June, 2009 -  Australian manufacturer and marketer of the world renowned SuperPro brand of polyurethane suspension bushes, Fulcrum Suspensions, informs the automotive aftermarket of the discovery of an inferior and potentially dangerous imitation product.

Initially discovered being sold to Victorian automotive repair workshops in early 2009, the product is virtually identical in colour, with the perpetrators going to the extent of also including the Fulcrum Suspensions part number and 58mm length description on each unit. Several of these imitation products have already been removed from vehicles due to failure or splitting. Visually, the imitation product seems identical, but it performs exceptionally poorly. It has lasted in some cases less than one week before failure. Once it has failed, both the vehicle's ability to track in a straight line and the vehicle's steering control are severely compromised.

The product that has been copied is an inferior imitation of the highly successful SuperPro front strut bar to chassis mount bush, SPF2339K of which tens of thousands are sold every year to independent automotive repairers and suspension specialists.

Fulcrum Suspensions has developed the original SPF2339K front bar to chassis mount bush to suit late model Holden Commodores to the same premium quality standards as the entire multi-award winning SuperPro range, that includes some 4,000 plus part numbers. This has made this Australian automotive product range a local and international success. These products have been manufactured and tested to exacting quality standards to enhance vehicle safety.

As we have seen occur with alarming regularity in the Australian automotive aftermarket, it has become clear that there are numerous companies operating in Australia and beyond who ignore the risks of providing unsafe and clearly inferior quality products to the automotive aftermarket. In this case, this has been carried out very blatantly under the guise of the product belonging to the Fulcrum Suspensions' SuperPro range. The companies involved, along with all individual directors identified as having any involvement with any step of the counterfeiting process, including manufacturing, supply, sales and distribution are all legally responsible for infringements of the Trade Practices Act.

To this end, steps have been taken by Fulcrum Suspensions to eliminate these dangerous imitation suspension bush products from the Australian aftermarket. It is extremely important for automotive repairers and suspension specialists to readily identify this counterfeit front bar to chassis mount bush, which if fitted cannot guarantee the safety of the vehicle.

The SuperPro SPF2339K front bar to chassis mount bush has a near zero return rate and an unblemished safety record, which vastly differentiates the imitation product from its otherwise visual similarity to the SuperPro product. The obvious differences between the two follow:

1. The SuperPro SPF2339K features a gloss surface finish on the polyurethane, the imitation product's polyurethane has a matt surface finish.
   
2. The SuperPro SPF2339K has a satin surface finish on the metal plate, the imitation product has a ground surface finish on the metal plate
   
3. The SuperPro SPF2339K is manufactured for suspension applications from hand poured polyurethane, the imitation product has been injection moulded using an inferior compound, making it more liable to splitting.
   
4. The SuperPro SPF2339K polyurethane is bonded to the metal plate, the imitation product's polyurethane is not bonded and can be rotated on the plate by hand or levered away using a screwdriver.
   
5. The SuperPro SPF2339K features a 45mm diameter cut-off on the rear side, the imitation product has an 8mm diameter injection port on the rear side.
   
6. The SuperPro SPF2339K includes a poly moulding de-flash between the polyurethane and the metal plate, the imitation products has a clean area between the polyurethane and the metal plate.
   
7. The SuperPro SPF2339K features hand stamped numbers which are approximately 3mm in height. The imitation product has digitally engraved numbers "2339" appearing 4.5mm in height & "58" at 5.5mm in height.

According to Fulcrum Suspensons Managing Director Graham Scudamore-Smith, the Australian company is taking every legal option available to ensure that this inferior imitation product and any other imitation SuperPro products are removed from sale and destroyed as soon as possible.

"Aside from the blatant copying of one of our most popular and premium quality SuperPro products, it is clear that the greed of some companies and the individuals behind them surpasses any responsibility for end user safety. We are taking all steps necessary to ensure that this clear case of counterfeiting ceases and that these dangerous imitation products are removed from circulation," Mr Scudamore-Smith said.

"It is clear that we need to do more to combat the ever present issue of inferior quality counterfeit replacement parts that find their way on to Australian cars. There have been numerous successful actions by companies on an individual basis, but there is no doubt that more needs to be done to deter companies and individuals from taking part in such dangerous practices," Mr Scudamore-Smith added.

Fulcrum Suspensions also points out that a high level of responsibility also exists with automotive repairers with regard to their replacement parts purchasing decisions. Any deviation from the mainstream and recognised industry suppliers runs the risk of acquiring products that are not premium quality and Australian made Fulcrum Suspensions products.

Automotive workshop owners and managers need to ensure that all of the following questions can be confidently and positively at the time of purchase:

• Will the supplier be there to assist if there is a warranty issue?
• Will you be required to do the repair work again under warranty?
• Is your workshop compromising customer safety?
• Is the part offered at least as good as the original?
• Will your customer be interested in the few dollars saved when the car has not been repaired correctly?

Any automotive technician or end user who is unsure of the authenticity of any SuperPro product should contact the Fulcrum Suspensions customer service team.

Source: www.fulcrumsuspensions.com.au