| Warning - Counterfeiting |  |
BEWARE – COUNTERFEITORS
It is said that 'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery'. And it is usual for the imitator to target those seen as the best in their field.
In this sense, perhaps Ethic's members should feel flattered that Wuhu Jiahong New Material Company of China (Wuhu) has targeted, and attempted to copy their self-regulating heating cable products for its passing-off and counterfeiting activities. In reality, Ethic and its members are extremely concerned by the activities of this company, as the member's reputation for best quality may be compromised if users receive inferior quality products, believing them to be genuine products manufactured by the Ethic member company.
Wuhu has a number of websites depicting 'its' products carrying the product references of the Ethic member companies including their suffixes for voltage, braid, and overjacket, e.g. ---2-CT.
One such website includes self-regulating heating cable datasheets having a 100-150 word product description which, word for word, have been copied from Ethic members own product datasheets. And, incredibly, this company has the audacity to claim 'Copyright 2008 all rights reserved Wuhu Jiahong New Material Company Ltd.'!!!
There are cases where they even claim to be the real manufacturer of the Ethic member's cables! They have approached distributors with the offer of 'cloned' products, and Ethic has received copies of their quotations. Frankly, their prices are expensive. Usually, counterfeit products are available at a fraction of the genuine article. Not so with Wuhu and potential users may reasonably wonder whether the heating cable will work, and for how long.
Samples of Wuhu's products have been received and performance tested. The Wuhu products tested fall well short of genuine Ethic member's products. Accelerated ageing tests resulted in their cables exhibiting unpredictable and abnormal behaviour, resulting in significant power output reductions. DSC tests show the heating matrix materials to be of a lower grade and substantially lower temperature capability than claimed by 'their' datasheets. These indicate manufacturing issues, and may also result in safety issues. Furthermore, although Wuhu's datasheets claim approvals for hazardous areas, the samples we have tested do not meet the requirements of the latest standards. Ethic's members intend to introduce a new system whereby the manufacturing origin of their products can be securely validated.
But in the meantime PLEASE BEWARE – counterfeit products, marketed by Wuhu may be unapproved, unfit for purpose and pose safety concerns.
Ethic stands as a Trade Association watchdog over the Electric Trace Heating Industry, and will not condone any company who counterfeits, passes off, and infringes our member's designs, trade marks, or copyright for its own gain.
If you have had any dealings with Wuhu, or require further information, please contact Ethic.
It is said that 'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery'. And it is usual for the imitator to target those seen as the best in their field.
In this sense, perhaps Ethic's members should feel flattered that Wuhu Jiahong New Material Company of China (Wuhu) has targeted, and attempted to copy their self-regulating heating cable products for its passing-off and counterfeiting activities. In reality, Ethic and its members are extremely concerned by the activities of this company, as the member's reputation for best quality may be compromised if users receive inferior quality products, believing them to be genuine products manufactured by the Ethic member company.
Wuhu has a number of websites depicting 'its' products carrying the product references of the Ethic member companies including their suffixes for voltage, braid, and overjacket, e.g. ---2-CT.
One such website includes self-regulating heating cable datasheets having a 100-150 word product description which, word for word, have been copied from Ethic members own product datasheets. And, incredibly, this company has the audacity to claim 'Copyright 2008 all rights reserved Wuhu Jiahong New Material Company Ltd.'!!!
There are cases where they even claim to be the real manufacturer of the Ethic member's cables! They have approached distributors with the offer of 'cloned' products, and Ethic has received copies of their quotations. Frankly, their prices are expensive. Usually, counterfeit products are available at a fraction of the genuine article. Not so with Wuhu and potential users may reasonably wonder whether the heating cable will work, and for how long.
Samples of Wuhu's products have been received and performance tested. The Wuhu products tested fall well short of genuine Ethic member's products. Accelerated ageing tests resulted in their cables exhibiting unpredictable and abnormal behaviour, resulting in significant power output reductions. DSC tests show the heating matrix materials to be of a lower grade and substantially lower temperature capability than claimed by 'their' datasheets. These indicate manufacturing issues, and may also result in safety issues. Furthermore, although Wuhu's datasheets claim approvals for hazardous areas, the samples we have tested do not meet the requirements of the latest standards. Ethic's members intend to introduce a new system whereby the manufacturing origin of their products can be securely validated.
But in the meantime PLEASE BEWARE – counterfeit products, marketed by Wuhu may be unapproved, unfit for purpose and pose safety concerns.
Ethic stands as a Trade Association watchdog over the Electric Trace Heating Industry, and will not condone any company who counterfeits, passes off, and infringes our member's designs, trade marks, or copyright for its own gain.
If you have had any dealings with Wuhu, or require further information, please contact Ethic.
