March 24, 2014 - Northwire deploys anti-counterfeit technology to protect customers against the flourishing counterfeit wire industry. The verification tools safeguard consumers against hazards that can range from injury to revenue loss. The company employs a comprehensive series of anti-counterfeit offerings.
"From covert to overt, our anti-counterfeit measures suit a wide variety of applications,” states Brad Steege, Technical Sales Manager. “Invisible to the human eye, our authentication technology cannot be detected by a general physical examination. Depending on the customer's preference, this covert capability offers four distinct layers of detection to select from,” explains Steege.
Overt examples of authentication range from less sophisticated, like a custom legend with a product specific UL listed part registered to the OEM or customer, to more advanced authentication measures, including custom designed over-molded printed circuit boards and smart chips that validate the OEM or customer. Essentially, it is a serial number that uniquely identifies the product and traces its supply chain path to the OEM.
The sophisticated multi-billion dollar global “gray market” demands cooperative efforts between OEMs, distributors, resellers, consumers, watch-dog organizations and government entities; NWI’s newest anti-counterfeiting measures demonstrate another layer of commitment to its customers.
Counterfeiting can cause physical injuries, negatively impact revenue, and damage a carefully built reputation. Protection against counterfeiting starts with education, and that is precisely the foundation of Northwire’s collaborative efforts with customers. NWI’s warnings to consumers about inherent health and safety risks associated with imitation products are paramount in their efforts. Continuing the educational theme of risk avoidance, NWI also provides tips and techniques so consumers can identify “knock offs” before purchase. While NWI’s anti-counterfeit mechanisms can prove effective in the battle against the prospering piracy industry, it is vitally important to emphasize the counterfeit cables’ countless risks.
Northwire warns customers about the Top 10 Hazards: No. 10 Severe environmental and property damage No. 9 Electrocution due to lack of standard safety mechanisms No. 8 Risk of electrical fires, toxic smoke, and catastrophic combustion damage No. 7 Liability, fines, and potential criminal prosecution No. 6 Shorter cable life span No. 5 Greatly reduced signal integrity No. 4 Slow network systems speed with disproportionate downtime No. 3 Poor reputation for your brand and products No. 2 Loss of revenue, company certifications or standings among competitors No. 1 Loss of life due to electrocution, fires, smoke and combustion NWI reminds customers to always confirm the following when selecting a cable manufacturer:
- Is the manufacturer authorized to produce this type of cable?
- Have you verified all trademarks, service marks and copyrights?
- Is the price “too good to be true”?
- Can you request a Certificate of Conformance (C of C) from the OEM?
- Has the cable undergone full testing?
- Are material indicators solid?
- Can you sample before you buy?
About Northwire
Cable manufacturer Northwire, Inc., celebrating over 42 years of innovation, is a registered woman-owned small business (WOSB) with corporate headquarters, manufacturing and engineering in Osceola, Wisconsin and wire and cable manufacturing in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.