PETR MURKIN

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Companies-repackagers: pseudo-manufacturers of bearings in Europe
 

Bearing products are the foundation of modern machine-building. Without them, the automotive industry, aviation, energy, and industrial equipment are impossible. Leading positions in this sector are traditionally held by Europe: thanks to high production standards, innovative technologies, and stable quality. 

At the same time, a discouraging trend has been spreading in the Ukrainian market for several years: the number of pseudo-bearing manufacturers is increasing. These are companies-repackagers that call themselves manufacturers but do not have their own production facilities. They import products — mostly from Asian countries — apply their own branded markings, and sell them as European products. 

 
For example:  
Customer company: EU country

End consumer: Ukraine

Dealer: Ukraine

Manufacturer: China

 
What are the consequences: 

• Products from other factories often do not meet European quality standards. 

• The risk of accidents increases: low-quality bearings can cause serious technical damages. 

• Reputational risks.  

• Companies that are not manufacturers often do not bear responsibility for product defects. 

Even the EUR.1 certificate does not guarantee that the product was made in the EU. The only valid proof of the country of origin is the Certificate of Origin, which should always be requested. 

How to protect yourself from pseudo-manufacturers?
 

1. Check the reputation of the bearing manufacturer. Visit their website, review the production address and rating, read reviews and the company's history. All this information should be publicly accessible online.  

2. Ask for ISO certificates for bearing production and certificates of origin — Certificate of Origin. They must definitely be available. 

3. Request photos and videos from the production. If possible, visit it in person.  

4. Assess the scale of activity:  

• How many staff the manufacturer employs. 

• What their production facilities are like. You can evaluate them through open sources: on the company's website or on Google Maps. 

Quality should be the basis of the chosen brand 

Pseudo-bearing manufacturers — companies-repackagers — pose a challenge both for consumers and for business. Therefore, it is worth studying and carefully choosing a bearing brand to ensure you receive high-quality products. We recommend bearing manufacturers NKE-FERSA, ISB, ART. Their products have been supplied to the Ukrainian market for a long time and meet the mentioned quality criteria.