterfeiters copy certificates, production documents, but they can’t copy quality. It can be a real threat for society. As a part of this initiative, we should further work with suppliers, official authorities, government to make this market fairer, safer and more competitive.
Anaïs EIDEN, Group Senior Legal Manager, Intellectual Property and R&D, Vallourec:
“The use of counterfeited products creates significant risks for our industry. It is not just about loss of profit and reputation. Use of faked products can cause serious environmental problems. Vallourec strongly supports Fight Fake Products Initiatives as an effective way to manage the risks of the business”.
Michael Kremmel, Sales director for the Middle East and Asia, Erne Fittings:
“We are to make customers, legal authorities, as well as governments aware of this malpractice. If they are aware, they can face it and react accordingly. Surely, producers do it in on day-to-day basis, checking certificates, verifying the documents. But it is not enough. As an organized group we will be in the position to address these cases by any means”.
