Counterfeit cranes a concern for Terex

Terex Cranes has begun tracking reports of counterfeit Terex crawler cranes from China. In 2011 Terex discovered counterfeit cranes in the market. The company said the Terex CC 2500-1 lattice boom crawler crane is the crane model of choice for the copycat manufacturers.

The units are assembled, branded and sold as used Terex cranes “well under market value,” the company said. Also, most of the counterfeit crane models reported were painted red and use the manufacturer’s legacy Demag brand. The primary markets of concern in the most recent wave of crane pirating are the Asian countries of China, South Korea, Singapore, India and Pakistan.

"We are aware of three different ‘designs’ of the CC 2500-1 crane on the market, and there are at least nine or 10 fake cranes that have been sold, all originating from China," said Klaus Meissner, director of product integrity for Terex Cranes. "This is a serious situation, and, not only because this infringes on our intellectual property but, more importantly, it poses a serious safety risk for our customers. The use of these inferior, counterfeit cranes can result in deadly consequences."

Designed to look like Terex cranes, the pirated cranes are often assembled with a blend of older and newer technology and components that were not designed to work together, Terex said.

“These counterfeit cranes frequently exhibit poor weld quality, inferior steel structures and improperly fitted tracks,” the company said. “Additionally, many of the safety components designed into a genuine Terex crane are missing.”

Meissner continued: "Unfortunately going by serial number alone will not determine with certainty if the purchaser is buying a genuine Terex crane, as these plates can be fake as well. Many of the counterfeit cranes were purchased either without an on-site inspection or through an inspection conducted by an unqualified person.”

Terex stressed the importance of conducting a thorough inspection of the used crane by a qualified individual prior to purchasing the machine. The safety of the company’s workers as well as individuals who happen to be in the area where the crane is operating depends on it, the company said.

Terex has established an e-mail address for customers to inquire about the authenticity of the Terex crane they have already purchased or are considering purchasing. Customers can e-mail [email protected] with questions about a particular used crane model. Local sales teams (see http://www.terex.com/cranes/en/salesandsupport/Sales/index.htm) can be contacted as well.