March 5 - Terex Cranes has warned that counterfeit versions of its crawler crane models are being manufactured in South Korea.
The units are being assembled, branded and sold as Terex cranes at prices well under market value, and are either painted white using the Terex brand or red using the Demag brand, explained the crane manufacturer.
As with similar warnings that were issued from Terex regarding Chinese counterfeit cranes in 2013, the Terex CC 2500-1 lattice boom crawler crane is the model of choice for the copycat manufacturers.
"This is a serious situation, 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," warned Klaus Meissner, director of product strategy at Terex Cranes.
While made to look like Terex cranes, the pirated models are often assembled with a blend of older and newer technology and components, which are not designed to work together.
The counterfeit cranes frequently exhibit poor weld quality, inferior steel structures and improperly fitted tracks, said Terex. Additionally, many of the safety components designed into genuine Terex cranes are missing.
"Unfortunately going by serial number alone will not determine with certainty that you are buying a genuine Terex crane, as these plates can be fake as well," added Meissner. "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 any used crane by a qualified individual prior to purchasing the machine, especially in the markets of concern. 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, said the manufacturer.
Meissner also offered an additional bit of advice to those entering the used crane market in Asian countries. "If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is," he said.
Meissner urged anyone unsure to contact him at Klaus.Meissner@terex.com for help verifying the authenticity of a Terex crane.
