Chinese Company Fined for Producing Fake Conti Drive Belts

ContiTech reports achieving a further victory in the fight against product forgeries after proving that a large Chinese manufacturer produced fake ContiTech automotive drive belts. "This is a major step in the prosecution of illicit reproduction cases, since it was the first time that we were able to determine the manufacturer directly," reported Helmut Engel, head of the ContiTech Power Transmission Group’s Automotive Aftermarket sector. "Often, only the dealers and importers are held to account, and the producers of the copies remain unknown."

The automotive components supplier received a decisive tip from a customer. When local authorities searched the headquarters of Taizhou Fuju Rubber Belt Manufacture Co., Ltd. in Shanghai, they found large numbers of counterfeit multiple V-ribbed belts as well as packaging with ContiTech labelling. In addition, further pirated drive belts with the designation of a leading Japanese vehicle manufacturer were also confiscated.

“In the future, we will work more closely with our customers in the fight against product piracy,” Engel announced. “The key to this success was also our speedy response. It was possible to confiscate the products just a few days after the suspicion was voiced.” Taizhou Fuju has been fined for its activities.

In protecting itself against pirate products, ContiTech says it is pursuing a holistic concept consisting of organisational, technical, legal and communication measures. The company is, amongst other measures, active at trade fairs in its fight to protect its products and brands. At Automechankia 2008, for instance, it presented examples of pirated products. Visitors and the media were shown the technical differences between the original and the fake in order to draw attention to the problems stemming from copied products.

In 2007, ContiTech scored two major victories against product piracy: approximately 20,000 counterfeit drive belts and packaging with ContiTech labelling were seized by customs authorities in Malta and then destroyed upon release by the courts. In Taiwan a trader and a general importer were ordered to pay damages. The court had found them guilty of dealing in about 4,500 phoney V-ribbed belts and approximately 13,000 faked ContiTech boxes.

ContiTech is again keen to warn spare parts dealers and garages against counterfeit drive belts. Generally, counterfeit belts do not demonstrate the same quality of material and workmanship as ContiTech drive belts. If a belt tears, this could result in costly engine damage. The economic damage is also immense. According to the OECD, pirated products impact the global economy by 150 billion euros each year.