Terex Cranes has confirmed that counterfeit versions of Terex crawler crane models originating from South Korea have been offered for sale. Similar to the incident reports of 2013 from China, the Terex CC 2500-1 lattice boom crawler crane is the crane model of choice for the copycat manufacturers.
The units are assembled, branded and sold as used Terex cranes at prices well under market value and are either painted white using the Terex brand or red using Demag’s.
“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,” said Klaus Meissner, director of product strategy for Terex Cranes.
While made to look like Terex units, these pirated cranes are often assembled with a blend of older and newer technology and components not designed to work together. These counterfeit cranes frequently exhibit poor weld quality, inferior steel structures and improperly fitted tracks. Additionally, many of the safety components designed into genuine Terex cranes are missing.
“Unfortunately going by serial number alone will not determine with certainty 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.
Meissner also offered one 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. “Contact me under Klaus.Meissner@terex.com, and I will be happy to assist you in verifying that it is a genuine Terex crane.”
