The company is continuing its mission of combating the circulation of illegal goods, by tightening its surveillance measures and extending its partnership with CONVEY, which has, so far, intercepted more than 2.5 million illegal part transactions globally.
The system for monitoring and suppressing these illegal activities enables them to be nipped in the bud, thus minimising the risk of surges of illegal transactions in the future. Thanks to an ever-expanding surveillance service, which covers all marketplaces globally, UFI Filters has succeeded in removing more than 8,000 commercial advertisements posted on 33 e-commerce platforms, preventing a potential turnover of more than €5 million in counterfeit goods sales.
Since the early seventies, UFI Filters has been committed in protecting its products through trademark registrations and filing new patent applications (268 to date) both on the main world markets and through customs surveillance – specifically, by registering the Group’s intellectual property assets with the customs authorities of individual countries. These measures have been enhanced by specific training sessions, delivered at the most sensitive customs agencies, focusing in particular on products that are subject to the greatest counterfeiting activity, such as those from the ONE family of UFI Filters.
Why the ONE family?
The filters in the ONE family are important in protecting engines from water residues in diesel fuel. Indeed, UFI Filters products are chosen by 95% of vehicle manufacturers worldwide for this very reason. Crucially for Professional Motor Factor readers, ONE filters are also available in the company’s aftermarket portfolio. Underlining this commitment, UFI Filters is a member of the ISO committee for establishing and updating filtration standards.
In light of the importance of the ONE product family, UFI Filters has prepared a data sheet highlighting the differences between a UFI Filters 24.ONE.01 diesel filter and the counterfeit filters on the market for Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Fiat, Ford, Lancia, Opel, Peugeot and Vauxhall vehicle applications.
Although the presence of water in diesel fuel is regulated by European standard EN 590 and must not exceed the maximum value of 200ppm (parts per million), in reality, the amount and size of water particles that need to be separated from the diesel fuel can differ and may vary from application to application.
Rely on experience and pedigree
Relying on a manufacturer, like UFI, with a long-standing historical presence in the original equipment market provides an additional guarantee, assuring customers that the filter has been developed to maintain the highest standards of water separation, even in conditions that are more severe than the regulations require, the company said.
The principle applies, not just to ‘bad fuel’ but also to biofuel. UFI filters are designed and produced using exclusive FormulaUFI filtering materials, and are conceived, developed and manufactured to an advanced technological level that also meets the highest standards with regard to bio-components in fuels, such as B30 PME biodiesels, which contain up to 30% palm oil.
UFI Filters claimed substandard or even counterfeit filters, which use unsuitable materials, either do not separate the water from the diesel or do so inadequately.
UFI Filters filtration systems only use materials that are resistant to so-called ‘bad fuels’ and biodiesels. For this reason, buying a poor-quality filter to save money can seriously compromise the fuel injection system, risking increased vehicle downtime and the related financial losses, especially for those who use their vehicle for work.
UFI Filters Chief Legal and Human Resources Officer, Luca Autelli (left), said: “We are pleased with the results that we have already achieved in the fight against counterfeiting, but we must continue our efforts and ensure that we remain on high alert.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to make our customers, and motorists in general, aware of the need for caution. Even today there are still reports of diesel pumps delivering fuel with considerable water residues, which are harmful to injection systems. Genuine UFI Filters products can really make a difference in such situations, ensuring the best performance in separating water from diesel.
“We, therefore, urge everybody to rely on genuine UFI Filters products by using the official distributor network, as specialists in filter materials.”
