Urgent customer service announcement from CBI-electric
Local MCB (miniature circuit breaker) and ELPU (earth leakage protection unit) manufacturer, CBI-electric, has reported that counterfeit copies of its products are being imported into South Africa for resale by unscrupulous distributors.
CBI says it became aware of the problem late in 2011 when product started being returned to it by resellers due to items being non-functional. The company summarily notified its authorised distributors and at the same time the authorities: included in the notifications were the National Regulator, SANS, DTI, SARS and acting council Spoor and Fisher. Following this a number of raids were conducted, eight thus far, and product has been confiscated from various entities. CBI-electric acted as expert witness to help identify the fake products.
Coen Esterhuizen, CBI-electric: low voltage corporate advisor: “We realised the seriousness of the situation when under test these fake products proved to be potentially dangerous to people and installations.” Esterhuizen confirms that confiscated product has subsequently been made available by customs to enable legal preparation for trial, but adds that CBI is not in a position at the moment to name the organisations responsible. “We are however determined to protect our customers and our brand through public awareness,” he stresses. “There are potential dangers to re-sellers, installers and end users. We urge people to take notice of this announcement and acquire product only from our authorised distributors and re-sellers.”
Esterhuizen emphasises that CBI-electric is currently making information available to the industry and authorities to enable easy identification of all counterfeit devices.
Since the raids, it has become evident that the parties responsible have gone ‘underground’ and fake product has been moved to neighbouring countries, a situation already under investigation by the local authorities. “Counterfeit products are an industry wide problem and are not unique to CBI,” says Esterhuizen. “Unfortunately, it is mostly the top international brands that are targeted.”
CBI is confident that the counterfeit product distribution was confined to the immediate vicinity of the facilities where the products were seized by the authorities. Indications are that a small amount of product did find its way into the market, but the bulk was identified and confiscated before it could be sold.
Anyone in any doubt should contact the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications or the company at +27 (0)11 928 2000.
Reinstatement opportunity for ECSA registration
News
In 2023 the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) announced a special opportunity for engineers in South Africa to reinstate their registration status if it had been cancelled. This exclusive offer is available until the end of August 2024.
Read more...A strategic milestone for Conical Technologies Conical Technologies
News
Conical Technologies has been appointed as the sole distributor in southern Africa for Mibbo, manufacturers of a vast array of products for the automation industry.
Read more...Robotics TechTalk at UKZN
News
The Scientific Multidisciplinary Advanced Research Technology Lab at the University of KwaZulu-Natal recently held an exciting TechTalk. It was an opportunity to introduce students to the IEEE Robotics and Automation chapter, SAIMC, and the Robotics Association of South Africa.
Read more...Schneider Electric honoured with Gender Leader Award Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric has been awarded the Gender Leader Award at this year’s Africa CEO Forum. This award acknowledges those organisations operating in Africa that have shown a significant and continuous commitment to gender diversity and inclusion.
Read more...Africa Automation Technology Fair 2025 closes on a high note
News
The Africa Automation Technology Fair 2025 officially wrapped up after three dynamic days at Gallagher Convention Centre, cementing its status as Africa’s leading platform for industrial automation, AI and IoT.
Read more...A new generation of solar professionals
News
A new generation of solar professionals is rising in Cape Town. The second cohort of the Solar Youth Project has just completed an intensive eight-week training course and is ready to take on the next stage, 10 months of work experience.
Read more...From the editor's desk: The age of superintelligence Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
News
In this issue of SA Instrumentation & Control we say farewell to our longstanding contributing editor, Michael Brown, who is retiring soon. His outstanding contribution over the years in the field of ...
Read more...Driving digital transformation in the new wave SAIMC Supplier Advisory Council
News
The latest presentation in the series ‘Knowledge Sharing 4 Industry’ will be held on Wednesday 25 June. It will be presented by Johan Potgieter, Cluster Industrial Software Leader for Schneider Electric, South Africa.
printer friendly version