Website aims to curb sale of counterfeit electrical products.
Press Release Summary:
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR and TED Magazines announce launch of anti-counterfeiting micro-site, Counterfeitscankill.com, which advocates against sale and installation of counterfeit electrical products and educates channel of dangers and liabilities associated with such products. Site is endorsed by NECA, NEMA, and NAED, who have joined forces in effort to bring serious consequences of counterfeiting to attention of every player in $130 billion electrical contracting industry.
Original Press Release:
ELECTRIAL CONTRACTOR & TED Magazines Announce Launch of Website
Industry-wide effort to curb the sale and installation of counterfeit electrical products
BETHESDA, Md., ST. LOUIS, & WASHINGTON, D.C., January 14, 2009 - ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR and TED Magazines announce the launch of a new anti-counterfeiting micro-site, Counterfeitscankill.com. Endorsed by the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED), the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), and Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the site is an ongoing extension of an anti-counterfeiting supplement included with the December 2008 print issues of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR and TED Magazines. Counterfeitscankill.com advocates against the sale and installation of counterfeit electrical products and educates the channel of the dangers and liabilities associated with such products.
The Anti-Counterfeit Products Initiative is supported by the following electrical manufacturers/distributors: Platinum Sponsors Square D by Schneider Electric and Siemens Energy & Automation; Gold Sponsors Alcan Cable, Graybar, Eaton Corp., and Fluke Corp.; and Silver Sponsors GE Consumer & Industrial, NSi Tork, and Southwire.
Counterfeit electrical products are infecting many important product categories in the electrical market. Manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and ultimately customers face risks ranging from liability to life safety to profitability. NECA, NEMA, and NAED have joined forces in an effort to bring the serious consequences of counterfeiting to the attention of every player in the $130 billion electrical contracting industry. The purpose of the collaboration is to ensure that an anti-counterfeit message is disseminated to the broadest audience of professionals in the distribution, specification, purchasing, and installation of electrical products.
"NECA is fully committed to doing its part in stamping out this growing crime against our industry," said John Grau, CEO, NECA. "We consider this crime a serious issue that deserves serious and ongoing attention. We will continue to inform and educate electrical contractors about the problem, how to identify counterfeits, and what role they must continue to play to stop the installation of these dangerous products."
"Counterfeiting is one of the biggest challenges facing the electrical industry, becoming more and more prevalent with today's global economy. We, as an industry - distributors, manufacturers, contractors, and electricians - must remain especially vigilant and aware of this danger," said Tom Naber, president and CEO, NAED. "That is why NAED has joined with NECA and NEMA in this anti-counterfeiting campaign. We want everyone to know the hazards that counterfeit products present and be aware of why it is so important to partner with reputable authorized distributors and reputable manufacturers who stand behind their products.
Two years ago, the NEMA Board of Governors recognized the importance of this issue and asked NEMA to publicize the problem, work closely with law enforcement, and advocate for public policies that enhanced penalties and bring greater resources to bear on the criminals.
"NEMA is pleased that over the past two years NAED, NECA, and other industry organizations have reached out and proactively raised awareness of this important issue and alerted the supply channel of the steps they can take to eliminate the risk of unsafe, counterfeit electrical products," said Evan Gaddis, president & CEO, NEMA. "To my knowledge, this is one of the first collaborative efforts by an entire supply chain to address counterfeiting and piracy, and more efforts like this are needed across industry and commerce because counterfeiting is both a supply and demand problem."
About TED Magazine and NAED
TED Magazine is the primary source of information for the electrical distribution channel across North America. Published by the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED), the publication is dedicated to best practices for the electrical supply chain. In addition to its print edition, TED Magazine produces up-to-the minute news at www.tedmag.com. NAED is the trade association for the $70+ billion electrical distribution industry. Through networking, education, research, and benchmarking, NAED helps electrical distributors increase profitability and improve the sales and marketing effectiveness within the electrical channel. NAED's membership operates in approximately 4,400 locations internationally.
About ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Magazine and NECA
Published by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Bethesda, Md., ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR magazine delivers 85,300+ electrical contractors and more than 68,000 electrical contracting locations, more than any other industry publication. Telephone: (301) 657-3110. Website: www.ecmag.com. It is the guide that helps electrical contractors grow their business. NECA is the voice of the $130 billion electrical contracting industry, bringing electrical power, lighting, and communications to buildings and communities across the United States. Learn more about NECA at necanet.org/.
About NEMA
NEMA is the association of electrical and medical imaging equipment manufacturers. Founded in 1926 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., its approximately 450 member companies manufacture products used in the generation, transmission and distribution, control, and end-use of electricity. Learn more about NEMA at www.nema.org, and the issue of counterfeiting in the electrical industry at www.nema.org/gov/anti-counterfeiting/.
