TACKLING THE ISSUE OF GLOBAL COUNTERFEITING

CUMMINS HAS WORKED WITH HUNDREDS OF BORDER OFFICIALS TO SPOT FAKE PARTS AS ITS WAR AGAINST INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED COUNTERFEITS RAMPS UP.

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When Australian Border Force officers flag imported shipments of suspected counterfeit engine parts, the contents often look legitimate at first glance. Cummins-branded cylinder liners are well-packed and come complete with official packaging, barcodes and part numbers.

But trained eyes can spot the telltale signs: slightly off colours on the labels, marginally different fonts, and packaging that feels just a fraction too light. These kinds of issues mean the shipment is likely part of the $US500 billion counterfeit parts industry that is affecting manufacturers and buyers alike.

Cummins is working hard to fight the scourge, and one part of its strategy is to work with customs officials around the world. The company has trained more than 300 Australian Border Force personnel across four capital cities to identify fake components from its range. Together with work on technology and customer education, it aims to protect mining operations from the costly consequences of non-genuine parts.