Schaeffler builds trust with global certification program

LEADING bearings manufacturer Schaeffler Group has completed a global certification program that assures certified distributors will provide the technical expertise and high-quality services that customer require. The program, part of the company’s Distribution Partner Concept, also means a significant step in the fight against counterfeit products, the group said.

Schaeffler, with the INA brand and the complementary product range from the FAG brand, has one of the widest product portfolios in the rolling bearing industry, covering practically all applications in production machinery, power transmission and railway technology, heavy industry and consumer products.

Every certified Schaeffler distributor receives a plaque to position himself as an ‘Authorized Distributor Industrial’: The certificate bears a clear number in order to prevent them from being counterfeited and the authenticity of every certificate can be checked on the Schaeffler website using the number.

Original or counterfeit

Authorized sales channels play a very important role in making the sale of counterfeit products more difficult and protecting customers and consumers against damage. With the Distribution Partner Concept, Schaeffler ensures that its end customers always receive original products from certified distributors.

Counterfeit certificates for distribution partners have already surfaced on the market, indicating that “Authorized Distributor Industrial” has become a very coveted title.

As a safeguard against such cases, Schaeffler has assigned a clear number to the certificates, which can be checked for authenticity on the company’s website. In case of doubt, customers should never solely rely on a certificate, but use the search function to check whether the issuer actually is an authorized distribution partner.