UK 'Grey' Market for Bearings Puts End Users and Distributors at Risk
In the UK, current estimates indicate that the grey market for bearings accounts for between 12 and 15% of total UK bearing sales. Not only does a growing grey market open up routes for more counterfeit products to enter the market, it also puts end users and distributors at greater risk of costly breakdowns, litigation and void warranties.
How do purchasers of bearings actually know that the products they are buying are genuine and will perform as well as they say on the datasheet? Most don't have to worry because they purchase these products either direct from the bearings manufacturer or through an authorised distributor. This method guarantees that the manufacturer meets any product warranties associated with the bearing and that any technical problems with the product are resolved quickly and efficiently.
So it's worrying that in the UK, 15% of all bearings are currently purchased via the
Product Model | Inside Diameter | Outside Diameter | Thickness |
BR60 bearing | |||
BR58 bearing |