Steel alliance against product counterfeiting

Every year, German companies suffer economic damage amounting to EUR 56 billion through counterfeit brands and product piracy. The range of fake goods has increased dramatically in recent years. Hardly a single product is safe from fakes. Steel and stainless steel products such as pipes, flanges and fittings are being copied to an increasing extent. To confront this threat, BUTTING has become a member of the "Steel Alliance Against Counterfeiting" initiative and is working hard against counterfeit products and certificates.

The Steel Alliance Against Counterfeiting, SAAC, is a charitable initiative of the steel industry, and was founded in November 2015 during the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC). To date, 18 renowned producers of steel and stainless steel pipes, flanges and fittings have joined the association, representing a total turnover of 20 billion US dollars worth of steel products.

In the last two years, SAAC has been working worldwide to sensitise end consumers into purchasing original products. Only the responsible use of high-quality steel and stainless steel products ensures that systems will have a long life, supports health and safety at work and protects the environment. The SAAC sees its key task as increasing awareness that the authenticity of products and certificates needs to be checked. Thus end consumers are advised to check whether, for example, pipes made by a cheap producer have been counterfeited by giving them the brand names of a quality producer, or whether certificates for these products have been forged.

Norbert Heinzle, Managing Director at BUTTING, explains: “Consumers must reckon with clear financial disadvantages, risks to the security and long life of the systems and dangers to their health if they consciously or unconsciously buy fakes or counterfeit goods. Counterfeit products do not meet national and international safety standards."

Since 1988, BUTTING has been monitoring and documenting the entire production process – from goods receipt to dispatch. Thus the manufacturing of a component can be traced back in the long term. Our quality management system is certified under DIN EN ISO 9001 by DNV GL. Sustainability and environmental protection play a central role here – and can only be ensured through an impeccable product.

Norbert Heinzle says: "Every company in the market should join the campaign against product counterfeiting in order to protect both the environment and the economy."

For more information, please refer to the SAAC's website.

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