12-09 Counterfeit parts - aixam-mega-sav.com
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AIXAM MEGA 56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11 Dear Madam, Dear Sir, More and more websites offer AIXAM-MEGA spare parts at "unbeatable prices". By this note we alert you on the fact that these parts are counterfeited and may jeopardize the final user of the vehicle, Our Customer. . Your responsibility as a professional of the automotive is to refuse mounting these counterfeit parts. This is also your duty as per your Distribution Agreement. We remind you that the manufacture and safety level of the vehicles we produce are bound by regulations through European Directives and national Highway Codes. The counterfeited parts may as well be maintenance parts (filters, belts, brake pads…) as body parts. Active safety concerns: parts such as brake discs, brake pads, wheels, bearings, suspensions, windscreens, headlights, lights… are essential for ours customer’s safety. The regulation approvals criteria are severe and mandatory. Counterfeit parts are not approved neither by us, nor by the Road Safety Authority. Passive safety concerns: the technical characteristics and the structural material of the body and the frame have a direct incidence on the driver and passengers’ safety (crash tests) but also on the other road users (e.g. : pedestrians impacts) The AIXAM MEGA original parts are approved by the Road Safety Authority to preserve our Customer’s safety. Environmental concerns: parts such as air filters, exhaust pipe, driving belts are also subject to homologation. The use of AIXAM MEGA original spare parts allows to maintain the optimal performance level of our cars and to guarantee a better protection of the environment. In addition, we remind you that KUBOTA and LOMBARDINI companies will give benefit of the warranty for their engines only if the maintenance schedule is strictly observed and if the filtration parts used are genuine ones. The use of a counterfeit filter would result in the loss of the benefit of the warranty on the part concerned and the possible consequences on other parts of the vehicle. The same conditions will apply for all the automatic transmissions and belts we market after having getting them homologated. In order to highlight our statements we have analyzed and compared some of these parts to AIXAM MEGA original parts. You will find below these analysis and conclusions. After Sales Info AIX, August 30 th 2012 Info N° 12-10 Counterfeit parts
Transcript of 12-09 Counterfeit parts - aixam-mega-sav.com
AIXAM MEGA
56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11
Dear Madam, Dear Sir,
More and more websites offer AIXAM-MEGA spare parts at "unbeatable prices". By this note we alert you on the fact that these parts are counterfeited and may jeopardize the final user of the vehicle, Our Customer. . Your responsibility as a professional of the automo tive is to refuse mounting these counterfeit parts. This is also your duty as per your Distribut ion Agreement. We remind you that the manufacture and safety level of the vehicles we produce are bound by regulations through European Directives and national Highway Codes. The counterfeited parts may as well be maintenance parts (filters, belts, brake pads…) as body parts. Active safety concerns : parts such as brake discs, brake pads, wheels, bearings, suspensions, windscreens, headlights, lights… are essential for ours customer’s safety. The regulation approvals criteria are severe and mandatory. Counterfeit parts are not approved neither by us, nor by the Road Safety Authority. Passive safety concerns: the technical characteristics and the structural material of the body and the frame have a direct incidence on the driver and passengers’ safety (crash tests) but also on the other road users (e.g. : pedestrians impacts) The AIXAM MEGA original parts are approved by the Road Safety Authority to preserve our Customer’s safety. Environmental concerns : parts such as air filters, exhaust pipe, driving belts are also subject to homologation. The use of AIXAM MEGA original spare parts allows to maintain the optimal performance level of our cars and to guarantee a better protection of the environment. In addition, we remind you that KUBOTA and LOMBARDINI companies will give benefit of the warranty for their engines only if the maintenance schedule is strictly observed and if the filtration parts used are genuine ones. The use of a counterfeit filter would result in the loss of the benefit of the warranty on the part concerned and the possible consequences on other parts of the vehicle. The same conditions will apply for all the automatic transmissions and belts we market after having getting them homologated. In order to highlight our statements we have analyzed and compared some of these parts to AIXAM MEGA original parts. You will find below these analysis and conclusions.
After Sales Info AIX, August 30 th 2012 Info N° 12-10
Counterfeit parts
AIXAM MEGA
56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11
In summary, the consequences of using counterfeit parts lead to: - Endanger the AIXAM-MEGA Customer - A deception towards the AIXAM-MEGA Customer - A severe breach of the AIXAM-MEGA Distributor Agreement - Undertake 100% of the responsibility of any incident for the Distributor - The total release of liability of the Manufacturer in case of material or personal injury and Legal issues resulting from the use of counterfeited parts. - The rejection of any warranty claim on the damage caused by the counterfeited part or the consequences of infringing use it on other parts of the vehicle. We ask you to consider this information in all its aspects and to circulate it to all staff within your company.
