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New reports of counterfeit bearings in the marketplace raise a red flag for maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) buyers.
While strong growth in China and other developing regions is impacting energy and steel prices, it also is causing global shortages of some mechanical components essential to industrial production such as bearings.
In fact, delivery leadtimes on some bearings such as large bore bearings used in metal processing and mining applications have stretched to up to three years.
Needing to purchase these parts, some buyers have resorted to using unfamiliar sources that promise brand-name products but do not deliver the real thing. Inevitably, these counterfeit products fail. Failure can cause a production line to come down, or even more serious consequences, such as an accident that causes bodily injury or death.
In one report out of Germany this spring, manufacturer NSK Europe became suspicious when what were thought to be its ball bearing products were not meeting its quality levels in terms of material specification and life. The company has since taken steps to resolve the issue.
Another case
| Product Model | Inside Diameter | Outside Diameter | Thickness |
| BCE59 bearing | 7.95 | 12.7 | 14.275 |
| BCE57 bearing | 7.938 | 12.7 | 11.112 |