Counterfeit Demag crawlers found in China
26 February 2009
Terex Cranes said that the lattice boom models, including the red one pictured which is labelled as a 450 tonne capacity CC 2500, were found in Henan Province, in central China. Terex, in co-operation with Chinese government authorities, is taking legal action regarding intellectual property rights.
The cranes were offered for sale as used Terex Demag models, the one pictured dated as being from 1998, according to the forged serial number plate. Note also in the closeup picture that the forged plate is stamped "Terex Demag" but Terex did not acquire Demag until 2002.
This latest news of counterfeit cranes follows the earlier International Cranes and Specialized Transport story about a similar issue concerning two counterfeit cranes labelled, described and sold as being Liebherr LR 1280 crawlers (IC December 2008 News, Caveat emptor, page 10).
A Terex statement said: "While Terex is concerned with possible misappropriation of intellectual property, and potential damage to its corporate identity, our first concern is that of safety. Simply put, Terex believes that these counterfeit cranes pose a safety hazard due to their mix of different design features and unmatched components."
Terex advised buyers of used cranes in China to check authenticity and to consult them as the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). "It takes more than checking serial numbers as those are easy to forge. A physical inspection and careful evaluation of photographs along with serial number verification is necessary for official authentication," Terex explained.
