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Leading South African trailer axle manufacturer, BPW Axles (Pty) Ltd., recently struck a significant blow against automotive parts pirates by seizing and destroying counterfeit trailer axle brake drums carrying the BPW brand markings.
All locally manufactured BPW brake drums must adhere to a strict quality control process as stipulated by BPW Germany. Those that don’t are re-melted and the resultant alloy is processed to manufacture new brake drums. The stock of counterfeit brake drums was subjected to this fate on 6 October 2009, dropped into a fiery furnace and reduced to molten ‘grey iron’.
“Trailer brake drums are safety-critical items and as such, BPW goes to great lengths to ensure every brake drum that reaches the market has been rigorously tested using the very latest technology,” says Terence Kruger, National Sales Director, BPW Axles SA. “During 2006, we had an unusually high number of failures on BPW brake drums. Many of these were replaced at great cost to BPW SA as a goodwill gesture to our customers but our suspicions were alerted.”
In late 2006, a bakkie belonging to a trailer parts dealer entered the organisation’s loading yard laden with BPW brake drums not purchased from BPW.
“A few questions revealed that these drums were obtained from an ‘alternative parts’ distributor. It was established beyond any doubt that these drums were counterfeit and we offered to replace them with original BPW drums, keeping the fake parts for further investigation,” adds Kruger.
“After consultation with our lawyers, it was decided that legal action was necessary. In February 2007, the premises of a trailer spare parts distributor was raided by the DTI and the SCCU (Serious Commercial Crime Unit). More than 200 brake drums were seized and placed in a warehouse for safe keeping pending court proceedings,” Kruger continues.
“The wheels of justice are well-braked and turn very slowly,” he adds. “However, after a long, drawn out legal action, the drums were released by court order to BPW for destruction in September this year,” says Kruger.
BPW brake drums have unique metallurgical and mechanical properties, and are released for local manufacture at selected foundries in South Africa. BPW brake drums are ‘heat-coded’, whereby every batch of drums is imprinted with a unique serial number. The numbers on the counterfeit drums were easily identified as either ‘reject’ or bogus.
“The part code acts as the drum’s ID number, which allows BPW to track the product throughout the course of its service life. Once the drum has been cast; its metallurgical and mechanical properties are tested by the foundry,” explains Kruger. “It is then machined and subjected to further dimensional testing. Every batch is then tested by an independent SANAS (South African National Auditing Services) accredited metallurgical test centre as well.”
South Africa has one of the world’s highest truck accident rates and trailer brake failure is often cited as the cause of these accidents.
“While brake drums do fail, this is often because of overloading, poor brake maintenance and driver abuse,” Kruger says. “However, the fact that unscrupulous operators sell poorly made, untested brake drums into the market only heightens the risk of serious road accidents and fatalities.”
While there are several local distributors of trailer brake drums who comply with international quality standards, there are those that don’t. “BPW manufactures its own brake linings to ensure they harmonise with its brake drums and provides ongoing training on brake maintenance to its customers. Road safety is seriously jeopardised when alloy integrity, product quality testing and customer-training are neglected,” Kruger adds.
The BPW brand is world-renowned and the counterfeit drums posed a real threat to the company’s reputation. “Despite the legal costs, BPW SA had to make a stand against this injurious action. From a commercial perspective, no manufacturer can afford to have its products pirated and sold at less than their legitimate market price. As far as corporate responsibility is concerned, the seizure and destruction of these illegal brake drums is a clear statement to the industry and the motoring public that BPW always puts safety first,” concludes Kruger.
About BPW Axles (Pty) Ltd*
BPW Axles (Pty) Ltd is the South African subsidiary company of BPW Bergische Achsen KG, the leading European manufacturer of running gear systems for trailers and semi-trailers.
With its production facilities in Gauteng, BPW Axles (Pty) Ltd has been operating in South Africa for over 40 years, manufacturing the latest BPW running gear range and components for all light/heavy duty applications for Southern Africa.
With a history stretching back to the late 19th Century, the BPW brand has become synonymous with product innovation and development as well as customer focus, ensuring lowest cost of ownership as well as reduced running cost and vehicle downtime.
Company contact:
Terence Kruger – BPW Axles (Pty) Ltd
Tel: 082 897 2772
