Uttoxeter-based Apex Dynamics (www.apexdynauk.com) — a leading supplier of high-precision gearboxes to the food, packaging and automation sectors — is urging customers to be on their guard against a wave of counterfeit products that have appeared in the UK market in the last 12 months.

The company says that one of the unfortunate consequences of building a successful premium brand is the appearance of fake goods, and that — despite determined efforts to combat this counterfeiting problem — it has continued to see bogus products bearing its branding being sold online ‘at knock-down prices’.

Its products are specially designed, with patented features relating to the bearings and seals of the gearbox, making them suitable for use in ‘food and pharma’ environments.

Managing director Mike Gulliford said: “The persons most hurt by these phoney offerings are our customers, who may make a purchase in good faith.

“These fake goods do not match our products in terms of performance capability and safety standards.”

Customers are warned to be particularly wary of Apex Dynamics branded gearboxes being offered for ‘unusually low prices’ from sources in Asia.

“These suppliers often turn out to be offering counterfeits that are nothing more than poor copies, hidden beneath an attempt to match our designs.

“If you have any doubts about the authenticity of a product, please contact us before purchasing to verify that you are dealing with an authorised supplier.”

Founded in Taiwan in 1987, Apex Dynamics Inc started with the production of ‘take-out’ robots for plastics injection moulding machines before moving into the technology of high-precision planetary gearboxes for servo motors (based initially on its internal need for precision servo gearboxes for its robots).