Yours sincerely The After-sales Department
AIXAM MEGA
56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11
Fitting test with the parallel parts: The steering and the left and right leg could be fitted. The wishbone cannot be fitted due to a dimension problem (2 mm are missing between the two clevis), the right silent bloc cannot be fitted too (the distance of 76mm between the two axis is not fulfilled).
Benchmark Genuine AIXAM Front unit VS Counterfeit front
Unit
AIXAM MEGA
56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11
Benchmark Genuine AIXAM Front unit VS Counterfeit
front Unit
AIXAM MEGA
56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11
Benchmark Genuine AIXAM Front unit VS Counterfeit
front Unit
AIXAM MEGA
56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11
Benchmark Genuine AIXAM Front unit VS Counterfeit
front Unit
AIXAM MEGA
56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11
Lamp support
Benchmark Genuine AIXAM lamp support VS Counterfeit
lamp support
AIXAM MEGA
56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11
Benchmark Genuine AIXAM lamp support VS Counterfeit
lamp support
AIXAM MEGA
56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11
Benchmark Genuine AIXAM lamp support VS Counterfeit
lamp support
AIXAM MEGA
56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11
Benchmark Genuine AIXAM lamp support VS Counterfeit
lamp support
AIXAM MEGA
56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11
Counterfeit parts analyze The genuine AIXAM parts are light grey; the Counter feit parts are black. 1- General observation: We could say that the mold has been made by copying some genuine parts regarding some mold marks we could see
The parts are identified by two different stickers
2- Appearance analyze: There are 2 different kind of materials (A and C) with 3 kind of finishing (A, B and C): A/ SMOOTH AND BRILLANT
Counterfeit part AIXAM Genuine parts
AIXAM MEGA
56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11
B/ MAT AND FINE SAND LOOK
C/ MAT AND HEAVY SAND LOOK
Surface appearance: Lot of appearance fault, « in fondus » fault (internal material fault).
AIXAM MEGA
56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11
This fault generates a lot of additional work to reach a good shape and quality, the following picture shows you the grinding marks.
Thermal molding fault, not enough surface tension
Thermal molding fault, no sharp angle and some deformation
AIXAM MEGA
56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11
Cutting appearance: Important variation on some homologated body zones: Front and rear bumpers Protrusion homologation : Cutting irregularity. Genuine parts in grey, copy in black.
Front Wing, adjustment with wing and lamp. Genuine parts in grey, copy in black.
AIXAM MEGA
56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11
Cutting dimension not compliant (Trouble to fit, ad just and for the reliability of the body): External trunk door panel (glass axle dimension: Distance between the axes exceeds 20 mm genuine parts in grey, copy in black)
Front bumper (capping fitting dimension): Distance between the axes exceeds 9 mm Genuine parts in grey, copy in black.
AIXAM MEGA
56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11
3- Dimensional analyze: Considering that the mold has been done with a nega tive copy of our parts, each time the new produced parts is smaller than the genuine consider ing the shrinkage, you will see hereafter the dimensional shrinkage noticed on the Counterfeit pa rts. This difference could generate trouble during the fitting and during the life of the vehic le. Front wing : Black copy 6mm shorter than, the genuine parts.
Rear trunk door: Black copy 7 mm shorter than, the genuine parts.
AIXAM MEGA
56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11
4- Crash resistance: Our material must resist to a 50 joules impact (80 mm cylinder of 5 kg falling 1 meter height) Temperature 25°C: genuine parts in grey, copy in black
Temperature -15°C: genuine parts in grey, copy in black
Chemical resistance: genuine parts in grey, copy in black Crack and break of the test sample after 4 hours of contact with cleaning product and primer Sika 215
AIXAM MEGA
56 Route de Pugny - 73101 AIX-LES-BAINS Cedex FRANCE - TEL 0033 / 04 79 61 42 45 - FAX 0033/ 04 79 35 06 11
CONCLUSIONS: The first remark, which is considerable, is the safety and the risk of using such parts and particularly the material used to manufacture them. Actually, looking at tests-crash done and the results we got (samples broken in lots of pieces with size and shape very aggressive and violently thrown during the impact) we are faced with plastic using recycled material (non-virgin materials from offcut or regrind wastes) for which the percentage is evidently very high, almost 100 %.This fact can also be supported by the low resistance of the material to chemical attacks. We also observe in safety term that some parts which seem to have same shapes cannot be approved (presence of sharp corners and edges on parts that can be in contact with pedestrians) These parts have dimensions and machining dimensions very far from what is necessary for a proper assembly to respect a quality on the vehicle to be repaired and reliability of this repair in the time. These large differences will cause stress on the material already fragile with very significant risks of cracks or breaks. The surface and cuttings quality of these parts will generate important alteration times to make them potentially acceptable.
